Feedback sought on National Engineering Design Standards framework
The Water Services Authority is engaging with the water sector on an organising framework for new National Engineering Design Standards.
The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai is engaging with the water sector on an organising framework for new National Engineering Design Standards.
Councils currently use their own local codes for water infrastructure. This has created a fragmented system, with up to 45 different codes in use across New Zealand.
The National Engineering Design Standards (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.
The Authority’s Head of Systems, Strategy and Performance, Dr Sara McFall, says this is an important step for New Zealand at a critical time. Council estimates forecast approximately $49 billion of expenditure on water infrastructure in the next decade.
“The existing system builds in unnecessary cost, creates delays and inconsistent approval processes, and makes it harder for councils, developers and water sector professionals to build or upgrade water infrastructure. Councils and the water sector have been advocating for consistent national engineering standards for many years, and it is exciting to see this work underway.
“Developing a nationally consistent framework of this kind will support urban development and better investment decisions. It will help reduce complexity, time and cost, and give communities greater confidence that sustainable infrastructure is being designed and delivered to a consistent standard.”
Councils and their water organisations, as well as developers and contractors, will need to comply with the mandatory performance standards when water infrastructure is built or upgraded.
National codes of practice will underpin the framework. These will provide recognised “deemed-to-comply” pathways to help water service providers and developers comply with the mandatory standards.
Dr McFall says water services providers will be able to approve alternative solutions, provided they fully comply with the mandatory standards. This will help ensure locally responsive or innovative approaches to building and renewing infrastructure can continue under the framework.
Dr Sara McFall says the Authority welcomes the sector’s input at this initial stage.
“We are engaging on the shape of the overall framework, and areas to prioritise where the standards and codes will add most value. Sector insights will help us develop standards that will form the basis for further public consultation in mid-2027.
“We recognise the sector is currently being asked to engage on a number of important matters, and we appreciate people taking the time to provide feedback on the NEDS framework.”
The feedback period runs until 5:00pm, Friday 11 September 2026.
For more information and to have your say, please visit our website: www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/national-engineering-design-standards
If you have any questions, please email neds@taumataarowai.govt.nz
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