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Water Services Act 2021

Provisions relating to supply of drinking water - Emergency powers

66: Regulations relating to emergency situations

You could also call this:

"Rules for Water Emergencies"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You need to know about regulations in emergency situations. The Water Services Authority can ask the Minister to make regulations if they think it is necessary. They can do this if an action is exempt from Part 3 of the Resource Management Act 1991. You should understand that the Water Services Authority can also ask to extend a drinking water emergency declaration. They can ask the Minister to recommend making regulations to extend the period, up to a maximum of 2 years. The Governor-General can then make these regulations by Order in Council. The regulations will stop being in force after 2 years, unless they are stopped earlier. Regulations made under this section are secondary legislation, which means they are a type of law, and you can find out more about this in Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374750.

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Part 2Provisions relating to supply of drinking water
Emergency powers

66Regulations relating to emergency situations

  1. If any action has been exempted from Part 3 of the Resource Management Act 1991 under section 65 and the Water Services Authority considers that it is necessary, on the grounds prescribed in section 59(1), to continue the action beyond the period specified under section 59(4)(d),—

  2. the Water Services Authority may request the Minister to recommend the making of regulations that extend the exemption; and
    1. the Minister may recommend that the regulations be made; and
      1. the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for that purpose.

        1. If the Water Services Authority considers that it is necessary, on the grounds prescribed in section 59(1), to extend a drinking water emergency declaration beyond the period specified under section 59(4)(d),—

        2. the Water Services Authority may request the Minister to recommend the making of regulations that extend the period, up to a maximum of 2 years, during which a drinking water emergency declaration under section 59 remains in force; and
          1. the Minister may recommend that the regulations be made; and
            1. the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for that purpose.

              1. The regulations are revoked at the close of the day that is 2 years after the date on which they first come into force, unless they are earlier revoked.

              2. Regulations made under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

              Compare
              Notes
              • Section 66(1): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
              • Section 66(1): amended, on , by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
              • Section 66(1)(a): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
              • Section 66(2): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
              • Section 66(2)(a): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).