Kia ora, 

 

We refer to your information request below. Hamilton City Council provides
the following response. 

 

Your request: 

This is a request for information and documentation as covered by the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and/or the
Official Information Act 1982.
These questions concern the information and modeling used to create the
following documents:
• IAWAI Flowing Waters Water Services Strategy (March 2026)
• Water Service Delivery Plan (June 2025)
• Local Water Done Well Business Case FINAL (December 2024)
Each question should be considered and answered individually where
possible.
1. When is "price harmonisation" expected to occur between the average
household (or connection) in Hamilton City and Waikato District?
2. What is the expect water charge per average household (or connection)
in Hamilton City when "price harmonisation" is expected to occur with
Waikato District households?
3. Were any estimates or projections for median residential water charges
past 2029 done in preparation for the Waters Water Services Strategy?
4. Can estimates or projections for median residential water charges past
2029 under the Waters Water Services Strategy be released?
5. What are the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) values for increases in
median residential water charges as projected by the Waters Water Services
Strategy's model(s)?
6. Can the "annual change in average rates per connection" graph with CAGR
for HCC Status Quo (Option A2), which was missing from the Local Water
Done Well Business Case FINAL (December 2024) be made available on a
public website?
7. Are there any projections or models (e.g. “WSS 1”) where the expect
water charge per average household (or connection) in Hamilton City is
over $6000/year before 2037?
8. How much has been spent on IAWAI's branding and marketing up until May
2026?
9. How much has been spent on IAWAI board members and directors for each
month up until May 2026?
10. For IAWAI over the last 6 months, can we have a table of the numbers
of new personnel which have be hired according to salary bands?
11. For the "Universal Water Meters" on page 55 of the IAWAI Flowing
Waters Water Services Strategy, what is the estimate just for new water
meters for Hamilton City?
Our response: 
1. When is "price harmonisation" expected to occur between the average
household (or connection) in Hamilton City and Waikato District? 
IAWAI is currently working on a wide range of options for water charges
and pathways towards harmonisation. These issues will be the subject of
consultation through the development of the 2027-37 Water Services
Strategy. 
We note that the Statement of Expectations for IAWAI - Flowing Waters
Limited, adopted by the IAWAI Forum in June 2025, establishes the
expectation that IAWAI will harmonise prices within 5 years. Our work so
far suggests that a longer timeframe will be needed to help smooth
prices and impacts on customers. This will be a key focus for the Board
and for future public engagement on pricing. 
2. What is the expect water charge per average household (or connection)
in Hamilton City when "price harmonisation" is expected to occur with
Waikato District households? 
At this stage there is no ‘expected price for harmonisation’ because work
on options for water charges and pathways towards harmonisation is
on-going. These issues will be the subject of consultation through the
development of the 2027-37 Water Services Strategy. 
The Water Services Delivery Plan submitted by Shareholder Councils to the
Department of Internal Affairs, sets out the average forecast charges
across 10 years. This information can be found here:
[1]https://hamilton.govt.nz/environment-and...
3. Were any estimates or projections for median residential water charges
past 2029 done in preparation for the Waters Water Services Strategy? 
For Waikato District Council, projected charges were based solely on what
was already modelled through councils Long Term Plans.  
Please see the below for Hamilton City Councils forecast past 2029. 
[2]A black and green rectangle with numbers AI-generated content may be
incorrect. 
This forecast is lower than what councils forecast through the Water
Services Delivery Plan, reflecting IAWAI focus on affordability.  
The Water Services Strategy 2026-36 included price information for 3 years
only as is required by the Local Government (Water Services) Act, and
given work on options for water charges and pathways towards harmonisation
is on-going. These issues will be the subject of consultation through the
development of the 2027-37 Water Services Strategy. 
4. Can estimates or projections for median residential water charges past
2029 under the Waters Water Services Strategy be released? 
Work on options for water charges and pathways towards harmonisation is
on-going. These issues will be the subject of consultation through the
development of the 2027-37 Water Services Strategy. 
5. What are the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) values for increases in
median residential water charges as projected by the Waters Water Services
Strategy's model(s)? 
Please see above to our answer for questions 2, as projections of median
residential water charges beyond 2029 were not completed long run CGAR of
that measure is not available.  
Under question 2 we note you were specifically requesting information re
HCC. On that basis we note the 2026-2029 CAGR reflected in the WSS is
19.5%, which is down on the 24.6% CGAR over the same period reflect in HCC
Local Waters Done Well business case. 
 
6. Can the "annual change in average rates per connection" graph with CAGR
for HCC Status Quo (Option A2), which was missing from the Local Water
Done Well Business Case FINAL (December 2024) be made available on a
public website? 
Through the Business Case, all HCC scenarios were modelled based on the
rates proposed by councils through the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan rate
rises. There is no difference in the CAGR for option A2 or A3. Please see
attachment 4 of the Council report sets out this information:
[3]Council-Open-Agenda-12-December-2024-v5.pdf 
7. Are there any projections or models (e.g. “WSS 1”) where the expect
water charge per average household (or connection) in Hamilton City is
over $6000/year before 2037? 
No there are currently no projections or modelling that have been done for
this. 
8. How much has been spent on IAWAI's branding and marketing up until May
2026? 
The total spends captured under Brand/Marketing/Advertising expense lines
for IAWAI to May 2026 is $123,900. 
This includes the creation of the IAWAI brand, spend for development of
digital and other assets to support internal and external communication
and to establish the IAWAI website. 
Establishing IAWAI and preparing for 1 July 2026 requires redesign of
multiple documents across two councils including community
information, water charges and rates invoice design, position
descriptions, policy templates, letterhead and flier templates, volumetric
charging invoicing, contractual documents and many more.  
This spend also included advertising associated with Board meetings. 
9. How much has been spent on IAWAI board members and directors for each
month up until May 2026? 
In the first 6 months, the Chair of the Board held the role of Executive
Chair, acting as both Board Chair and the Chief Executive until a CE was
appointed. His remuneration for this period, reflects the nature of this
role. 
Directors were, likewise, paid a premium in the first 6 months, noting the
intensive set up phase of IAWAI and the expectations of their time. Board
fees have now reverted to ordinary fees, benchmarked against other similar
Boards. 
*Certain months include amounts for mileage and reimbursements. 

+-------------------------------+
| Row Labels  | Sum of Amount  |
|--------------+----------------|
| 2025  | $252,172  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Jul  | $13,125  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Aug  | $43,066  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Sep  | $58,333  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Oct  | $42,498  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Nov  | $49,792  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Dec  | $45,358  |
|--------------+----------------|
| 2026  | $83,322  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Jan  | $22,661  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Feb  | $15,032  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Mar  | $15,140  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Apr  | $15,490  |
|--------------+----------------|
| May  | $15,000  |
|--------------+----------------|
| Grand Total  | $335,494  |
+-------------------------------+

 
10. For IAWAI over the last 6 months, can we have a table of the numbers
of new personnel which have be hired according to salary bands? 
The Chief Executive’s salary is banded at $400,000 - $419,999.  
Currently there are only 10 staff were employed by IAWAI
and commenced work over the last 6 months, releasing salary information by
salary band would be likely to enable the identification of individuals,
so this information is being weld under s7(2)(a) of LGOIMA - to protect
the privacy of natural persons. 
11. For the "Universal Water Meters" on page 55 of the IAWAI Flowing
Waters Water Services Strategy, what is the estimate just for new water
meters for Hamilton City? 
Currently IAWAI is still in negotiations, IAWAI are still in negotiations
around so we are unable to this information under s7(2)(i) of LGOIMA to
enable the organisation to carry on commercial negotiations without
prejudice or disadvantage. 
Once commercial negotiations are complete this will be released, if IAWAI
decides to proceed with the introduction of universal water meters. 
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[4]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602. 

 

Ngaa mihi

Keeley Faulkner

Official Information Advisor & Legal Support Officer

Governance & Assurance Team | Partnerships, communication & Maaori

Email: [5][Hamilton City Council request email]

Hamilton City Council | Private Bag 3010 | Hamilton 3240 |
[6]www.hamilton.govt.nz
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Editor <[FOI #34708 email]>
Sent: Friday, 15 May 2026 10:42 am
To: Official Information <[Hamilton City Council request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - IAWAI Models, Projections, and
Costs
 
To whom it may concern at the Hamilton City Council,

This is a request for information and documentation as covered by the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and/or the
Official Information Act 1982.

These questions concern the information and modeling used to create the
following documents:
• IAWAI Flowing Waters Water Services Strategy (March 2026)
• Water Service Delivery Plan (June 2025)
• Local Water Done Well Business Case FINAL (December 2024)

Each question should be considered and answered individually where
possible.

1. When is "price harmonisation" expected to occur between the average
household (or connection) in Hamilton City and Waikato District?

2. What is the expect water charge per average household (or connection)
in Hamilton City when "price harmonisation" is expected to occur with
Waikato District households?

3. Were any estimates or projections for median residential water charges
past 2029 done in preparation for the Waters Water Services Strategy?

4. Can estimates or projections for median residential water charges past
2029 under the Waters Water Services Strategy be released?

5. What are the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) values for increases in
median residential water charges as projected by the Waters Water Services
Strategy's model(s)?

6. Can the "annual change in average rates per connection" graph with CAGR
for HCC Status Quo (Option A2), which was missing from the Local Water
Done Well Business Case FINAL (December 2024) be made available on a
public website?

7. Are there any projections or models (e.g. “WSS 1”) where the expect
water charge per average household (or connection) in Hamilton City is
over $6000/year before 2037?

8. How much has been spent on IAWAI's branding and marketing up until May
2026?

9. How much has been spent on IAWAI board members and directors for each
month up until May 2026?

10. For IAWAI over the last 6 months, can we have a table of the numbers
of new personnel which have be hired according to salary bands?

11. For the "Universal Water Meters" on page 55 of the IAWAI Flowing
Waters Water Services Strategy, what is the estimate just for new water
meters for Hamilton City?

Sincerely,

John McDonald (Editor at CityWatch NZ)

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