Hinekōrako ,
Supplier web portal

Hinekōrako is the primary channel for registration and management of drinking water supplies and wastewater networks. It's also a platform for suppliers, laboratories and operators to share information with us.

What is Hinekōrako?

Hinekōrako is a web-based portal for drinking water suppliers, IANZ accredited drinking testing laboratories and wastewater network operators .

It's for registering and managing drinking water supplies and wastewater networks, and for sharing information with Taumata Arowai.  

Hinekōrako is also the home of the public registers for drinking water supplies and wastewater networks. The registers provide New Zealanders the ability to find out more information about who their drinking water supplier is, submit a concern or complaint about their drinking water supplier, and about wastewater networks.

Who is Hinekōrako for? 

Hinekōrako is for all registered drinking water suppliers in Aotearoa, for all laboratories accredited by IANZ for drinking water testing, and wastewater network operators.

Hinekōrako is also the home of the public registers for drinking water supplies and wastewater networks. The registers provide New Zealanders the ability to find out more information about who their drinking water supplier is, submit a concern or complaint about their drinking water supplier, and about wastewater networks.

When will drinking water suppliers be able to access Hinekōrako? 

Drinking water suppliers registered with the Ministry of Health immediately before 15 November 2021 will receive an email from us when we’re ready for them to log in to Hinekōrako to complete registration of supplies. This process will be phased over time. 

Unregistered drinking water suppliers do not have to register just yet. 

Drinking water suppliers who were unregistered immediately before 15 November 2021, have up to 2025 to register and 2028 to provide a Drinking Water Safety Plan or to comply with an Acceptable Solution as an alternative.

New drinking water suppliers who intend to start providing drinking water for the first time after 15 November 2021 will need to register with Taumata Arowai through Hinekōrako before starting to supply drinking water.  Other legislative requirements will also need to be satisfied. 

What does Hinekōrako mean?

  • Hinekōrako is the Māori name for the lunar rainbow, an optical phenomenon brought about when light from the moon deflects through tiny droplets of water. 
  • Understanding the cycle of water and the many droplets caused by both Hine-wai-etoeto (evaporation) and Hine-wai-tōtā (condensation), only then is the true beauty of Hine-kōrako exposed when the light of the moon is ricocheted through the droplets. Although very rare it acknowledges the accumulation of trillions of droplets that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Through the association and radiant beauty of Rona, Hinekōrako is then exposed to Te Ao Mārama. 
  • Like droplets, data accumulates over time and with technology is hidden in a location that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Like both Rona and Hinekōrako who have had a long association with one another, Taumata Arowai will be enabled to access the rich abundance of information that awaits. 

When will laboratories be able to access Hinekōrako? 

All IANZ accredited drinking water testing laboratories now have access to Hinekōrako. They can now submit notifications of any tests of drinking water samples that exceed the maximum acceptable values (MAVs).

When will wastewater network operators be able to access Hinekōrako

Existing wastewater networks operated by councils (or their subsidiaries), government departments, and the New Zealand Defence Force will receive an email from us when we are ready for them to log in to Hinekōrako to verify and complete registration of their networks. 

If you are registering a new wastewater network then please contact us on measures@taumataarowai.govt.nz