ComCom seeks information and performance improvements from Wellington’s water pr…
As Wellington consumers prepare for a new water service provider from 1 July 2026, the Commerce Commission is proposing additional regulation to strengthen the oversight of Tiaki Wai.
It considers that more information should be shared with the public and that performance requirements should be imposed.
Charlotte Reed, Head of Water Regulation at the Commission, says there is evidence that the risk to consumer outcomes is higher for Tiaki Wai than for other regulated suppliers, so additional oversight is needed right from the start.
“The Commission’s role is to promote the interests of Wellington residents now, and over the long term. We want Tiaki Wai to invest efficiently, pay close attention to its operating costs, and ensure consumers get quality and value for money from water services,” says Reed.
Under the proposals, Tiaki Wai would be required to:
- Clearly explain how well its assets are being managed and how it plans to improve this. Supported by independent expert checks and regular reporting, this would provide confidence that there is progress against a realistic plan to improve performance.
- Use an independent expert to review its planned expenditure. This would help ensure money is spent wisely and for the right reasons, without interfering with existing governance arrangements or lender oversight.
- Provide more transparency of selected service outcomes by reporting on spend, faults and resolution timeframes by council area, so customers can see what is happening over time in their district.
“The additional reporting would encourage Tiaki Wai to demonstrate credible planning, prudent investment and to make steady improvement,” adds Reed.
The Commission is also consulting on whether a further regulatory tool called performance requirements should be applied to Tiaki Wai, with a view to making a recommendation to the Minister to decide if this is imposed.
“We think performance requirement regulation would incentivise Tiaki Wai to prioritise critical improvements and deliver them on time,” says Reed.
The additional requirements will inform whether the Commission needs to take further regulatory action in future if performance improvements fall short of what consumers expect and deserve.