Shaping the Future of Water: Empowering Councils to Lead Local Water Reform
The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 marks a generational shift in how New Zealand councils manage water infrastructure.
With the September 2025 deadline looming, councils face a pivotal moment to shape their communities' water future. Preparing Water Service Delivery Plans (WSDPs) is not just about meeting compliance—it’s an opportunity to lead the narrative, engage meaningfully with communities, and make decisions that will define water services for decades to come.
The Challenges
Councils face a delicate balancing act:
- Tight Deadlines: Nine months may feel like a long time, but crafting a 30-year vision for water services requires urgent action.
- Collaborative Complexity: Working with neighbouring councils on a joint WSDP is efficient but demands careful coordination and storytelling.
- Public Trust: Rebuilding community trust post-Three Waters requires transparent and relatable communication.
- Engagement at Scale: Councils must engage diverse communities, collect meaningful feedback, and translate it into actionable insights—all within a tight timeframe.
- Simplifying Complexity: From ratepayer impacts to climate-driven infrastructure needs, councils must simplify technical details without losing the big picture.
How OrbViz Empowers Councils
At OrbViz, we recognise that navigating water reform presents both challenges and opportunities. Councils must balance compliance demands with community engagement and long-term vision. That’s why we provide the tools and insights to help you stay in control and deliver plans that are effective and community-driven.
Here’s how OrbViz can help:
- Unified Regional Planning: Collaborate with neighbouring councils to present cohesive, region-wide water plans.
- Clarity from Complexity: Turn technical data into clear, actionable insights that inform decisions and engage stakeholders.
- Effective Community Engagement: Launch ready-to-use consultation campaigns to gather meaningful feedback at scale.
- Transparent Financial Insights: Equip your team to communicate water investment costs and benefits clearly to ratepayers.
- Inspiring Long-Term Vision: Present a 30-year water strategy that builds trust and demonstrates sustainability.
We’re here to empower your council with the resources and strategies to deliver plans that meet regulatory demands and reflect your community’s vision.
The Opportunity Ahead
“Local Water Done Well” provides councils with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine water services. This is your chance to tell a story that reflects local values, demonstrates financial responsibility, and lays the groundwork for a sustainable water future.
Why Act Now
The clock is ticking. In September 2025, you’ll finalise decisions that will shape water services for the next three decades. OrbViz is here to help you turn urgency into actionable plans and build alignment across your community and stakeholders.
A Trusted Partner
OrbViz has a proven track record of helping councils navigate complex reforms, communicate effectively with communities, and deliver results. With our expertise, your council can confidently lead the way in water management transformation, meeting both regulatory demands and the needs of your community.
Let’s work together to deliver water done well.
