Tiaki Wai Water Charges: Frequently Asked Questions for Wellington Landlords

If you’ve recently received your first Tiaki Wai water invoice and are wondering what it means for your rental property, you’re not alone.

Since water services moved from council rates to separate Tiaki Wai invoices on 1 July 2026, we’ve had a lot of enquiries from landlords across Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua asking how the new charges work and whether anything has changed for them or their tenants.

Below are answers to the questions we’re being asked most often. We’ll continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

Contents

• What is Tiaki Wai?
• Which councils are covered by Tiaki Wai?
• Why have I received a Tiaki Wai water invoice?
• How are Tiaki Wai water charges calculated?
• Do I need a water meter?
• Who pays Tiaki Wai water charges?
• Can landlords charge tenants for water in New Zealand?
• Will my tenants pay any of the new Tiaki Wai charges?
• How will I receive my Tiaki Wai invoice?
• What do the new Tiaki Wai water changes mean for landlords?
• Need advice about your rental property?

What is Tiaki Wai?
Tiaki Wai is the new organisation responsible for delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services across the Wellington region.

Since 1 July 2026, Tiaki Wai has been responsible for issuing water services invoices directly to property owners, rather than those charges being included in council rates.

Which councils are covered by Tiaki Wai?
The new Tiaki Wai charging system applies to properties within:

• Wellington City
• Lower Hutt
• Upper Hutt
• Porirua

If you own a rental property in one of these areas, you should now be receiving a separate water services invoice from Tiaki Wai.

Why have I received a Tiaki Wai water invoice?
Previously, water services charges were included in your council rates.

These charges are now billed separately by Tiaki Wai, which means you’ll receive two invoices: one from your local council for your rates and one from Tiaki Wai for water services.

How are Tiaki Wai water charges calculated?
For the first year, there has been no change to how water charges are calculated.

Tiaki Wai is using the same charging methods previously used by each local council. This means the amount you pay will continue to vary depending on your property’s location and the charging structure that already applied in your city.

Over time, Tiaki Wai intends to move towards charging properties based on actual water usage, although this is expected to happen gradually over the coming years.

Do I need a water meter?
Eventually, most properties will have one installed.

Tiaki Wai plans to install water meters across the Wellington region over the next five to seven years. Water meters measure the amount of water a property uses and will allow Tiaki Wai to introduce usage-based water charges over time.

Property owners don’t need to arrange a water meter themselves. Tiaki Wai will manage the rollout and contact owners when their property is scheduled for installation.

Who pays Tiaki Wai water charges?
The property owner remains responsible for paying the Tiaki Wai invoice.

Although the invoice is now issued separately from your council rates, responsibility for paying the fixed water charges has not changed.

Can landlords charge for water in New Zealand?
Sometimes, but only in specific circumstances.

Under New Zealand tenancy law, tenants can only be charged for water usage if the property has a separate water meter and the tenancy agreement clearly states that the tenant is responsible for those water usage charges.

Even if a tenant pays for water usage, the landlord remains responsible for any fixed water charges.

If you’re unsure what applies to your rental property, it’s worth checking your tenancy agreement or speaking with your property manager before passing any charges on to your tenant.

Will my tenants pay any of the new Tiaki Wai charges?
Not automatically.

Receiving a separate invoice from Tiaki Wai does not mean all water charges can be passed on to tenants.

Only metered water usage may be recoverable from a tenant, provided the tenancy agreement allows for it. Fixed water charges remain the responsibility of the property owner.

How will I receive my Tiaki Wai invoice?
Tiaki Wai issues quarterly water services invoices directly to property owners and provides a range of payment options.

If you believe you should have received an invoice but haven’t, it’s worth contacting Tiaki Wai to make sure they have your correct contact details.

What do the new Tiaki Wai water changes mean for landlords?
For most landlords, the biggest change is simply how water services are billed.

Instead of paying for water through your council rates, you’ll now receive a separate invoice from Tiaki Wai. For now, the way charges are calculated remains the same, although that is expected to change over time as water meters are rolled out across the Wellington region.

If you’re managing your own rental property, it’s worth making sure you’re familiar with the rules around recovering water charges from tenants so you don’t accidentally breach the Residential Tenancies Act.

Need advice about your rental property?
If you’ve received your Tiaki Wai invoice and you’re unsure what it means for your rental property or tenancy agreement, we’re happy to help.

Our team can explain how the new water charges work, what costs landlords are responsible for and when water usage can be recovered from tenants. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to discuss your situation.

Written by Lisa Nimmo
Property Consultant and Business Development Manager | Manage My Rental

Lisa Nimmo works with landlords throughout Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua, providing rental appraisals and practical advice to help owners maximise returns, minimise risk and protect their investment properties.

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