Waiheke Island is the second-largest island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. Its ferry terminal in Matiatia Bay is 21.5km from the central-city terminal in Auckland. It is the most populated island in the gulf, with 9,390 permanent residents and is governed by the Waiheke Local Board. It is estimated that by 2050 Waiheke could be home to about 12,000 people.

We currently provide wastewater (sewage) services for the Owhanake business district. These services must meet a level of service for customers and must comply with legislation and consents. Wastewater infrastructure enable us to collect sewage waste and treat it to make it safe for discharge back into the environment.

When we consider future demand for wastewater services as part of the servicing strategy, it’s important to think about not just the next 25 years but providing long-term sustainable services for at least the next 70 years. That’s because our assets like the wastewater treatment plant and pipelines that transport wastewater to it are built to last and operate effectively for the long term. We know it is important to plan carefully for growth as it will impact the future prosperity, wellbeing, and health of the island.

Servicing strategy discussion document

This discussion document is intended to transparently lay out the current state and future options for the island. It is a living document that we will develop through community conversations over time. We hope it supports informed conversations based on a shared understanding of the realities of water and wastewater options on Waiheke. Though our current footprint on the island is relatively small, we are committed to ensuring that our infrastructure continues to operate reliably and protect the environment as the community, environment and climate changes.

Sharing our strategy as a discussion document gives us a reference point to guide continued dialogue with the community. We want to ensure everyone can access this servicing strategy and understand the water and wastewater issues, the opportunities, and our approach to addressing them. We also want to hear your feedback on whether this is a sound strategy, if there are better ideas, and anything we may have missed. This is intended to prepare us and your communities for the complex conversations we need to have about water and wastewater services. We are committed to being clear and accountable, are happy to be respectfully challenged, and encourage you to share ideas for improvement.

Have a question or suggestion?

Contact us at [email protected]

Let's work together to build an awesome future for Waiheke.