Name, directors in place for joint council water company

Waikato’s first publicly owned water company, IAWAI Flowing Waters, has its first-ever board of directors.

The company name was announced today, June 24, by the chair of the establishment board appointment panel, Jaydene Kana, on behalf of the company’s shareholders, Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils, in partnership with Waikato-Tainui.

Kana also announced the company’s three-person establishment board, naming Kevin Lavery as executive chair with Tim Manukau (Tainui Waka) and Dave Chambers as directors.

Lavery has been appointed for a two-year term, effective July 1, and will manage the company until a chief executive is appointed later this year. Manukau will also serve a two-year term while Chambers will be on the board, initially for a one-year term.

The directors were appointed by a nine-person panel made up of representatives from both councils and Waikato-Tainui.

Kana said given the critical role of the company, the panel looked for specific skills including strong experience in establishing organisations, experience in governance and leadership, an understanding of local government and water service delivery and strong whakapapa (genealogy) links to the Waikato River.

“There was a lot of high-calibre interest in these board appointments, impressive candidates and ultimately standout directors with the requisite skills.”

Lavery is an experienced chief executive, familiar with setting up new organisations and with a deep understanding of water reform. Huntly-based Manukau is a Waikato River kaitiaki, has a strong science background and is well known locally in multiple governance roles. Chambers has been Watercare’s chief executive since February 2023 and will end that role this month, before taking up his IAWAI Flowing Waters directorship.

The panel chose the company name from a shortlist put forward by staff in collaboration with Waikato-Tainui.

“We recognised the mana reflected in the name IAWAI with river (awa) in the centre, and referencing flow (ia) and water (wai). It is a fitting name and will serve us well,” Kana said.

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said the decisions were an exciting step in the establishment of a new water entity.

“The board collectively has huge experience and skill to bring to the table. The work ahead is not easy but vital to the future of our fast-growing city.”

Waikato District Mayor Jacqui Church said it was a privilege seeing the Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) come to life.

“Future-proofing waters for our people and generations to come is a much-needed and important legacy, directly resulting from the hard work and collaboration by both councils to keep waters as efficient and as affordable as possible. The board brings huge experience and skill. The work ahead is not easy but vital to the future of our fast-growing district and city.”

Both councils unanimously agreed to form a CCO last month to jointly build and manage water infrastructure in the future. The move reflects a strong push by the central government to see councils join together to provide water services.

Over the next 12 months, the IAWAI Flowing Waters Board will oversee the transfer of staff, assets, liabilities, consents, contracts and land from councils to the CCO. This will include the identification, valuation and transfer of all water assets and water-related debt. It will also guide the development of a 10-year water services strategy.

When the company is operational from July 1, 2026, it will manage 90,700 water connections and invest around $3.6 billion in water infrastructure over the next decade. Of that $3.6 billion, 67 percent ($2.4 billion) is in response to growth.