What is the Metrowater Community Trust?
It is an independent charitable trust set up in 2001 and funded by Metrowater, but separate from the company. The trustees include members of the community nominated by the public and appointed by the Metrowater Board. The Trust's mission is to support and assist low-income families and individuals, and individuals with special needs in relation to water use, to improve their ability to pay their water and wastewater bills through the implementation of water conservation measures and, in exceptional circumstances, monetary grants.
How can the Trust help me?
If you are a Metrowater customer (and homeowner) having difficulty paying your Metrowater bill, the Trust may be able to help reduce your ongoing costs by:
- Assisting with water conservation measures and devices that will reduce your future water use
- Assisting with plumbing costs and repairs that will reduce your ongoing Metrowater bills
- Assisting with catch-up payments on your bill arrears (in exceptional circumstances)
Help for customers with special needs
As well as helping customers in financial need the Trust may be able to help customers with special needs in relation to water use. If you use more water than other households because of a disability, health issue or other health-related circumstances (such as home dialysis, skin conditions, multiple births), we may be able to help.
Who can apply for help?
You must be:
- A Metrowater customer in the Auckland City area
- A homeowner paying rates to the Auckland City Council
It doesn't matter if you are working or unemployed, if you have children or not, if you are a pensioner or a student, or if you are single or married. We will look at your individual circumstances when you apply.
How do I apply?
- Everyone who wants to apply for help from the Trust will need to fill in an application form
- Application forms are available from approved community and welfare organisations (including the Citizen's Advice Bureaux in the Auckland City area, and relevant government agencies, church and community groups), from Metrowater or from the Community Trust. Download the Application for Financial Assistance form
- All applications are treated in strictest confidence
What happens next?
Once you have completed the application form, post it to us at the address shown. You do not need a stamp. We will send a letter to confirm that we have received it.
If you have an existing arrangement to pay your Metrowater bill, you should carry on paying while we consider your application. We may contact you to arrange a visit to your home by the Administrator and / or a Trustee. They will look at your water use, plumbing and appliances to see if there are ways we can help you conserve water and reduce your Metrowater bills. We may also arrange for plumbing and / or drainage tradesmen to visit in order to understand your needs better for reducing water use. We will let you know as soon as possible whether the Trust will be able to help you.
Important points to remember
Please complete the form in full and enclose proof of your income, so we can consider your application. If we don't have enough information, the processing of your application may be delayed.
Tell us as much as you can about why you need help. Everything you tell the Trust is kept strictly confidential.
As the Metrowater Community Trust is not part of Metrowater, we cannot help you with other queries you may have about your Metrowater account.
Metrowater Community Trust
Freepost 102783 (no stamp needed)
PO Box 27 060
Mt Roskill
Auckland
Telephone: (09) 625 8176
Fax: (09) 625 8143
Email: metrowatertrust@xtra.co.nz
Web: http://www.mwct.co.nz/
