IAWAI publicly consulted on our first Water Services Strategy early in 2026. It outlines our priorities for the next decade and is our first cut of a long-term strategy that we know will challenge all of us — our shareholders, our partners, and our wider community.
We’ll be completely reviewing it again in 2027 (to align with Council long-term plans) to make sure we have it right. There will be public engagement and consultation starting later in 2026 as we refine this strategy and look to the long-term changes we must make.
Minimising the impact of increased costs to deliver water services is a fundamental principle of the establishment of IAWAI. Our initial Strategy confirms a reduction in the water services cost increases projected by the partner councils for 2026/27.
The median residential annual increase for Hamilton has dropped from $265 to $174 per year – a decrease of $91 from that originally indicated. For Waikato District customers, increases in water and wastewater fixed charges fall from $364 to $142 per year. This combined with volumetric charges (based on an average water use of 210m3 per annum) brings the previously forecast increase in charges for Waikato District customers down to $174.
We’ve managed to reduce these rises but the issues we face are considerable. We must address decades of under-investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, while continuing to deliver the critical services our communities need to survive and thrive. At the same time, IAWAI must manage significant population growth, meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards, and do so in a way that keeps costs as low as possible for those who ultimately fund this work.