Northland Waters incorporated as establishment confirmed
Published on 22 May 2026
This is a joint media release issued by Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara district councils.
District councillors from Far North, Whangārei and Kaipara have approved key governance and transfer agreements, marking a significant milestone as the Northland Waters establishment programme moves into its next phase.
The company was incorporated as a separate legal entity on 11 May 2026, enabling the organisation to move from planning into mobilisation. This includes recruiting a Chief Executive (CE) and several establishment workstream leads, with some roles currently advertised on Seek.
All three councils are equal shareholders, having approved the Shareholders’ Agreement, Constitution and Transfer Agreement, and appointing elected members to a Shareholder Representative Group.
Shareholder Representative Group
The Shareholder Representative Group includes the following elected members and will appoint an independent Chairperson to ensure continuity at its first meeting toward the end of the month.
- Far North Mayor Moko Tepania
- Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper
- Kaipara Mayor Jonathan Larsen
- Far North District Councillor John Vujcich
- Whangārei District Councillor David Baldwin
- Kaipara District Councillor Luke Canton.
The group will oversee Northland Waters’ establishment and transition to full operations, representing the interests of their districts in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, which sets out how they will work together as joint owners of the organisation.
Chair of the previous Elected Members Working Group, Ken Couper, said Northland’s councils have worked extremely well together to reach this point.
“This programme of work has been intensive, involving deep engagement with technical detail, robust discussion and a strong commitment to reaching a well-considered regional solution, all within a very compressed timeframe,” said Mayor Couper.
The next phase of work will see the beginning of transitional and operational activities that are required to establish a standalone business and ensure it is fully prepared to assume service delivery and responsibilities by July 2027.
Northland Waters’ Board of Directors
The incorporation of Northland Waters also sees the previous Establishment Advisory Group, appointed to provide independent advice through its planning phases, become the first Board of Directors for the new water organisation.
The Northland Waters Board is chaired by Murray Bain, and includes David Rankin, Steve Couper, Michael Sage and Marlon Bridge. Its first meeting will take place on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at The Orchard in Whangārei and will be open to the public.
Board Chair Murray Bain said the milestone is an important step in establishing a dedicated, regionally focused water organisation for Northland.
“Our focus now is on building a strong, capable organisation that can deliver reliable, resilient water services for communities, while planning effectively for the future.”
Northland Waters is expected to support improved long-term outcomes for Northland through more coordinated planning, greater resilience and a dedicated focus on water services, while retaining public ownership and local accountability, and providing opportunities to achieve efficiencies for ratepayers over time.