Safe water every day for everyone Kia tiakina te wai hei oranga mō te katoa
Engaging on national engineering design standards
We’re engaging with the water services sector over the next five weeks on a proposed framework for National Engineering Design Standards (NEDS).
Councils currently use their own local codes of practice for all types of water infrastructure, creating a fragmented system with up to 45 different codes in use across New Zealand.
The NEDS will provide a nationally consistent approach to building and upgrading water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The standards will apply across the entire lifecycle of water infrastructure.
We’re seeking feedback on how the standards and codes of practice should be organised, and what we should prioritise for the first set of national standards and codes of practice.
Latest news and events
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Feedback sought on National Engineering Design Standards framework
5 August 2026The Water Services Authority is engaging with the water sector on an organising framework for new National Engineering Design Standards.Find out more -
New national report reveals key pressure points across New Zealand's water networks
27 July 2026New Zealand's first complete national picture of public drinking water and wastewater network performance shows many water networks are under pressure, and better data, maintenance and targeted investment is urgently needed.Find out more -
Guidance on the wastewater discharge to land standard published
14 July 2026We’ve published guidance on the wastewater discharge to land standard.Find out more -
Water Services Authority releases position on downstream drinking water suppliers
8 July 2026The Authority is taking steps to improve clarity for downstream drinking water suppliers.Find out more
Network Environmental Performance Report 2024/25
We have published the Network Environmental Performance Report 2024/25 providing a valuable evidence base as the water sector enters a period of significant change.
The findings show many networks are under pressure, highlighting the need for better data, maintenance and targeted investment to manage risks to public health, the environment and long-term resilience.
Updated drinking water rules published
We have published the updated Water Services (Drinking Water Quality Assurance) Rules 2026, which make changes for large supplies, following consultation with the sector in late 2025.
The updates are part of our work to make the Rules clearer and easier for drinking water suppliers to understand and apply in practice, and will support the provision of safe, reliable drinking water for communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.