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For the stormwater sector

For the stormwater sector

Find out about our role working with the stormwater sector, our current and future work programmes, and how they will affect you.

Stormwater is the water that runs off impervious (water resistant) surfaces such as roofs, roads, driveways and footpaths. In urban areas, runoff goes down drains into stormwater pipes or channels, or into green infrastructure and is carried to rivers, lakes or the sea.

We oversee the management, regulation and performance of stormwater networks in urban areas. Our role includes developing national standards and monitoring and reporting on environmental performance. Recent changes to the Water Services Act 2021 give us more ways to improve the performance and delivery of stormwater infrastructure. Our work on stormwater has just begun and our functions will be rolled out over time.  

A range of other agencies are involved in stormwater management, including:

  • regional councils, which are the primary regulators for managing stormwater, through granting, monitoring and enforcing resource consents
  • the New Zealand Transport Agency – Waka Kotahi, responsible for drainage from the state highway network  
  • Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA and GNS Science), which undertakes research to help assess and manage the effects of stormwater and urban development on streams, estuaries and harbours
  • KiwiRail, which manages stormwater assets within the national railway corridor
  • local authorities, which regulate stormwater management on private properties through provisions in the Building Act 2004 and associated instruments.

Current engagement

We can do a range of things to support improvements in infrastructure and enhance the environmental performance of stormwater networks. We are currently engaging with the stormwater sector to gather insights on key challenges and opportunities, and understand the role we can play to support urban stormwater performance. 

To have your say on priorities for the stormwater sector, please visit our Stormwater Sector Engagement page and complete our surveyoutbound.

Future work programmes

Engaging with the sector will help inform next steps. We have a range of opportunities, outlined below.  

  • Consulting on National Engineering Design Standards.
  • Setting Network Environmental Performance Measures that operators must monitor and report on, to map the performance of their services networks and better understand and manage environmental and public health risks. Currently, there are no measures for stormwater in place.
  • Supporting water service providers to develop Stormwater Network Risk Management Plans, to be adopted within three years of the Local Government (Water Services) Act’s enactment. These plans must align with any relevant stormwater standards or targets and be reviewed at least every 10 years.  
  • Stormwater standards
    We can progress a range of policies to support improvements in stormwater infrastructure and the environmental performance of stormwater networks nationally. We will be seeking input from the sector to find the best way to develop and sequence these.
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  • Stormwater network risk management plans
    Water service providers must develop and implement stormwater network risk management plans under the Local Government (Water Services) Act.
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  • Stormwater sector engagement
    Have your say on how we should use our stormwater tools and functions.
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