Wellington
Key dates for property owners in the Wellington City Council area:
First water services bill distribution date: 29 July (you may receive it on a different date depending on whether you receive it by post or email)
Payment due date: 1 September
The options for paying your water services bill will be:
- direct debit – giving Tiaki Wai authority to deduct bill payments directly from your account
- online banking - pay your Tiaki Wai bill manually from your bank account
- over the counter – pay at NZ Post stores that offer ‘pay a bill’ services
Tiaki Wai account numbers
Each property will be allocated a unique Tiaki Wai water services account number, shown on your Tiaki Wai bill. This account number must be used when making payment, to make sure payments are allocated to the correct property.
Tiaki Wai water service account numbers will be different to council rate account numbers or property valuation numbers.
Properties with an existing water meter that receive metered water bills from council will also be allocated a water usage account number. This will be different to the council metered water account number reference.
Properties with water meters – important information
Currently, water meters are mostly connected to commercial properties or larger residential properties such as apartment blocks. There is a very small number of individual residential properties with a meter.
Properties with a water meter will receive two Tiaki Wai bills:
- one water services bill covering drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater (which all properties will receive) that will arrive once every three months.
- one bill for metered water usage (based on your meter reading) that will arrive at the same frequency you currently receive this bill from council.
You can expect to be billed by your council for your water usage up to 30 June 2026 based on either an actual or estimated reading.
Your water services bill and your water usage bill will have different Tiaki Wai account numbers. You can choose a different payment option for each type of bill.
If you’re unsure about whether you have a water meter, please contact your council directly.
Ways to pay
Direct debits
How direct debits work
A direct debit gives Tiaki Wai authority to deduct payment for your water services bill from your bank account. About 50 percent of ratepayers use this method to pay their rates. However, any existing direct debit arrangement you have set up for your rates will not transfer to Tiaki Wai.
If you want to pay for your water services bills by direct debit, you will need to set up a new direct debit with Tiaki Wai. A separate direct debit authority is required for each property.
Setting up a direct debit means you can choose the payment frequency that suits you. You can choose the following options: weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or in full on the invoice due date.
Direct debit payments can start once your direct debit authority has been processed. Your payment schedule and deduction dates will be confirmed when your direct debit is set up.
How to set up your direct debit
Direct debit form guidance
- Have your Tiaki Wai bill to hand: You will be asked to provide your Tiaki Wai account number and property information. Complete one form per property.
- Enter your contact information: We need to be able to contact you to confirm arrangements.
- Enter your preferred payment frequency: You can choose weekly, fortnightly, monthly or in full on the due date. For weekly, fortnightly, or monthly direct debits, you can leave the amount field blank on the form. We will calculate the correct amount for the payments and confirm it with you. Before any payments are deducted, you will be advised by email of the amount to be deducted, and the date the transaction will happen (note that this cannot be earlier than 10 August - see below).
- Enter the start date: Enter your preferred start date for direct debit payments. Note that the earliest start date you can enter for your direct debit payments is 10 August 2026 (dates that are entered before 10 August will be ineligible).
- Enter your bank account details and sign the Direct Debit Authority: This information has to be shared with your bank but will be managed in line with the Privacy Act 2020. See the Wellington City Council privacy statement.
- Email the completed form: to the address on the form, directdebit@tiakiwai.wcc.govt.nz. You can also post a hard copy to PO Box 38350, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.
Next steps:
You will receive an email acknowledgement of receipt of your direct debit form, and you will then receive a separate acknowledgement email that your direct debit has been set up within 15 working days. This is why you need to include your email address on the form.
Read our direct debit terms and conditions.
To pay future invoices by direct debit, complete and return the form as soon as possible to allow time for processing.
Online banking
You can pay your Tiaki Wai bill directly through your bank’s online banking service by setting up Tiaki Wai as a payee.
For your water services bill (the one everyone gets) the registered payee from 1 July will be:
Tiaki Wai Wellington – Water Services
The bank account number should automatically appear. If you have a meter, you will have to set up a different payee.
Tiaki Wai Wellington – Water Usage
When making payments, please use your water services account number/s (shown on your bill) as the payment reference. Once you’ve set up Tiaki Wai as a payee, you can make one-off payments through online banking (i.e., pay your bill in full), or automatic payments to spread the cost of your bill over time (making sure the total amount of your bill is paid by the due date).
If paying from overseas, you may also need to provide your bank with the relevant account and international identifier details (eg SWIFT/BIC). Please contact your bank if you need further information.
Over the counter at NZ Post
You can pay your Tiaki Wai bill over the counter at NZ Post stores offering in-store services. Bring your Tiaki Wai bill and pay using cash, EFTPOS, debit card, or credit card.
To find the NZ Post store offering in-store services that’s most convenient to you::
- Visit this page on their website: https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/find-nz-post
- Enter your postcode, city or suburb or address in the text box
- Filter your search by ‘Pay a bill’
- The relevant stores will be listed.