Taumata Arowai

What Taumata Arowai does

Taumata Arowai is the statutory Water Services Authority for Aotearoa New Zealand, established under the Taumata Arowai – the Water Services Regulator Act 2020 and operational from 2021 under the Water Services Act 2021. It is the sole national regulator for drinking water quality, wastewater environmental performance, and stormwater management. The Authority develops and enforces the Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations 2022, the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (2022, revised 2024, updated 2026), Acceptable Solutions, and is developing National Engineering Design Standards covering stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water infrastructure managed by councils and water organisations.

The Authority's primary digital platform is the Hinekōrako online self-service portal, through which drinking water suppliers register supplies, submit incident and non-compliance notifications, and manage compliance activities. Accredited laboratories also use the portal to report non-compliant test results. The Authority is currently trialling Microsoft Copilot for content generation with mandatory human review. Supporting products include standardised Drinking Water Notice templates, the Safe Water for Schools Program, Campground Water Safety Resources, the Learning Hub, and PDF notification forms for suppliers unable to access the portal. The only disclosed leadership figure is Steve Taylor, Authority Head of Operations.

Taumata Arowai is funded through regulatory levies on water services delivered in districts (Water Services (Levies on Water Services) Regulations 2025) and fees and charges for regulatory services (Water Services (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021). As a statutory government entity, it serves a mandatory customer base that includes all registered drinking water suppliers, accredited laboratories, network operators, water carriers, self-supplying schools (over 440), campground operators, and the New Zealand public. The Authority is headquartered in Wellington.

Name

Taumata Arowai

Legal name

The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai

Website

https://taumataarowai.govt.nz

Company type

Public

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Taumata Arowai is New Zealand's statutory Water Services Authority, regulating drinking water quality, wastewater, and stormwater nationwide. It operates the Hinekōrako compliance portal and is funded by regulatory levies and fees on water service providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Services Regulation

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Drinking Water Quality & Safe Water Regulatory Authorities (HLAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Regulatory Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (SDWA/CWA/NPDES, permits, audits) (EUANAJAA)

Keywords

• Water services regulation
• Drinking water standards
• Water quality assurance
• Regulatory compliance portal
• Public health oversight

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Levies on Water Services: Government funding through levies on water services delivered in districts, as specified in the Water Services (Levies on Water Services) Regulations 2025. The total amount of levies payable is based on water services delivered in a district.
2. Regulatory Fees and Charges: Fees and charges for regulatory services under the Water Services (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Taumata Arowai is New Zealand's Water Services Authority, regulating drinking water quality, wastewater environmental performance, and stormwater management. It develops and enforces national standards including the Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations 2022, Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, and National Engineering Design Standards. The Authority operates the Hinekōrako online self-service portal where drinking water suppliers register supplies, submit notifications of incidents and non-compliant test results, and manage compliance activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hinekōrako Portal Online self-service portal where registered drinking water suppliers submit notifications, register supplies, manage accounts, and communicate with the Water Services Authority regarding drinking water safety and compliance. Accredited laboratories also use the portal to notify non-compliant test results.
• Acceptable Solutions Pre-approved compliance pathways for rural supplies providing water for farm use and people, and supplies serving 500 people or fewer, enabling end-point treatment using cartridge filters and UV light disinfection. Consolidated in 2025 into three supply types: Mixed-use Rural, Small to Medium Networks, and Self-supplied Buildings.
• Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules Regulatory framework (including 2022, Revised 2024, and 2026 versions) setting requirements for drinking water suppliers to ensure safe, reliable drinking water through safety plans, testing, and compliance monitoring.
• Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations 2022 Regulations establishing maximum acceptable values (MAVs) for substances in drinking water, including bacteria, chemicals, metals, and aesthetic parameters.
• Drinking Water Notice Templates Standardized downloadable PDF templates for Boil Water, Do Not Drink, and Do Not Use notices that suppliers issue when water safety is compromised.
• Safe Water for Schools Program Guidance and resources for schools operating their own drinking water supplies, including E. coli response protocols, treatment system requirements, and Ministry of Education coordination. Schools accounted for 53% of all E. coli contamination reported to the Authority.
• Campground Water Safety Resources Resources and guidance for campground and campsite operators to ensure drinking water safety, including source risk management, treatment requirements, and emergency preparedness under campground regulations.
• Learning Hub Educational resource covering water properties, contaminants (E. coli, nitrate, lead, arsenic), treatment methods, and compliance mechanisms for drinking water safety.
• National Engineering Design Standards Standards being developed for stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water infrastructure managed by councils and water organisations, creating consistent engineering approaches across New Zealand. Applicable to new infrastructure connecting to or becoming part of those networks.
• Risk to Drinking Water Safety or Supply Notification Form PDF form for drinking water suppliers to notify the Authority when water does not comply with standards, may be unsafe, or when supply interruptions exceed 8 hours, available for suppliers unable to access the Hinekōrako portal.

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Protection Authority (Victoria): Australian state-level environmental regulator with responsibilities spanning water quality, pollution, and waste. Comparable in regulatory function to Taumata Arowai but broader in scope and different jurisdiction.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Water: U.S. federal regulator for drinking water and water quality under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Comparable regulatory authority over national drinking water standards, but at vastly larger scale and federal scope.
• Health Canada – Water and Air Quality Bureau: Federal body responsible for drinking water quality guidelines in Canada. Comparable as a national public health authority setting drinking water standards, similar in mandate to Taumata Arowai's standards-setting role.
• Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat): Economic regulator for the water sector in England and Wales. Comparable as a national water services regulator, but with a broader economic and pricing mandate on top of quality oversight.
• Environment Agency (England): UK regulator covering water quality, waste, and broader environmental regulation. Overlaps with Taumata Arowai's wastewater and stormwater oversight, but operates across a much wider environmental mandate.
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA): Scotland's environmental regulator covering water, waste, and pollution. Comparable regulatory functions to Taumata Arowai's wastewater and stormwater oversight, but broader in environmental scope.

Direct peers

• Water Industry Commission for Scotland: Economic regulator for Scottish water services. Comparable as a smaller, jurisdiction-specific water services regulator with similar oversight and reporting functions to Taumata Arowai.
• Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI): Statutory regulator of drinking water quality in England and Wales. Directly comparable as a national drinking water quality regulator with inspection, compliance, and enforcement functions similar to Taumata Arowai.

Emerging players

• National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) – Australian Drinking Water Guidelines: Sets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines used by state regulators. Comparable as a national standards-setter for drinking water quality, though without Taumata Arowai's broader regulatory enforcement mandate.

Regional players

• Toronto Water: Municipal water utility and regulator for the City of Toronto. Comparable in operating drinking water and wastewater systems under public health oversight, though at a sub-national scale rather than national.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taumata-arowai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taumata Arowai