5 May 2026
Selwyn Water is inviting the community to help shape the future of Selwyn’s water services by providing feedback on its first draft Water Services Strategy.
The Strategy outlines how drinking water and wastewater services will be delivered, funded, and improved across the district, and what this means for future investment and water charges. It comes as Selwyn Water begins operating as a standalone water services provider.
Selwyn Water Chair Murray Strong said the draft Strategy marks an important milestone for the new organisation.
“Selwyn Water begins its journey with strong foundations and a clear purpose – to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable water services for our growing district, while building a best-in-class water utility for our communities,” Mr Strong said.
“We know water services are essential to everyday life. This Strategy is about being upfront with our community about the challenges ahead, the investment required, and the choices we need to make as Selwyn continues to grow.”
The draft Strategy highlights key challenges facing the district, including ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth, and increasingly stringent health and environmental standards. It also outlines how Selwyn Water will respond over its first year of operation, while laying the groundwork for longer-term planning.
This initial Strategy focuses on the first 12 months, allowing Selwyn Water to establish strong foundations and align future planning with Selwyn District Council’s Long-Term Plan review in 2027.
“Although this Strategy is forward looking, it is not a ten-year plan that locks in every decision,” Mr Strong said.
“It’s a practical first step that gives a clear picture of where we’re starting from and the direction we need to head in. We’ll revisit the Strategy in 2027 alongside the next Long-Term Plan.”
Selwyn Water acknowledges affordability is a key concern for households and businesses. While water charges will need to increase over time to fund essential investment, the proposed increase for 2026/27 is lower than previously forecast.
Following detailed modelling and testing of financial and operational assumptions undertaken after the transfer of water assets from the Council, the projected increase has reduced from 24% to 18%.
“Alongside a rigorous focus on meeting water quality standards and delivering a well sequenced capital programme, we know we need to ensure costs are managed well,” Mr Strong said. “That includes people and businesses paying their fair share, and ensuring we spend customers’ and ratepayers’ money wisely.
“While investment is needed, we’re encouraged that further analysis has reduced the impact on customers in the short-term. We will continue to look for efficiencies as Selwyn Water builds capability and matures.”
Residents are encouraged to visit selwynwater.co.nz to access the draft Strategy, supporting information, and share feedback.
Feedback is open until 5pm, 1 June 2026. All submissions will be reviewed before the Strategy is finalised, with Selwyn Water committing to report back on what it heard and how feedback influenced the final document which will be considered by the Selwyn Water Board in June.
“This first Water Strategy marks the beginning of a new chapter for water services in Selwyn, one grounded in transparency, fairness, sound investment and long-term public health” said Mr Strong.