Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Spending on water services will be nearly $9 billion higher under the Local Water Done Well model than councils previously estimated.
Councils had to submit water service plans to show how they would organise water services in a financially sustainable way as part of the reforms.
In a statement, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said all plans had now been signed off, with 44 councils handing over to a separate company and 23 keeping services in house.
"These numbers mean that 76 percent of New Zealand's population will have water services delivered through a CCO model. This collaboration between councils offers significant assistance in addressing affordability challenges."
There will be 19 total Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) with 38 of the councils combining their services to form 12 CCOs, and a further seven single-council CCOs.
He said the total cost estimate from the plans was nearly $9b higher than under the councils' earlier long-term plans, which were not required to ensure capital investment was sufficient to achieve compliance.
"The $47.9 billion total estimated investment across all plans shows councils recognise that after decades of under-investment, water projects can't wait any longer," he said.
"We need to fix the pipes, and we must address an unacceptable level of non-compliance, but we must also future proof for a growing population. It's important to strike the right balance."
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