Letter seeks assurance on sufficient drinking water for Wellington metropolitan area

We’ve been working constructively with Wellington Water and its owner councils since they advised us last November about a potential water shortage this summer.

On 21 February 2024, we requested that Wellington Water and its council owners provide a plan for how they will reduce the risk to public health from water shortage next summer.

We requested this plan be sent to us by 8 March 2024, because early and sustained action will be key to entering next summer with confidence.

Wellington Water and its owner councils requested an additional week to provide a collective response. As the councils and Wellington Water have worked constructively alongside Taumata Arowai this summer, we were comfortable that an additional week to respond was a reasonable request.

Once we receive this plan on 15 March 2024, it will take time for our technical experts to analyse it. As part of this process, we will consider whether any actions are required by us to limit the risk of people in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Porirua facing a water shortage next summer.

Read our 21 February 2024 letter