We are proud to have advised Selwyn District Council on its successful completion of New Zealand's first settled Transfer Agreement under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025. 

The groundbreaking deal resulted in Selwyn District Council transferring approximately $1.1 billion in drinking water and wastewater assets, liabilities, resource consents, contracts, and water-related debt to its new water services council-controlled organisation, Selwyn Water Limited, which Simpson Grierson also assisted to establish.

The Simpson Grierson team, led by Local Water Done Well specialist Mike Wakefield, advised Selwyn District Council throughout the transaction, including supporting the council through the consultation process and the decision-making to create the council-controlled organisation. "This is a significant milestone not just for Selwyn District Council, but for local government across New Zealand," said Mike. 

Simpson Grierson Corporate Partner, Simon Vannini said of the deal: “Our firm's multidisciplinary teams worked across corporate, planning and environment, banking and finance, and real estate practice areas to ensure a comprehensive approach to this complex transfer. As the first council in New Zealand to settle the transfer of assets under the Local Water Done Well framework, this transaction provides a blueprint for other councils that need to navigate the reformed water services statutory landscape following central government's overhaul of the approach and structures used to deliver water services.”

Our team included Partners Mike Wakefield and Sarah Scott (Planning & Environment), Simon Vannini (Corporate), Josh Cairns (Banking & Finance), and Donna Hurley and Tara Wylie (Real Estate).

With the transfer complete, Selwyn Water is now responsible for providing reliable, sustainable drinking water and wastewater services to the Selwyn district, ensuring these essential services remain well-managed for the longer term benefit of the Selwyn community.