Informative alert

Have your say on proposed updates to the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules

We’re consulting on proposed changes to the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules to make compliance clearer and easier to follow for large supplies (those serving 501 or more people), while maintaining strong public health protections. Find out more and have your say on our consultation site. https://korero.taumataarowai.govt.nz/regulatory/rules-review-large-supplies/

Informative alert

New national wastewater standards announced

New national wastewater standards come into effect on 19 December. For further details, visit: Wastewater standards

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Transition arrangements for the new standards

Transition arrangements for the new standards

All public wastewater network operators will eventually need to comply with the new wastewater standards when applying for new consents or renewing existing ones. 

From 19 December 2025, consenting authorities cannot issue consents that conflict with the standards unless specific exceptions apply. 

Compliance timelines for existing wastewater plants depend on:  

  • whether the plant is operating under an expired consent using section 124 of the Resource Management Act (RMA) 

  • the status of any current resource consent applications  

  • the expiry date of current consents  

  • the scale of any plant upgrades needed to meet the standards.  

How the standards affect consent applications currently in progress

The impact of the standards varies depending on the type of consent:  

  • plant operating on section 124 of the RMA 

  • new or renewal applications not relying on section 124 

  • future section 124 operations  

The standards may apply to consent applications that are currently in progress, depending on whether a decision has been made to publicly notify the application. 

Two key scenarios:  

  1. Notification decision made  - If a current application has been accepted by the relevant regional council and a notification decision made, the standards do not apply. The consent may be granted even if it does not meet the standards.  

  2. Notification decision pending  - If a current application has been accepted but no notification decision has been made, the standards do apply. The consent conditions must incorporate requirements from the standards. 

In both cases, applicants operating under section 124 of the RMA may withdraw their application and submit a new one that complies, provided it is lodged within six months of withdrawal.  

Plants operating on an expired consent

The standards introduce a two-year limit on extensions for plants with expired consents currently operating under section 124 of the RMA. This becomes effective three years after the standards come into force (i.e. from 19 December 2028).  

  • Plants using section 124 before 19 December 2028 can continue operating on this consent until 19 December 2030.

  • Plants using section 124 after 19 December 2028 can operate on this consent for only two years.  

Extension of extant consents

Wastewater plants with consents that expire between 27 August 2025 and 27 August 2028 (‘extant consents’) are automatically extended to 27 August 2028. This gives operators time to plan upgrades and apply for new consents. 

The Minister for the Environment may extend the expiry date of an extant consent beyond 27 August 2028 on a case-by-case basis. 

Plant upgrades to meet the standards

Some plants will require infrastructure upgrades to meet the new performance requirements. When granting new or renewal consents, consenting authorities may:  

  • allow up to five years for upgrades 

  • impose interim conditions that differ from the standards (e.g. temporary discharge limits).  
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Last updated: 28 November 2025