Ashley Edwards
From 1 July 2026, Wellington's water services are now managed by Tiaki Wai, replacing the previous council-managed system. While the change doesn't immediately alter who pays for water in most rental properties, it does introduce a new billing process for property owners and lays the foundation for future water metering across the region.
If you're a landlord or a tenant, here's what you need to know.
What is Tiaki Wai?
Tiaki Wai is the new regional water organisation responsible for delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services across Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. From 1 July 2026, property owners receive a separate water services bill directly from Tiaki Wai instead of paying for these services through their council rates.
What does this mean for landlords?
The biggest immediate change is how water services are billed.
Landlords will now receive a separate Tiaki Wai invoice for water services. During the 2026/27 year, these charges remain fixed and continue to be the responsibility of the property owner, regardless of whether the property is occupied.
At this stage:
- Property owners continue to pay the fixed water service charges.
- Nothing changes for most existing tenancy agreements.
- Water charges cannot simply be passed on to tenants because billing has changed.
What does this mean for tenants?
For most tenants, there is no immediate change.
Your landlord will receive the Tiaki Wai bill, not you. Unless your property already has an individual water meter and your tenancy agreement provides for water usage to be charged separately, tenants will not receive a Tiaki Wai invoice.
What about water meters?
One of the most talked-about changes is the future rollout of residential water meters.
Tiaki Wai intends to introduce smart water meters across the region over the coming years, beginning with pilot programmes before a wider rollout. The programme will take several years to complete.
Once individual meters are installed, the way water usage is charged may change.
In general:
- Landlords will continue to be responsible for fixed water service charges.
- Metered water usage may be recoverable from tenants where permitted by the Residential Tenancies Act and where the tenancy agreement allows for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my rent automatically increase because of Tiaki Wai?
Not necessarily. Tiaki Wai does not change tenancy law or automatically affect rental prices.
Can landlords charge tenants for water now?
Only in limited circumstances, such as where an individually metered property and tenancy agreement already allow for recovering water usage charges. The introduction of Tiaki Wai alone does not create a new right to charge tenants.
Do I need to organise a water meter?
No. Tiaki Wai has advised property owners not to install their own meters ahead of the regional programme, as future smart meter specifications have not yet been finalised.
How Leaders Property Management Can Help
As the new system continues to evolve, we'll keep our landlords and tenants informed of any legislative or operational changes.
If you have questions about:
- your tenancy agreement,
- future water charging,
- landlord responsibilities, or
- how the Tiaki Wai rollout may affect your property,
our team is here to help.