30,000 people in Wellington region fail to pay first Tiaki Wai water bill
Over 30,000 residents in the Wellington region have failed to pay their first water bill from the new agency, Tiaki Wai. The agency is currently facing public backlash over pricing and cost-of-living concerns, though it has not yet begun imposing fines.
Why it matters
The mass non-payment reflects significant community stress regarding utility costs and the challenges of infrastructure funding in New Zealand.
About 300 people protested in central Wellington in August to raise concerns about their water bills in a cost of living crisis, as part of the Stop Tiaki Wai group. Photo / RNZ, Baz Macdonald
More than 30,000 people across the Wellington region have not paid their first Tiaki Wai bill, with the second round due to arrive soon.
Second bills from the water agency will be sent to Wellington, Lower and Upper Hutt and Porirua residents and businesses from late October.
They come as debate ramps up over whether Tiaki Wai’s prices should be capped, and as Wellingtonians stare down a future of price increases which a budget adviser says is causing people in the community deep stress.
Numbers revealed to RNZ show 30,116 residential and commercial customers haven’t paid bills for the first quarter yet – 18.5% of all accounts.
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