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Water Services Act 2021

Standards, enforcement, and other matters - Chief executive statements

129A: Chief executive statement relating to drinking water supply

You could also call this:

"Warning about unsafe drinking water from the chief executive"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

The chief executive can issue a statement if they think a drinking water supply is not safe. You might get this statement if you use the water supply, or it might be for the general public. The chief executive can only issue this statement if they have good reasons to believe the water is not safe or does not meet drinking water standards. The chief executive can also issue a statement if they think it is necessary to protect public health. This statement is protected, which means the chief executive cannot get in trouble for issuing it. This rule does not limit what other laws or rules say, or what the chief executive or other people can do. You can find more information about changes to this law in the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025. The chief executive has the power to make decisions about drinking water safety. They will make these decisions to keep you and the public safe.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1509545.

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Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Public healthEnvironment and resources > Food and water safety
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Part 3Standards, enforcement, and other matters
Chief executive statements

129AChief executive statement relating to drinking water supply

  1. The chief executive may issue a statement advising that a drinking water supply may be unsafe, and the measures that consumers should take as a result.

  2. A statement may be issued to specific consumers of a drinking water supply or to the general public.

  3. The chief executive may issue a statement only if satisfied on reasonable grounds that—

  4. the drinking water is or may be unsafe; or
    1. the drinking water does not comply with drinking water standards; or
      1. it is necessary to issue a statement to prevent, reduce, or remove a serious risk to public health arising from the drinking water.

        1. This statement is protected by qualified privilege.

        2. This section does not limit—

        3. any other enactment or rule of law; and
          1. the functions, duties, or powers of the chief executive or of any other person or body.

            Notes
            • Section 129A: inserted, on , by section 152 of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).