Summary
The purpose of this Act is to establish Taumata Arowai–the Water Services Regulator and provide for its objectives, functions, and governance arrangements. Taumata Arowai is a Crown entity established in March 2021 to help ensure the safety of New Zealand’s drinking water. This is part of the “Three waters reform” which occurred after an inquiry into a large outbreak of campylobacter in 2016 in Havelock North’s drinking water. Up to 5500 people became ill, and four people are thought to have died as a result of this outbreak. In 2024, this regulatory body will assume responsibility for wastewater and stormwater networks, becoming the three waters regulator for Aotearoa. One of the objectives listed of Taumata Arowai’s is to “give effect to Te Mana o te Wai, to the extent that Te Mana o te Wai applies to the functions and duties of Taumata Arowai.” Te Mana o Te Wai is an important ecological concept that has the same meaning as under NPS-FW 2020. Te Mana o te Wai recognizes that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health and well-being of the wider environment. It protects the mauri (life force) of the wai (water). Te Mana o te Wai is about restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment, and the community.
The new version of the Act, which will incorporate waste and stormwater, comes into effect October 2023.
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/new-zealand-taumata-arowai-the-water-services-regulator-act-2020/.
When using our data, please follow the FAIR and CARE Principles for data governance outlined in our Ethics Statement. We are doing our best to be correct in the information we provide, but if you notice any omission or inaccuracy, please report this to us immediately at info@ecojurisprudence.org so we can correct it.
Eco Jurisprudence Tracker is licensed under CC BY 4.0
