Billing
The way your pay for water services has changed
On 1 July 2026, Tiaki Wai took over responsibility for the delivery of water services across Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington. Water services charges, which were previously included in council rates, are now billed separately.
Property owners in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington now receive:
- a council rates bill from their local council, and
- a separate water services bill from Tiaki Wai.
If your property has an existing water meter and was previously billed by your council for water usage, you will receive also receive a separate Tiaki Wai bill for water usage.
Your first water services bill is on its way
First bills are being issued on the following dates:
- Upper Hutt City Council properties: from 27 July 2026
- Wellington City Council properties: 29 July 2026
- Hutt City Council properties: 30 July
- Porirua City Council properties: 3 August 2026
The due date for payment of your first Tiaki Wai bill is 1 September 2026.
Your first Tiaki Wai bill covers water services from 1 July 2026. Future bills will be issued every three months, on the same cycle as your council rates.
What will you be paying for?
Your water services charges will cover costs for the operation and maintenance of infrastructure networks that:
- supplies drinking water to your property
- removes wastewater from your sinks and toilets
- manages stormwater from public areas and connected drainage networks.
These essential services help ensure safe, reliable water and wastewater services across the region.
Paying your water services bill
You will be able to pay your bill by direct debit, online banking, phone banking, or over the counter at NZ Post stores that offer bill-payment services.
Initially, Tiaki Wai is working with councils to deliver billing services on its behalf. For this reason, the payment options for your Tiaki Wai bills are slightly different for each council.
Select your city for information about available payment options and how to set up payments:
If you own properties in more than one city, you may need to set up payment arrangements separately for each property.
If you are struggling to pay your water services bill, there is support available.
Calculate your estimated water charges
Below is a calculator, which will give you an indication of your 2026/27 water services charges.
This calculator will provide indicative charges based on the information you enter. Actual charges may differ. It is based on a standard property fully connected to water and wastewater networks and serviced by stormwater. It does not account for special rating differentials applied to some community groups. For further detail of non-standard charges please refer to the Pricing Policy.
| The Wellington City Councils property search function is offline for the next 2 to 3 weeks following the end of the last rating year. For rates and valuation information please contact the council via 04 499 444 or emailing rates@wcc.govt.nz |
Estimate your 2026/27 water charges
This calculator will provide indicative charges based on the information you enter.
Your bill will confirm water services charges for your property.
This calculator will provide indicative charges based on the information you enter. Actual charges may differ. It is based on a standard property fully connected to water and wastewater networks and serviced by stormwater. It does not account for special rating differentials applied to some community groups. For further detail of non-standard charges please refer to the Privacy Policy TEST.
When a property changes hands
As part of the property sales process, water charges have to be apportioned at settlement.