Auckland households will face lower water bill increases from July 2024, thanks to the newly approved Watercare Charter.

The change means Coasties will see smaller jumps in their water charges over the coming years.

The Watercare Charter, now passed into law, was announced by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown.

It’s part of Auckland Council’s financial plan, supported by the Government under the Local Water Done Well framework.

The Charter halves previously planned water charge increases.

Residential customers connected to drinking water and wastewater services were facing a 14.6 percent rise on 01 July 2025.

Under the new plan, this will now be reduced to 7.2 percent.

Last year, the increase was also limited to 7.2 percent, a significant drop from the 25.8 percent originally proposed.

For Coasties, this means more breathing room in household budgets, with estimated savings across Auckland totalling around $899 million over the next four years.

Minister Watts says the Charter will help Watercare deliver affordable, reliable services while also investing in critical infrastructure.

“Aucklanders can keep more money in their household budgets, allowing them to spend it on other essential expenses such as groceries and healthcare,” he said.

Watercare’s investment in infrastructure remains strong, with an average of $1.3 billion a year committed to projects.

The Government’s aim is to keep water services safe, resilient, and efficient without burdening ratepayers.

Auckland Minister Simeon Brown adds that keeping living costs manageable is a key priority.

“The Local Water Done Well solution has prevented large increases in Aucklanders’ water rates while ensuring we keep investing in the water infrastructure our city will need,” he said.

This new approach also gives Auckland Council more flexibility to invest in other essential projects across the region, supporting future growth.

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