Living
Water
Local councils oversee water supplies. In 90% of cases, the property you buy will already be connected to the mains water supply. If it isn’t, you will need to contact the local council and apply for a new connection. Most councils charge around $500 and getting connected can take up to 10 working days.
The water you do get is generally of a very high standard and safe to drink from the tap. Only 5% of New Zealand’s population uses community water supplies, with which the Ministry of Health has concerns. The taste and purity of the water in New Zealand does vary. In Christchurch, the supply is sourced from spring-fed underground acquifers, and is therefore pure and untainted. But in other parts of the country, the water is chemically treated. Controversially, fluoride is added to the water in some main centres – however this is not the case in Whangarei, Tauranga, Wanganui, Napier, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru and Oamaru. In the few areas where the water supply is of questionable quality, it is still fine for cooking or boiling the kettle. While water dispenses are a common sight in offices in New Zealand, people rarely have them in their homes.
Each council uses a different system for charging. In Christchurch, for example, people pay a flat fee for their water, as part of their rates bill. In Auckland, however, people are charged according to how much water they use. The water charge is kept separate from the rates bill and averages around $800 a year, although proposed hefty increases in water charges could soon see that figure rise to closer to $1000. Check with your local council to find out how they charge for water.
The water you do get is generally of a very high standard and safe to drink from the tap. Only 5% of New Zealand’s population uses community water supplies, with which the Ministry of Health has concerns. The taste and purity of the water in New Zealand does vary. In Christchurch, the supply is sourced from spring-fed underground acquifers, and is therefore pure and untainted. But in other parts of the country, the water is chemically treated. Controversially, fluoride is added to the water in some main centres – however this is not the case in Whangarei, Tauranga, Wanganui, Napier, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru and Oamaru. In the few areas where the water supply is of questionable quality, it is still fine for cooking or boiling the kettle. While water dispenses are a common sight in offices in New Zealand, people rarely have them in their homes.
Each council uses a different system for charging. In Christchurch, for example, people pay a flat fee for their water, as part of their rates bill. In Auckland, however, people are charged according to how much water they use. The water charge is kept separate from the rates bill and averages around $800 a year, although proposed hefty increases in water charges could soon see that figure rise to closer to $1000. Check with your local council to find out how they charge for water.
