Bill Bayfield, Chief Executive of the new water services regulator - Taumata Arowai - has today launched the Public Register of Drinking Water Supplies.
“I’m very pleased to launch the new register. This is another milestone for us as we set out on our journey as the new drinking water regulator to improve drinking water for Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Mr. Bayfield.
Taumata Arowai took over from the Ministry of Health as the drinking water regulator on 15 November 2021. All drinking water suppliers registered with the Ministry of Health immediately before 15 November have had their recorded drinking water supplies transferred to the Taumata Arowai register. This migration happened automatically and has been followed by a rigorous process of data checking and verification to ensure that we have accurate information about water supplies.
Mr. Bayfield said that the register is an important tool for consumers to be able to find out more about where their drinking water comes from.
“Most people are on a water supply owned and operated by their district or city council. As a consumer it’s important that you get to know where your water comes from and where your wastewater goes,” says Mr. Bayfield.
Mr. Bayfield said that water supply doesn’t start at the tap and end at the sink.
“Understanding the water cycle – ki uta ki tai (from mountains to the sea) provides people with an appreciation of the abstraction, treatment, storage, and distribution processes of supplying safe drinking water.”
Mr. Bayfield said that he also wanted to impress upon the sector that we have a new and unique opportunity to do things differently.
“A key requirement of the Water Services Act 2021 is that everyone operating under it must give effect to Te Mana o te Wai, to the extent it applies to their functions and duties. This obligation applies equally to Taumata Arowai and to all suppliers under the Act.”
“Having access to good information will be critical to support decision making that reflects Te Mana o te Wai. This in turn will result in Wai ora, Tangata ora. Healthy water, Healthy people,” says Mr. Bayfield.”
“Suppliers have a duty of care to ensure that the drinking water they provide you is safe to drink.”
“We want to make sure that everyone in Aotearoa is able to get water directly from their tap and have the confidence that it’s safe to drink.”
“If you’re unsure who your drinking water supplier is, you’ll be able to find out on the public register.”
The information available on the Public Register of Drinking Water Supplies will grow over time as more supplies are registered in accordance with the Water Services Act 2021. Suppliers with supplies that weren’t previously registered with the Ministry of Health have until 15 November 2025 to do this.
If members of the public believe their drinking water is not safe, the first thing they should do is raise their concern directly with their drinking water supplier.
Media contact
Email: media@taumataarowai.govt.nz
Notes for editors
The Public Register for Drinking Water Supplies can be found on our website: www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-communities/public-register