Auckland consumers set to save millions.
The Watercare Charter has been passed into law, with Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown announcing that water charges for Auckland consumers will be halved this year. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council with the support of the government.
Under the charter, the increase in water charges will be 7.2 percent on 1 July 2025, compared to the proposed 14.6 percent increase. This follows last year's increase of 7.2 percent compared to the 25.8 percent increase proposed for 1 July 2024. The charter is expected to save households about $899 million over four years while ensuring improved service quality and record infrastructure investment.
The Government has committed to delivering affordable water charges for Aucklanders through the Local Water Done Well solution for Watercare, while ensuring ongoing investment in critical infrastructure maintenance and growth. The charter will also ensure that Watercare faces incentives to invest in replacing and upgrading assets, improve efficiency, and provide water services at a quality that reflects consumer expectations.
The Commission's regulatory oversight of Watercare means greater transparency and accountability regarding water and wastewater network performance, customer service, and cost to consumers. This approach is expected to free up Auckland Council's own balance sheet to support investment in other critical infrastructure, supporting growth across the city.