Watercare, Auckland's water supplier, has announced plans to increase water rates by 9.5 percent starting from July 2023.
This decision comes despite the recent double hit from the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
The move is expected to result in an extra cost of NZ$2.20 per week or NZ$114 per year for the average household.
Watercare CEO Dave Chambers defended the price hike in an interview with Tova O'Brien on Tuesday morning.
"This was part of Auckland's long-term plan that was consulted on back in June 2021," Chambers said.
However, Chambers revealed some relief has been provided for Aucklanders whose homes have been red and yellow stickered due to the floods and will be exempt from the water rate increase.
Chambers noted the recent impacts of the floods and cyclone have highlighted the need for delayed infrastructure works to proceed.
"It brought it into focus for us that we can't defer infrastructure investment any longer and that's what we're committed to improving across Auckland."
Listen to the full interview between Dave Chambers and Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go.
