22 - 26 June 2026: Find out more
BUILD YOUR OWN
RESOURCE LIBRARY
Christchurch embarks on smart water metering programme
Opting out of the programme is not an option as the rollout is critical to ensuring a resilient and efficient water network for the New Zealand city.
At a glance
Who: Christchurch City Council.
What: The council has started installing smart water meters with rollout in parts of the city and Banks Peninsula, prioritising areas where no water meters are currently in place.
Why: The meters detect leaks much earlier so issues can be fixed quickly, avoiding wasted water and water charges. Installing meters in currently unmetered areas is also essential for equity and efficiency.
Where: Meters have already been installed in Travis Country, Rāwhiti, Akaroa and Brooklands-Kainga. Work is now under way in Governors Bay and Heathcote, with Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour and Duvauchelle to follow.
Christchurch City Council has started installing smart water meters in parts of the city and Banks Peninsula, prioritising areas where no water meters are currently in place.
The rollout will improve how the council manages demand of the water supply in the New Zealand city, and will make it easier to identify and fix leaks.
Equity and efficiency
Gavin Hutchison, the council’s head of Three Waters, said installing meters in currently unmetered areas is also essential for equity and efficiency.
“At the moment, some areas don’t pay excess water charges simply because there aren’t water meters,” he said.
“Even careful water users can have hidden leaks. Water meters help identify these to support a fair and sustainable water use system for everyone”
“Once a property has a meter – especially a smart meter – we can detect leaks much earlier. This means issues can be fixed quickly, avoiding wasted water and water charges.
“Opting out of the programme is not an option, as the rollout is critical to ensuring a resilient and efficient water network for the whole city.
Read More
“Even careful water users can have hidden leaks. Water meters help identify these to support a fair and sustainable water use system for everyone.”
Smart meters have already been installed in Travis Country, Rāwhiti, Akaroa and Brooklands-Kainga. Work is now under way in Governors Bay and Heathcote, with Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour and Duvauchelle to follow.
The council is also planning later stages of the programme including in Riccarton, Hackthorne, Ferrymead and other parts of Banks Peninsula.
By mid-2027, it expects to have installed around 4,000 new water meters at properties that didn’t previously have a water meter, which will effectively mean the vast majority of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula will be metered.
Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
(Please note this is an experimental service)
How do smart water meters improve leak detection and water conservation?What benefits does smart metering bring to water demand management?How does metering promote equity in water usage and billing?What areas are prioritized in Christchurch's smart water meter rollout?How will smart meters enhance the resilience of Christchurch's water network?
Latest City Profile
Latest Summit Speakers
(22-26 June)
Latest Urban Exchange Podcast
Latest Special Report
SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)
You may also like these related articles...
BECOME A MEMBER
© 2026 SmartCitiesWorld
Smart Cities World Ltd, 37 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9BQ