Waitī Waters seeking chief executive and office space

Report from LDR by Emily Ireland
Wairarapa and Tararua’s new water services provider is seeking a chief executive and office space, with the launch one year away. Waitī Waters will be operational from July 1 next year, taking over the management of water and wastewater from local councils following major government reform.

The Waitī Waters board has been finalised, with Adrienne Young-Cooper leading the charge as board chair, alongside directors Sir Paul Collins, Maria Robertson, Clive Rundle, and Joanne Hayes.

The board brings extensive governance experience across infrastructure, public and private sectors, balance sheet and commercial management, strong connections with the region’s communities and iwi, and deep understanding of water services and infrastructure operations.

Each will be paid $50,000 for their services as director, and Young-Cooper will be paid $90,000.

An appointment of the Waitī Waters chief executive will be made this month.

Young-Cooper said the board was seeking “an experienced leader with a track record of driving organisational change, a strong understanding of the infrastructure sector and regulatory requirements, the ability to build trusted relationships, and someone who is committed to the Wairarapa and Tararua region and motivated by delivering critical water services for the people who live here”.

Over the past month, the board had been looking at options for the Waitī Waters head office.

Young-Cooper said they had a preferred location and had started discussions with the landlord about leasing arrangements. “We’ll also have a presence at the Oringi Business Park in Tararua — affirming our commitment to operating across the whole region.”

One of the Board’s priorities is to get out and about in the region over the transition period to get to know the future staff of Waitī Waters and build an understanding of the assets and services that would transfer to Waitī Waters from July 2027.

To date, board members had visited Frederick Street Water Treatment Plant in Carterton, Carterton Wastewater Treatment Plant, Martinborough Wastewater Treatment Plant, Dannevirke Oringi Tararua Alliance Operations Centre, and the Dannevirke Impounded Water Supply and Water Treatment Plant.

They were to visit the Martinborough water treatment plant this month and the Homebush wastewater treatment plant in Masterton in August.