Find answers to common questions about IAWAI, water services, charges, billing, metering and infrastructure in Hamilton City and Waikato District.
Call us directly on 0800 WATERS (0800 928 377) or email info@iawai.co.nz. You can still report leaks and other issues through the Antenno app to your local council. The Antenno app is simple and easy to use and sends you information directly from council. Download for free from your app store.
We are a joint council-owned company, set up to deliver your water services more efficiently by working together. Under legislation, IAWAI has responsibility for delivering drinking water and wastewater services in our council areas. We deliver stormwater services on behalf of our shareholder councils. We are 100% owned by Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council.
A single organisation means we can reduce duplication of some roles and achieve savings through economies of scale. But the biggest efficiencies are from working across boundaries to plan regional infrastructure, sharing infrastructure capacity, and spreading investment costs across a bigger population and a longer period.
There are many levels of assurance for water users. Before we even started, we had to provide a comprehensive plan to the Government for approval. Our shareholding councils have set clear expectations, we are overseen by an independent governance board, and we report our audited financial performance to our community and shareholders annually. We consult with you on our Water Services Strategy and key performance measures. The Commerce Commission monitors economic price/quality performance, The Water Service Authority – Taumata Arowai upholds compliance with drinking and wastewater standards, Waikato Regional Council continues to oversee environmental compliance, and the Department of Internal Affairs makes sure we continue to meet applicable legislation.
In 2024 and 2025 our two councils designed and agreed the structure of IAWAI via a shareholders’ agreement which guides the strategic direction of IAWAI.
Three representatives from each of our shareholding councils sit on the IAWAI Forum, alongside three representatives from our partners Waikato-Tainui. The Forum ensures the strategic goals set by the partner councils are being achieved. Councils hold 50:50 equal voting rights on operational and governance matters, while Waikato-Tainui holds voting rights specifically for Board appointments.
Our council relationships are important, but from 1 July 2026, councils no longer decide funding for individual projects or programmes, set annual water budgets, or determine what people pay for water services. These decisions are now made by IAWAI.
IAWAI works closely with our councils where our services intersect, such as across the management of stormwater and urban planning, and where our maintenance and project works are alongside similar works for transport, parks or other services.
Waikato-Tainui is a key partner for both councils and a key partner for IAWAI. This reflects both a deep commitment to partnership and upholding previous long-standing agreements with our partner councils, as well as our statutory obligations under the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (River Settlement) Act. As a water services company in the Waikato, at the heart of everything we do is Te Ture Whaimana – the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River. Waikato-Tainui has three representatives on the nine-member IAWAI Forum, alongside three representatives from each council. It is this Forum which makes Board appointments, and Waikato-Tainui has voting rights for Board appointments only. Waikato-Tainui is not a shareholder and accordingly does not own a share of IAWAI assets.
Across New Zealand a combination of increasing infrastructure costs and historic underfunding meant a massive deficit had built up for waters investment. Existing council structures and funding tools meant communities were faced with either very large rates increases or failing infrastructure in the years ahead. Multiple studies showed the most affordable options for ratepayers had some common themes - joint service delivery, amalgamation of resources, identifying economies of scale, and establishing new funding tools to address historic underfunding and support growth. Government introduced new legislation to enable creation of organisations which achieved these goals and our partner councils put forward a delivery plan to achieve these goals through the creation of IAWAI. Government approved our plan in July 2025.
Reform of the water sector has been a topic for successive governments and councils for many years. At a council level, some form of joint waters operations or a joint company has been considered and a lot of work was done to look at a joint council-controlled organisation between Hamilton, Waipā and Waikato Councils as far back as 2014/15.
In 2017/18 a National government undertook a national water services review following an enquiry into a Havelock North drinking water issue in 2016. The subsequent Labour-led government’s Three Waters Reforms from 2021 established various structural reforms, some of which were then superseded by a new reform plan under a National-led government (Local Water Done Well) in 2024.
The establishment of IAWAI was done in response to, and aligns with, the current legislative requirements set by Government.
Following public consultation, the IAWAI partner councils agreed on the shareholding structures in 2025, establishing the CCO, and formally transferred applicable assets in March 2026 ahead of IAWAI taking full responsibility for operations from 1 July 2026.
Yes! We want your views on your water services, what’s important to you, and what’s the best option to pay for the work we need to do. Early in 2026 we consulted on our first Water Services Strategy. We received 125 submissions, which helped inform decisions about where and when we invest, how we structure fees and charges, and how we support growth. It’s very much a first-year plan – every time we review our strategy, we look at the long-term impacts of bigger changes and we want our community to be part of those decisions.
IAWAI will continue to consult the community when it reviews the Water Services Strategy and considers significant changes. This will include future decisions about how water services are funded and charged. Public consultation on the Water Services Strategy 2027–2037 is planned for early 2027. Information about consultation opportunities will be published on our website.
IAWAI is all about the flow of water and having the river (awa) at the heart of what we do. The name IAWAI combines the words river (awa) in the centre, and references flow (ia) and water (wai). It was developed in close collaboration with Waikato-Tainui.
Drinking water and wastewater charges will be separate to your property rates and there’s some changes being made to charging from 1 July 2026.
If your property is in Waikato District, your IAWAI charges include a fixed annual water charge of $594.02 and a fixed annual wastewater charge of $1,896.59. Properties connected to a water meter will also continue to receive a separate water-use bill twice a year. Waikato District Council will continue to charge for stormwater through property rates.
If you live in Hamilton City, your residential water charges include fixed annual charges of $28 for water supply and $14 for wastewater. The remainder is calculated on capital value, as it has been under Council. IAWAI is working to transition away from CV-based charging and will be consulting on options.
IAWAI has reduced the average charge for water services this year from what was proposed in the Hamilton long-term plan. For a $720,000 home, this means a saving of around $91 in the 2026/27 year. The previously proposed Council water rates from 1 July 2026 were $1,205. IAWAI’s projected water charge from 1 July 2026 is $1,114.
You can see example bills for Hamilton City Council and get more information here
For information on water meter charging in Waikato District click here
No. Property owners have always paid for water services from their council supplier, whether incorporated into rates or in commercial metering in Hamilton, or residential and commercial meters in Waikato District. Treatment plants and the pipes and pumps to supply homes and businesses cost millions of dollars to maintain every year. What has changed is that those services are now provided by IAWAI as a council-owned organisation, and we are clearly showing the costs and charging them separately to rates.
Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council historically used different methods to fund water and wastewater services.
When responsibility for these services transferred to IAWAI on 1 July 2026, the new charges were designed to broadly reflect the funding approaches previously used by each council. This reduced the risk of major changes in what communities paid during the transition.
Waikato District also already has residential water meters, while Hamilton does not yet have city-wide residential metering. As a result, charges are currently calculated differently in each area and the amount a property pays is not determined solely by its value.
IAWAI is considering options for a more consistent charging approach across its service area. Any proposed changes will be developed with community input and consulted on through the Water Services Strategy 2027 process before decisions are made.
CV-based charging via rates was in place when IAWAI started operation. Residential water services have been paid for in Hamilton via rates, which are set on capital value. Government policy and legislative requirements mean water companies are required to move away from capital value over a five-year period.
IAWAI can’t move to volumetric charging in Hamilton until meters are installed. In early 2026 a four-year city-wide installation programme was confirmed. The charging system is not yet decided, and will be the subject of future public consultation. A key part of charging decisions will be to ensure an equitable change is delivered, so people who are the first to have meters installed are not worse or better off than those who have installation later in the process.
For now, IAWAI charges are shown alongside council rates or existing water billing, and customers can continue using their current payment arrangements.
Hamilton property owners receive one combined invoice showing Hamilton City Council rates and IAWAI water and wastewater charges separately. They make one payment to Hamilton City Council for the full invoice.
Waikato District customers continue to pay their fixed charges through their existing council billing arrangements and receive separate water meter bills where applicable.
If you pay automatically, your IAWAI charges are included in your existing payment arrangements. We will give customers advance notice before any future change to the billing system.
The costs to deliver water services have been rising and are projected to keep rising into the future, but one of the main reasons IAWAI was created was to reduce the impact of these cost increases. In the next three years, average costs for ratepayers are less under IAWAI than those previously proposed by the councils in their plans.
Drinking water and wastewater costs have been removed from council rates and are now shown separately as IAWAI charges.
This does not necessarily mean your overall invoice will be lower. Each council sets its own rates for the services it continues to provide, while IAWAI sets the charges for drinking water and wastewater services.
No. IAWAI charges cover drinking water and wastewater services previously delivered by Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council. These costs have been removed from those councils’ rates and are now shown separately as IAWAI charges.
Waikato Regional Council rates are separate and are not replaced by IAWAI charges.
The costs to deliver water services have been rising steadily and our core costs have increased faster than general inflation. Things like concrete pipes, treatment chemicals, contracting machinery and technical equipment for our treatment plants cost more and more.
The national rates rebate scheme is operated by the Department of Internal Affairs and administered by councils on behalf of DIA.
The rates rebate scheme has been extended to include both rates and water charges to work out how much you might get as a rates rebate.
Your council will continue to administer the rates rebate scheme and will include your IAWAI water charges when calculating your total rates payable.
Any approved rebate will be applied to your council rates account only.
Invoices in each council area will continue to be paid in much the same way they are now. If property owners pay rates automatically, water charges will be paid automatically too. Instalment 1 of rates notices will be sent out in September. Over time, we will change to a fully separate system, but we will give you plenty of notification.
How you pay depends on where your property is located and whether you receive a combined rates and water invoice or a separate metered water invoice. Use the payment instructions shown on your invoice. Invoices in each council area will continue to be paid in much the same way they are now. If property owners pay rates automatically, water charges will be paid automatically too.
Over time, we will change to a fully separate system, but we will give you plenty of notification.
Yes. Existing payment arrangements for council rates also apply to IAWAI charges shown on a combined rates and water invoice.
If you receive a separate metered water invoice, follow the payment instructions on that invoice. Contact your local council if you need help setting up a payment arrangement
Water and wastewater assets previously owned by our shareholding councils have been transferred to IAWAI. The assets remain in public ownership as the two councils are the only two shareholders and together own 100% of the shares in IAWAI.
In June 2026 IAWAI confirmed a project to roll out residential water metering in Hamilton over four years. The project was one of the proposed budget items in the Water Services Strategy consultation earlier this year. Hamilton already has commercial water metering and Waikato District already has residential and commercial metering.
The decision to install meters is separate from the decision to start volumetric charging. A key consideration is to ensure any phasing of charges is equitable for all - so that roll out so those that have meters first are not advantaged or disadvantaged. Options for moving to a new charging system will be considered through a future Water Services Strategy and public consultation. No decision has been made about when household water-use charges will begin or how fixed and water-use charges would be combined. The next step in the metering project is a large-scale installation trial late 2026, followed by tender processes and rolling installation likely from 2027.
The property owner is directly responsible for any fixed water charges, but charges for volumetric water use (how much you use) can be passed on to renters.
In Hamilton, landlords have been responsible for paying for water services via council rates (unless the property is metered). That hasn’t changed.
In Waikato District, where residential metering is already in place, usage charges can be passed on to tenants.
IAWAI has confirmed a four-year programme to roll out residential water meters in Hamilton. The details of how volumetric charging would be applied, including the proportion of volumetric and fixed costs, will be developed in coming years, and people will be consulted before changes are made.
It is recommended that people read the Tenancy Services advice on water and wastewater services on their website.
Stormwater development contributions remain with each council. IAWAI’s Development Contributions Policy covers water supply and wastewater and is based on the relevant provisions of Hamilton City Council’s and Waikato District Council’s 2025 Development Contributions Policies. The IAWAI policy took effect on 1 July 2026.
There are two annual residential growth charges:
Together, these total $500 a year for a new dwelling. A new secondary minor dwelling that qualifies for the half charge pays a combined total of $250 a year. The charges apply for 25 years from when the building is complete.
Proposed waters growth charges for non-residential developments will not be applied this year.
Waters growth charges for new papakaainga housing will be waived in the first year.
IAWAI will further engage with relevant stakeholders and consider the above matters before next year’s Water Services Strategy consultation.
Growth charges only apply to new buildings where the consent application is lodged on or after 1 July 2026, or in relation to connections required for consent-exempt buildings on or after 1 July 2026. Where redevelopment occurs the growth charges only apply to the net increase in demand.
From 1 July 2026 the fees and charges for water services from our shareholder councils will be combined into one single IAWAI fees and charges schedule. This also includes what were water-related targeted rates.
Drinking water and wastewater fees and charges will be managed by IAWAI. Stormwater charges will stay as part of council rates.
Where possible, water and wastewater related fees based on hourly rates or for specific connection or consent related activities have been standardised, so Hamilton and Waikato customers are charged the same fees for the same activity or service. This has meant some charges have had a greater percentage increase than others for this adjustment.
Trade waste quantitative charges (volumetric and contaminant based) have increased by 15%, reflecting significant changes in the operating costs for treatment plants. Overall, the changes are about bringing everything into one clear, consistent system across both council areas.
There is currently no change to the process for building close to or over the existing drinking water, wastewater or stormwater networks.
If you are building in the Waikato District area, find more information here.
And if you are building in the Hamilton City area, find more information here.
Alternatively, email info@iawai.co.nz
Please contact development@iawai.co.nz for any queries in relation to a three waters capacity assessment and note that there will be a fee associated with this assessment as outlined within the fees and charges schedule.
If your development is in the Waikato District area, you can find out more here.
If your development is in the Hamilton City area, you can find out more here.