Back to blog categoriesWhat's The Average Water Bill In NZ?
Sep 19, 2023
Power
Part of being a property owner is having to pay for multiple billings and other maintenance costs. Aside from electricity, you also need to pay for water each year to your local council.
Water in NZ isn’t cheap, especially if you’re living in a big household. Fixed-rate per region varies, and oftentimes, increases depending on the agreement among your district’s board of directors.
Starting July 1, 2021, Aucklanders will need to pay $1.50 weekly for water and wastewater services according to the conservative price path signed last December 2020. The funds accumulated will be used for infrastructure growth and other waterworks needed to improve services in Auckland.
In other regions, water charges are determined every six months. Payments normally cover the management, treatment and distribution of water supply to ensure that it’s clean and that it meets water supply standards. This also includes drinking water, wastewater and stormwater, all of which are being charged separately to the homeowner or district.
Water bill per month in NZ
The average person uses 227 litres of water daily, 70% of which are consumed in the bathroom and the rest are used in the kitchen or laundry.
To give you an idea of how much water costs in New Zealand, here’s data from Water NZ in 2019 showing the annual water rates per region. This is based on the annual water usage of 200 cubic metres or 200,000 litres each year.
Large Regions
| Region | Water charge yearly |
| Hamilton | $327 |
| Christchurch | $290 |
| Tauranga | $429 |
| Dunedin | $387 |
| Auckland | $303 |
| Wellington | $403 |
Medium Regions
| Palmerston North | $257 |
| Invercargill | $372 |
| Hastings | $357 |
| Whakatane | $281 |
| Whanganui | $262 |
| Timaru Rotorua | $315 |
| Napier | $401 |
| Kapiti Coast | $443 |
| Selwyn | $327 |
| Waimakariri | $388 |
| New Plymouth | $283 |
| Waipa | $405 |
| Hauraki | $511 |
| Marlborough | $821 |
| Queenstown Lakes | $452 |
| Nelson | $618 |
| Taupo | $458 |
| Far North | $863 |
| Whangarei | $487 |
| Horowhenua | $654 |
| Tasman | $767 |
| Western Bay of Plenty | $708 |
Small Regions
| Mackenzie | $327 |
| Waitaki | $393 |
| Gore | $325 |
| Tararua | $322 |
| Ashburton | $417 |
| Southland | $444 |
| Central Otago | $443 |
| Stratford | $584 |
| Masterton | $327 |
| Manawatu | $280 |
| Clutha | $603 |
| Grey | $518 |
| Ruapehu | $656 |
Fixed water charges are different in every region, with Ruapehu having the highest water rate with $656 yearly.
Those residing in rural areas typically have higher water rates because of the land itself. They need to do an extensive water matrix and install more treatment plants and pipelines, which affects water charges as compared to other local districts.
Water-saving tips
If you think you’re paying too much for water, you might want to check your consumption and start being mindful of the amount of water you use.
- Limit showers to five minutes or less.
- Don’t let the water running when you’re brushing your teeth.
- Get appliances with a good water rating. Dual-flush toilets and front-loading washing machines are more water-friendly.
- Use a bucket to catch water while you wait for the shower to warm up, and use it to water your garden
- Check for small drips like leaks from the toilet cistern.
- Lessen the use of a water hose when cleaning your driveway.
Whether you’re living alone or with family members, it’s always smart to save on your utilities the best way possible. You can pair this by comparing Power plans online and switching to a better provider that offers quality services at affordable rates.
