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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Provision of water services: operational matters - Water services networks: connections - Internal reviews

155: Appeal to District Court

You could also call this:

"You can appeal to the District Court if you disagree with a water service network decision"

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you are not happy with a decision about a connection to a water service network, you can appeal to the District Court. You can appeal if you do not like the decision notified under section 153 or if the original decision is treated as confirmed under section 152(6).

You must make your appeal within 20 working days after you receive notification of the outcome of the internal review or after the original decision is treated as confirmed.

The court can then decide what to do with your appeal. The court may confirm, reverse, or modify the original decision, or refer the matter back to the water service provider.

The court can also make any decision that the water service provider could have made. Until the court makes a decision, the water service provider's decision stays in force.

The court may order you or the water service provider to pay the costs of the other party for the appeal.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1446985.

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Environment and resources > Food and water safetyGovernment and voting > Local councils
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"Stopping a decision while it's being reviewed"

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156: Appeal to High Court, or

"Challenging a District Court decision in the High Court"

Part 3Provision of water services: operational matters
Water services networks: connections: Internal reviews

155Appeal to District Court

  1. An applicant for a connection to a water service network who is not satisfied—

  2. with a decision notified under section 153 may appeal to the District Court against the decision; or
    1. with the original decision being treated as having been confirmed under section 152(6) may appeal to the District Court against that confirmation.

      1. An appeal under this section must be made within 20 working days after—

      2. the applicant receives notification of the outcome of the internal review; or
        1. the original decision is treated as having been confirmed under section 152(6).

          1. The court may—

          2. confirm, reverse, or modify the original decision; or
            1. refer the matter back to the water service provider in accordance with the rules of court; or
              1. make any decision that the water service provider could have made.

                1. Subject to any order of the court, every decision of the water service provider continues in force and has effect pending the determination of an appeal against it.

                2. On any appeal under this section, the court may order the water service provider or the appellant to pay the costs incurred by the other party in respect of the appeal.