In 2025, Selwyn District Council (SDC) established Selwyn Water Limited, a new council-controlled organisation to take over drinking water and wastewater services in the Selwyn District.

What is Selwyn Water Limited?

Selwyn Water Limited is a council-owned organisation established in 2025 to manage drinking water and wastewater services in Selwyn District.

While this change supports rapid growth and infrastructure investment, it also introduces practical differences for developers,landowners, and residents - particularly when navigating resource consents under the Resource Management Act (RMA).

For developers, it means water servicing for subdivision consents is now assessed by Selwyn Water, while applications are still submitted through Selwyn District Council.

From Council-Run to Selwyn Water: What Changed?

Previously, water services were run in-house by Selwyn District Council. The shift to a CCO was part of the Government’s “Local Water Done Well” framework, allowing councils to set up local water entities with greater financial flexibility. Previously, water services were run in-house by Selwyn District Council. The shift to a CCO was part of the Government’s “Local Water Done Well” framework, allowing councils to set up local water entities with greater financial flexibility. Selwyn Water Limited was established in July 2025 and water assets were transferred to the CCO in December 2025.

How Selwyn Water Affects Developers and Resource Consents

If you’re involved in subdivision or new build projectsin the Selwyn District, here’s how the introduction of Selwyn Water may affect your resource consent process:

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Stormwater, drinking water andwastewater

Stormwater remains Councilresponsibility, while Selwyn Water manages drinking water and wastewater. Regionalconsents for water takes or discharges are now held by Selwyn Water.

What Selwyn Water Means for Selwyn Residents

For people living in the Selwyn District, most services willcontinue as normal, with some changes over time:

1. Water servicing assessments
       Selwyn Water now reviews drinking water and wastewater servicing for     subdivision consents.
2. Application process remains the same
       Consents are still lodged with Selwyn District Council.
3. Updated consent conditions
       Conditions may now reference Selwyn Water requirements.
4. Infrastructure design requirements
       Designs must meet existing Council standards, with connections supervised     by Selwyn Water’s contractor (currently CORDE Ltd).
5. Development contributions and fees
       Charges remain in place and are outlined in the Council’s Long-Term Plan. DCs     and fees are used by Selwyn Water for infrastructure upgrades.
6. Dual engagement during transition
       Developers may need to coordinate with both Council and Selwyn Water
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7. Future infrastructure investment
   Selwyn Water is investing in infrastructure to support growth, which may helpaddress capacity constraints and improve feasibility for new developments.

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Stormwater, drinking water and wastewat

Stormwater remains Council responsibility, while Selwyn Water manages drinking water and wastewater. Regional consents for water takes or discharges are now held by Selwyn Water.

What Selwyn Water Means for Selwyn Residents

For people living in the Selwyn District, most services willcontinue as normal, with some changes over time:

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·      Water and wastewater services will continue asusual, with a focus on maintaining supply and improving infrastructure overtime.

·      Drinking water and wastewater are now managed bySelwyn Water

·      Stormwater remains under Selwyn District Council

·      Water services remain publicly owned (notprivatised)

·      Separate billing begins from 1 July 2026

·      During the transition, you can still contact theCouncil for any issues like leaks or outages. Selwyn Water’s contractors willrespond. Customer service will transition to Selwyn Water over time.

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‍ FAQs: Selwyn Water and Consents

Does Selwyn Water replace the Council for consents?
No. Resource consent applications are still submitted to Selwyn District Council, but Selwyn Water now assesses water and wastewater servicing.

Do developers need to deal with both Council and Selwyn Water?
Yes. During the transition, developers may interact with both entities.

Who will manage stormwater in Selwyn?
Stormwater remains the responsibility of Selwyn District Council.

When will billing change?
From 1 July 2026, water and wastewater charges will be billed separately by Selwyn Water.

Planning a development in Selwyn District?

Inovo works closely with Selwyn Water and Council to help developers navigate consent requirements, coordinate technical inputs, and avoid delays.

Resource consent strategy and preparation:

We understand the Selwyn District Plan, RMA requirements,and how Selwyn Water’s role fits into the process.

Civil engineering design:

From water supply and wastewater layouts to stormwater management, we deliver practical, compliant infrastructure solutions tailored to your site.

Liaison with Selwyn Water and Council:

We can coordinate directly with Selwyn Water’s engineering team and Council planners to help streamline approvals and reduce delays.

Whether you’re planning a small subdivision or a large-scale development, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

rmplanning@inovo.nz

020 4000 0294  

‍Was this article helpful? Here’s some other topics that might be of interest to you:

National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards (2025): What developers and landowners need to know

What’s the difference between as resource consent and a building consent?

Disclaimer

This article contains general information and opinion based on our expertise. It is provided free of charge and does not constitutel egal or other professional advice. The information within it was up to date at the time of publishing.

Have you got further questions about this topic or our other services?

We are always happy to help – drop us an email rmplanning@inovo.nz, or phone us on 020 4000 0294.

Natural hazards are increasingly shaping how and where development occurs across New Zealand.

Flooding, coastal erosion and land instability are becoming more visible risks for communities and infrastructure. These factors are now more common considerations for anyone looking to subdivide, build or develop land.

Planning frameworks are evolving to respond to these challenges with a stronger focus on understanding risk early and planning accordingly.

What is the National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards?

The recently introduced National Policy Statement forNatural Hazards 2025 (NPS-NH) took effect in January 2026. It signals a shifttoward a more consistent national approach to managing hazard risks in planning and consenting decisions under the Resource Management Framework, rather than relying on fragmented approaches across different regions.

For landowners and developers, this means clearer expectations about how hazard risks are assessed and managed as part of subdivision and development proposals.

Importantly, the policy does not prevent development outright, but instead focuses on ensuring that risks are properly understood and addressed.

‍What hazards are covered under the NPS-NH?

The policy applies to a range of natural hazards that commonly affect development in New Zealand:

• flooding
• landslips
• coastal erosion
• coastal inundation
• active faults 
• liquefaction
• tsunami      

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These hazards are already familiar issues in many parts of the country, and the NPS‑NH provides a consistent way of assessing how they should be considered in planning decisions.

A shift toward risk-based planning

The key directive of the policy direction is a risk-based approach. Traditionally, planning frameworks often focused primarily on whether a hazard existed at a site. The new policy goes further by asking the question: What is the actual level of risk, and can it be managed appropriately?

Under this approach, decision‑makers must consider both:

• the likelihood of a hazard event occurring; and
• the potential consequences if that event occurs      

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This allows hazards to be assessed in a more structured and transparent way, providing greater certainty for developers, landowners and councils alike.

In particular, hazard assessments must rely on the best available information and account for the impacts of climate change over at least a 100-year. This reflects the growing importance of long‑term resilience and forward‑looking land use planning.

How is natural hazard risk assessed?

To support consistent decision-making, the NPS-NH introduces a standardised risk matrix that combines hazard likelihood and consequence to determine overall risk levels. That risk matrix is demonstrated in the cover image of this article.

In general, risks from natural hazards are categorized by levels.

• Typically, development is discouraged in specific locations marked as having very high risk.
• For other locations, development may proceed if the risks can be properly controlled.

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This approach recognises that not all hazard‑affected land is unsuitable for development, and that well‑designed projects can often proceed with the right level of assessment and mitigation.

What does the National Policy Statement mean for developers and landowners?

Site-specific natural hazard assessment will become increasingly important when progressing subdivision or development proposals. Understanding potential hazard risks early can help avoid delays, redesigns or unexpected costs later in the process. The type and details of assessment required will depend on the hazards relevant to each site and the anticipated level of risk. For instance:

• A site located within a floodplain may require detailed flood modelling and hydraulic analysis.
• A hillside site may require geotechnical investigation to address potential landslide or slope instability risk.
• In coastal areas, coastal hazard assessment addressing coastal erosion, inundation and sea-level rise may be required.
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As a result, the level of technical assessment is expected to vary from project to project. Some sites may only require a high‑level review, while others may need more detailed technical input to demonstrate that development can proceed safely. 

How does this align with local planning approaches?

In practice, the NPS-NH reinforces a planning direction we are already seeing emerge in some local plans. In Auckland, Plan Change 120 (PC120), has Auckland Council introducing stronger controls relating to flood hazards, overland flow paths, land instability and coastal hazards. PC 120 emphasises the need for robust modelling and risk evaluation when considering subdivision and development in hazard affected areas.

In other districts Councils implementation of the new policy is to require additional information with resource consent applications.

Regional differences in natural hazard risk

Across New Zealand, the implications will differ depending on local geography and natural hazard exposure. In Auckland, flooding, coastal inundation and land instability are likely to remain key considerations for urban development. In parts of the South Island, development proposals may need to place greater emphasis on seismic hazards, active fault lines, landslides and alpine flooding.  

Key takeaways for development planning

Overall, the emerging policy framework suggests a shift in planning policy. At Inovo, we are seeing an increasing expectation that developments respond to the natural characteristics and risks of each site, rather than relying solely on engineering solutions.

As hazard information becomes more detailed and climate related risks continue to evolve, the risk based approach is likely to play a growing role in guiding where and how development occurs across the country. For well planned projects, this approach can provide clearer pathways through the consenting process.

FAQs: National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards

1. Does the NPS-NH prevent development in hazard areas?

‍No. It does not prohibit development but requires that risks are clearly understood and appropriately managed.

2. What hazards are included in the NPS-NH?

‍Flooding, landslides, coastal erosion, coastal inundation, liquefaction, tsunami, and active faults.

3. How does this affect subdivision projects?

‍Developers must provide site-specific hazard assessments, which may include flood modelling, geotechnical reports, or coastal risk analysis.

4. What is Plan Change 120 (PC120)?

‍PC120 is Auckland Council’s planning update that strengthens rules around floodrisk, land instability, and coastal hazards.

How Inovo can help

Planning a development?

Understanding natural hazard risk early can save time, cost,and complexity later. Talk to Inovo’s planning and engineering specialists to get clarity on your site and next steps. Early advice can make a real difference.

Our team can assist:

•  identifying potential natural hazard risks
•  coordinating the appropriate technical assessments
•  advising on the level of information required to support your application

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We work alongside developers and landowners to find practical, proportionate solutions that support successful outcomes.

Get in touch to discuss your project

rmplanning@inovo.nz

020 4000 0294  

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Was this article helpful? Here’s some other topics that might be of interest to you:

How does Plan Change 120 affect your development options?

Minor Dwellings in NZ - when do you need a consent?

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Disclaimer

This article contains general information and opinion based on our expertise. It is provided free of charge and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. The information within it was up to date at the time of publishing.

Have you got further questions about this topic or our other services?

We are always happy to help – drop us an email rmplanning@inovo.nz, or phone us on 020 4000 0294.‍

Reflecting the continued growth of Inovo, we are pleased to announce the following appointments:

Jody Jubber (Carlson) has been appointed as our newest Associate. Her leadership, expertise and proven capability has made Jody an invaluable member of the Inovo team.

Alice Fruean has become National Manager - Project Planning and Controls. This change reflects our growing capacity and capability in the project planning, programming, digital planning and schedule assurance space.

Please join us in congratulating these exceptional leaders in their new roles.