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Water Services Act 2021

Provisions relating to supply of drinking water - Standards, rules, directions, and other instruments

53: Water Services Authority consultation requirements

You could also call this:

"The Water Services Authority must talk to the public before making big decisions."

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

The Water Services Authority must talk to the public before making some important decisions. You need to be told about the plans and have a chance to give your thoughts. The Authority must think about what you say before making a decision. The Authority does not have to talk to the public if the decision needs to be made quickly or if it is a small change. If the Authority does not follow these rules, it does not mean the decision is not valid. You can compare this to the 1986 law to see how it has changed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374733.

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Part 2Provisions relating to supply of drinking water
Standards, rules, directions, and other instruments

53Water Services Authority consultation requirements

  1. The Water Services Authority must ensure that public consultation has been carried out before the following instruments are made:

  2. drinking water standards:
    1. aesthetic values:
      1. compliance rules:
        1. acceptable solutions or verification methods.

          1. Public consultation must include—

          2. adequate and appropriate notice of the content of the proposed instrument; and
            1. a reasonable opportunity for interested persons to make submissions; and
              1. appropriate consideration of any submissions received.

                1. Despite subsection (1), the Water Services Authority need not consult the public if the Water Services Authority is satisfied that—

                2. the instrument needs to be made—
                  1. urgently; or
                    1. to deal with transitional issues; or
                    2. an amendment to an instrument is minor and will not adversely and substantially affect the interest of any person.

                      1. A failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of any of the instruments to which it applies.

                      Compare
                      Notes
                      • Section 53 heading: amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                      • Section 53(1): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                      • Section 53(3): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).