Who we are
IAWAI is a publicly-owned water company formed by Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council. We plan, build, manage and maintain drinking water and wastewater services for communities across Hamilton City and the Waikato District. We also manage stormwater for both Councils.
What we do
We manage three essential services that most people never think about — until they're not working.
Why we exist
Last year, Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council responded to strong direction from the government to make major changes to how water services are delivered. Councils were encouraged to work together to create a larger, more efficient water services organisation that can invest more over time while keeping costs as low as possible.
Our region is growing fast — some of the fastest growth in New Zealand. Managing water infrastructure at this scale requires focus, investment, and long-term planning. IAWAI was created so we can do that well, keeping water affordable and reliable for everyone as our communities expand.
Our partnership with Waikato-Tainui
AWAI was created in genuine partnership with Waikato-Tainui, the iwi (people) of the Waikato region. This partnership isn't symbolic — it shapes how we operate every single day.
We are bound by Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River. That means restoring and protecting the health of the river isn't something we do alongside our core work — it is our core work. Every decision we make, every project we plan, and every investment we make considers the long-term wellbeing of the awa (river) and the communities — human and natural — that depend on it.
Our scale and our responsibility
We manage infrastructure serving approximately 90,700 drinking water and wastewater connections across our region. By asset value, we're one of the largest water services organisations in New Zealand. But we don't lead with numbers. We lead with what those numbers mean: we have the scale to invest in major upgrades, the focus to specialise and innovate, and the long-term horizon to plan for a future we won't see.
Over the next decade, we will invest around $3.3 billion into the pipes, treatment plants, and systems that underpin daily life — future-proofing water services that most people depend on without ever thinking about them.
Our people
Around 210 experienced water professionals transitioned to IAWAI from Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council, bringing years of knowledge of how our networks operate and what our communities need. We've also recruited around 40 new team members — specialists in digital systems, environmental protection, engineering, and community engagement.
We're a new organisation of experienced people, building something that matters.
Looking forward
We are just getting started. Our first challenge is earning the trust of our communities, our partners, and each other. Our second is delivering the water services that keep the Waikato region thriving — through growth, through dry summers, and through the changes that climate will bring.
We take both seriously.