As Waikato District Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation nears its final week, a major proposal on the table could reshape how local water is managed and protect the region’s most significant natural asset, the Waikato River.
The Council has announced a proposed partnership with Hamilton City Council to create a new joint Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to manage water services across both areas. The move comes as part of the government’s wider “Local Water Done Well” reforms, encouraging local solutions for infrastructure challenges. For Tamahere residents, this is more than a bureaucratic shuffle—it’s a moment to engage in shaping the future of local water.
At the heart of the proposal is a shift in how water is valued and cared for. The river, considered a tupuna (ancestor) by local iwi, hapū and tangata whenua, is central to identity, wellbeing, and ecological health. A seamless CCO structure would aim to deliver more reliable services while protecting the integrity of the awa through a coordinated approach.
Waikato District Council Chief Executive Craig Hobbs says it’s time for communities to think differently about how water is managed and valued. “Caring for our awa starts with our homes and businesses. We all have a collective responsibility to understand the impacts we create, especially as changing weather patterns affect water availability.”
Tamahere Community Committee (TCC) will hold its next public meeting Monday 6 May at 7:30pm at the Tamahere Community Centre, Devine Rd, where this proposal, along with updates on public transport funding and the NZTA/HCC roundabout, will be discussed.
You are encouraged to attend, listen, and contribute as TCC prepares its submission. Because the future of our water and our river is something we all have a stake in.
