17Objectives of water service providers

1. The objectives of a water service provider are—

2. to provide water services that—
   1. are reliable; and
   2. are resilient to external factors, for example, climate change and natural hazards; and
   3. are of a quality that meets consumer expectations; and
   4. meet all regulatory requirements, including, if the water service provider is responsible for water supply services, providing drinking water that is safe for consumers; and
3. to ensure that it provides water services in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner, including by—
   1. planning effectively to manage water services infrastructure used to provide water services in the future; and
   2. sharing the benefits of efficiency gains with consumers, including when setting charges for water services; and
   3. using water resources efficiently when providing water supply services; and
4. to perform its functions as a water service provider—
   1. in an open, transparent, and accountable manner; and
   2. in accordance with sound business practice; and
5. to act in the best interests of current and future consumers; and
6. to support housing growth and, if applicable, urban development in its service area; and
7. to be a good employer.

8. In subsection (1),—

   good employer has the same meaning as in clause 36(2) of Schedule 7 of the LGA 2002 and applies to a water organisation as if it were a local authority

   natural hazard has the meaning set out in section 2(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991

   safe has the meaning set out in section 7 of the Water Services Act 2021

   urban development has the meaning set out in section 10(1) of the Urban Development Act 2020.