Water takes and bores
Notes:
- All directions from Greater Wellington Regional Council for water restrictions for the 2024-2025 irrigation season are provided in the list of consents for each catchment in the table below.
- The flow for compliance purposes (for GWRC real time monitoring sites) is determined after midnight each day and applies from 9am for the following 24 hours.
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring site | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Kopuaranga | Surface water takes (PDF 134 KB) | Kopuaranga @ Palmers Bridge | No restrictions when flow above 270 l/sec (0.27m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 270 l/sec (0.27m3/sec) |
| Taueru | Surface water takes (PDF 127 KB) | Taueru @ Te Whiti Bridge | No restrictions above 250 l/sec (0.25m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 250 l/sec (0.25m3/sec) but above 185 l/sec (0.185m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 185 l/sec (0.185m3/sec) |
| Makahakaha | Surface water takes (PDF 129 KB) |
Makahakaha @ Gladstone Rd eastern culvert Monitoring site is in the process of being recommissioned |
No restrictions above 44 l/sec (0.045 m3/sec). Partial restrictions when flow less than 44 l/sec (0.044 m3/sec) but above 33 l/sec (0.033m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 33 l/sec (0.0.33m3/sec) |
| Pahaoa | Surface water takes (PDF 128 KB) | Pahaoa River @ Hinakura | No restrictions above 160 l/sec (0.16 m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 160 l/sec (0.16 m3/sec) but above 100 l/sec (0.1 m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 100 l/sec (0.1 m3/sec) |
| Huangarua and Ruakokopatuna | Surface water takes (PDF 138 KB) | Various - see list of consents table |
Notes:
- All directions from Greater Wellington Regional Council for water restrictions for the 2024-2025 irrigation season are provided in the list of consents for each catchment in the table below.
2. The flow for compliance purposes (for GWRC real time monitoring sites) is determined after midnight each day and applies from 9am for the following 24 hours.
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring site | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Upper Ruamahanga | Surface water takes (PDF 190 KB) | Ruamahanga @ Wardells Bridge |
Full restrictions (cease take) for some consents below 5000 l/sec (5.0m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 2700 l/sec (2.7m3/sec) but above 2400 l/sec (2.4m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 2400 l/sec (2.4m3/sec) |
| Upper Ruamahanga | Groundwater takes (PDF 201 KB) | Ruamahanga @ Wardells Bridge | No restrictions when flow above 2400 l/sec (2.4m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 2400 l/sec (2.4m3/sec) |
| Lower Ruamahanga | Surface water takes (PDF 192 KB) | Ruamahanga @ Waihenga | No restrictions above 9200 l/sec (9.2m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 9200 l/sec (9.2m3/sec) but above 8500 l/sec (8.5m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 8500 l/sec (8.5m3/sec) |
| Lower Ruamahanga | Groundwater takes (PDF 188 KB) | Ruamahanga @ Waihenga | No restrictions above 8500 l/sec (8.5m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 8500 l/sec (8.5m3/sec) |
| Masterton streams | Surface water takes (PDF 159 KB) | Makoura @ Colombo Rd | Check each consent in list of consents |
| Parkvale & Booths | Surface water takes (PDF 138 KB) | Parkvale @ Renalls weir and Booths Creek @ Andersons Line | Check each consent in list of consents |
| Papawai | Ground & surface water takes (PDF 131 KB) | Papawai @ Fabians Rd | Check each consent in list of consents |
| Otakura | Surface water takes (PDF 129 KB) | Otukura @ weir | No restrictions above 95 l/sec (0.095m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 95 l/sec (0.095m3/sec) |
| Tauherenikau Drains & Dock Creek | Ground & surface water takes (PDF 138 KB) | Check each consent in list of consents |
Notes:
- All directions from Greater Wellington Regional Council for water restrictions for the 2024-2025 irrigation season are provided in the list of consents for each catchment in the table below.
2. The flow for compliance purposes (for GWRC real time monitoring sites) is determined after midnight each day and applies from 9am for the following 24 hours.
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring sites | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Waipoua | Ground & surface water takes (PDF 135 KB) | Waipoua @ Mikimiki Bridge |
Full restrictions (cease take) for some consents below 1000 l/sec (1.0m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 300 l/sec (0.3 m3/sec) but above 250 l/sec (0.25 m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 250 l/sec (0.25 m3/sec) |
| Waingawa | Ground & surface water takes (PDF 141 KB) | Waingawa @ Kaituna | No restrictions above 1900 l/sec (1.9m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 1900 l/sec (1.9m3/sec) but above 1100 l/sec (1.1m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 1100 l/sec (1.1m3/sec) |
| Upper Mangatarere | Surface water takes (PDF 158 KB) | Mangatarere @ Gorge | No restrictions above 330 l/sec (0.33m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 330 l/sec (0.33m3/sec) but above 240 l/sec (0.24m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 240 l/sec (0.24m3/sec) |
| Lower Mangatarere | Ground & surface water takes (PDF 158 KB) | Mangatarere @ Gorge | Check each consent in list of consents |
| Waiohine | Surface water takes (PDF 128 KB) | Waiohine @ Gorge | No restrictions above 3040 l/sec (3.040m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 3040 l/sec (3.040m3/sec) |
| Waiohine | Ground water takes (PDF 138 KB) | Waiohine @ Gorge | No restrictions above 3,395 l/sec (3.395m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 3,395 l/sec (3.395m3/sec) |
| Tauherenikau & related catchments | Surface water takes (PDF 134 KB) | Tauherenikau @ Gorge | No restrictions above 1300 l/sec (1.30 m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 1300 l/sec (1.30 m3/sec) |
| Tauherenikau & related catchments | Ground water takes (PDF 137 KB) | Tauherenikau @ Gorge | No restrictions above 1350 l/sec (1.35 m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 1350 l/sec (1.35 m3/sec) |
| Lake Wairarapa | Surface water takes (PDF 180 KB) | Lake Wairarapa @ Burlings and Tauherenikau @ Gorge | GWRC will notify water take consent holders of any restrictions |
| Wharepapa | Ground water takes (PDF 65 KB) | No real time monitoring site | Check each consent in list of consents |
Notes:
- All directions from Greater Wellington Regional Council for water restrictions for the 2024-2025 irrigation season are provided in the list of consents for each catchment in the table below.
2. The flow for compliance purposes (for GWRC real time monitoring sites) is determined after midnight each day and applies from 9am for the following 24 hours.
Wellington
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring site | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Hutt | Surface water takes (PDF 130 KB) | Hutt @ Birchville | No restrictions above 1200 l/sec (1.2 m3/sec) Partial restrictions and Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 1200 l/sec (1.2m3/sec) |
| Wainuiomata | Surface water takes (PDF 126 KB) | Wainuiomata @ Leonard Wood Park |
No restrictions above 300 l/sec (0.3 m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 300 l/sec (0.3 m3/sec) |
| Gollans Stream | Surface water takes (PDF 125 KB) | No real time monitoring site | GWRC will notify water take consent holders of any restrictions following flow measurement |
Porirua
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring site | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Pauatahanui and Horokiwi | Surface water takes (PDF 129 KB) | Variable - see lists of consents table |
Notes:
1. All directions from Greater Wellington Regional Council for water restrictions for the 2024-2025 irrigation season are provided in the list of consents for each catchment in the table below.
2. The flow for compliance purposes (for GWRC real time monitoring sites) is determined after midnight each day and applies from 9am for the following 24 hours.
| Catchment | List of consents | Real time monitoring site | Restrictions that apply to most water take consent holders |
| Otaki | Surface water takes (PDF 174 KB) | Otaki @ Pukehinau | Check consent in list of consents |
| Waikanae | Surface water takes (PDF 127 KB) | Waikanae @ water treatment plant | Check consent in list of consents |
| Waimeha | Surface water takes (PDF 125 KB) | No real time monitoring site | GWRC will notify water take consent holders of any restrictions following flow measurement |
| Mangaone | Surface water takes (PDF 125 KB) | Mangaone @ Ratanui | No restrictions above 50 l/sec (0.05m3/sec) Full restrictions (cease take) when flow less than 50 l/sec (0.05m3/sec) |
| Waitohu | Ground water takes (PDF 166 KB) | Waitohu Stream @ Water Supply Intake | No restrictions above 185 l/sec (0.185 m3/sec) Partial restrictions when flow less than 185 l/sec (0.185 m3/sec) and 140 l/sec (0.140 m3/sec) |
| Wharemauku | Surface water takes (PDF 66 KB) | Wharemauku Stream@Coastlands | Check consent in list of consents |
Regulations for Measuring and Reporting Water Takes
Regulations came into force for measuring and reporting water take consents in November 2010. They have since been updated in September 2020. The Regulations require a water measuring device (water meter) to be installed on all water takes greater than 5 litres/sec. Consent holders are also required in the Regulations to install telemetry and supply water use data each day (unless and exemption is made and/or approval of weekly records is provided by the Regional Council). Every water meter is required to be verified (a test to check the accuracy of a water meter) every five years.
For existing water take consents, there is a transitional period for compliance with the updated Regulations. The timeframe for compliance depends on the size of your water take. From 3 September 2022 all water takes greater than 20 litres/sec are required to comply with the updated Regulations which require telemetered water use data to be provided on a daily basis.
Please note that the Regulations specify minimum requirements for measuring and reporting water use. It is important that you are familiar with your consent conditions as they may require you to undertake more specific and frequent measuring and reporting of water use.
Please note: all links regarding complying with regulations; submitting water use records; accredited service providers; bore resource consents can be found under "Guidelines and Best Practices".
Submitting Water Use Records
Water Use is a website that enables consent holders to upload water meter readings online. Please contact us if you are unsure of your customer number and password.
If you have a telemetry unit attached to your water meter, please contact us at Notifications@gw.govt.nz and we can advise you on how your data can be transferred electronically to us.
Water Meters - installation, verification and data management
Irrigation NZ has developed the Water Measurement 'Blue Tick' Accreditation Programme, which GWRC supports. This programme identifies accredited service providers for installing and verifying water meters, and managing water use data. Using an accredited service provider gives confidence to water take consent holders that any water measurement undertaken is completed to a high standard and in accordance with best practice and minimum standards.
Clamp-on verifications are no longer an approved methodology for verifying water meters in the Wellington region, except under limited circumstances requiring GWRC approval. An in-line, test rig or bypass verification methodology is now required, in accordance with Irrigation NZ best practice recommendations.
Water Allocation
The Natural Resources Plan sets water allocation limits for a wide number of catchment management units in the region.
View water quantity allocations
Bore Resource Consents
Under Rule 15 of the Regional Freshwater Plan the construction of a bore requires a resource consent.
Once you have obtained a resource consent, it is important that you submit a Bore/Well Log Form within one month of your bore being constructed.
For both the Resource Consent Application and the Bore/Well Log Form, please find them on our Forms and Information Requirement page.
Here are several resources and websites to help with measuring and reporting water takes:
Measuring and Reporting Water Takes - A Quick Guide
This quick guide provide help for consent holders to comply with the Regulations. Read more here
date_range Published 01 Jun 2021
Download now (PDF 545 KB) get_appWater Use Basic User Guide
This document is a step-by-step guide which assists consent holders to use GWRC Water Use Data Management System. Read more here
date_range Published 08 Mar 2022
Download now (PDF 439 KB) get_appWater Use Records Spreadsheet Template
This document is a template form for water use records for the 2024/25 financial year. Read more here
date_range Published 08 Nov 2024
Download now (XLSX 29 KB) get_appApplication for one-off exemption for alternative verification methodology for water take consent holders
This application form is required for consent holders applying for a one-off exemption to completing an approved water meter verification method. The form must be accompanied by a proposal for… Read more here
date_range Published 25 Mar 2024
Download now (PDF 179 KB) get_appAccredited Service Providers
This document outlines all the accredited service providers within the Wellington Region. Read more here
date_range Published 01 Dec 2020
Download now (PDF 184 KB) get_appAquifer Test Guidelines
This document outlines the guidelines for aquifer tests within the Greater Wellington Region. These guidelines will need to be followed in the investigation and preparation of resource consent applications for… Read more here
date_range Published 01 Jul 2012
Download now (PDF 1.1 MB) get_appAquifer Test Analysis Tool
This workbook contains analytical solutions that can be used to analyse data from constant rate pumping tests performed in various hydrogeological settings; and can be used to predict changes in… Read more here
date_range Published 08 Mar 2022
Download now (XLS 12 MB) get_appNatural wetland photo point monitoring protocol
date_range Published 19 Sep 2022
Download now (PDF 2.5 MB) get_appSee the Ministry for the Environment website for detailed information on the measure and reporting of water takes amendment regulations.
Upload your water meter readings through the GWRC Water Use website.
View the Irrigation NZ website for the full list of accredited installers and verifiers.
GWRC has developed aquifer test guidelines (PDF 1.1 MB) for the Wellington region. These guidelines will need to be followed in the investigation and preparation of resource consents applications for taking groundwater. An aquifer test analysis tool (XLS 12 MB) has also been developed for the region.
Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800496734
- Email:
- info@gw.govt.nz