Earlier this year, the Government announced it was accelerating Local Water Done Well for the Wellington Region. On 15 May, Wellington Water became a specified entity for the purposes of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 and subject to "foundational information disclosure".
This kick-started the New Zealand Commerce Commission's monitoring role for Wellington Water, and now a key initial milestone has been reached: on 12 August, the Commerce Commission published its final decision on the foundational information disclosure that Wellington Water must meet.
Wellington Water must now publish reports on its progress into the delivery of its improvement plan, faults and fault management, and maintenance expenditure. It must also make some of its existing reporting more accessible.
Information disclosure regimes (such as the regime contained in Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986) are a form of economic regulation that is intended to promote transparency – a manifestation of the cliché "sunshine is the best disinfectant". Foundational information disclosure relating to water services likewise is intended to promote transparency – though, to modify the cliché, it is wintery sunshine, rather than the full blast of summer rays.
For more information about Local Water Done Well or economic regulation (including under Part 4 of the Commerce Act), please contact one of our experts.
This article was co-authored by Susie Kilty (partner) and Anna Parker (special counsel).
