Research Projects
WaterFuturesNZ
Securing our water future
WaterFuturesNZ is a research project that aims to contribute to a national conversation on how we might design safe, accessible and reliable water services for Aotearoa New Zealand.
The project aims to help ensure that clean, safe water is freely available for now and for future generations. The Institute recognises that water is a significant public asset that requires legal and policy protection.
More detail
Water reform in New Zealand
A 2013 OAG report estimated that at least 12% of public assets under both central government and local government are water service assets. Water will become increasingly in demand as the world becomes more populated and challenged by climate change.
The Government’s proposed Three Waters Reform was an area of critical importance to the future of New Zealand’s health and economy. The Institute engaged heavily in this area at the time to understand water policy in New Zealand and encourage a public conversation about our water future. Learn more about the Water Services Entities Bill.
Think Piece 39 – Three Waters: New body corporate model reduces government accountability (2022)
This think piece was produced to explore the proposed Three Waters Reform in New Zealand in 2022. The Explanatory Note to the Water Services Entities Bill before the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee made clear that the body corporate proposed would be a ‘new public service delivery model’ for New Zealand.
Past work
Oral submission on the Water Services Entities Bill (2022)
The Institute’s oral submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee included the Scottish Water Annual Report 2022 and the 2009 Scottish Water Governance Directions.