New Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation appoints chief executive

Current WSCCO Programme Director Maseina Koneferenisi has been appointed Chief Executive of QLDC 3Waters Ltd.

Current WSCCO Programme Director Maseina Koneferenisi has been appointed Chief Executive of QLDC 3Waters Ltd, the district’s new dedicated Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO). The decision was approved at the WSCCO Board’s inaugural meeting on Thursday 16 July 2026.

WSCCO Board Chair Dr Julian Elder says the appointment followed a national recruitment

campaign led by Sheffield that confirmed the right person was already in place.

“The Board is delighted with Maseina’s appointment. She brings extensive experience in the delivery of water services, has earned a strong reputation across the sector, and is widely respected for her leadership and collaborative approach. Combined with her significant commercial experience, Maseina is exceptionally well placed to lead the organisation as it establishes itself as a high-performing, regulated provider focused on delivering efficient, sustainable, and customer-focused services,” says Dr Elder.

With over 30 years’ senior leadership experience in the water sector across both local government and the private sector, Maseina (known by many as Maz) has been leading the establishment of the WSCCO since 9 February this year. She is a former Chief Executive of a Council-Controlled Trading Organisation specialising in three waters process engineering and digital compliance systems and previously served as General Manager Infrastructure and Assets at Masterton District Council. Maseina was also the Establishment Director in the Department of Internal Affairs National Transition Unit, where she led the proposed implementation of four entities combining 23 councils under the Three Waters reform.

Her experience spans the breadth of three waters functions, including operations, asset, contract and project management, compliance, engineering and technical management, and strategic and long-term planning.

Mayor John Glover says he is pleased to see how efficient the Board has been in appointing its Chief Executive.

“The Board of our newly created water organization have hit the ground running and taken their first significant step on the journey that will see them take over responsibility for water, wastewater and stormwater in less than 12 months’ time. My experience to date suggests that Maz clearly has the drive to deliver on the organization's mission and I congratulate the Board on the choice they have made," says Mayor Glover.

Maseina says she is looking forward to transitioning into the Chief Executive role.

“I am honoured to be appointed Chief Executive Officer and excited to lead the team responsible for delivering safe, reliable water services for our communities from 1 July 2027. Our immediate priority is to build a strong and sustainable organisation that is ready to meet new regulatory requirements while providing certainty for our people, partners, and customers. Together, we have a unique opportunity to deliver the water services our communities can rely on for generations.”

Dr Elder says the Board doesn’t underestimate the challenges ahead.

“We will be taking a fresh look at our water, wastewater and stormwater services to deliver the best outcomes for the district and mana whenua, in terms of service, the environment and public health. Having our Chief Executive already in place for these decisions enables us to lay the groundwork and move forward quickly,” says Dr Elder.

Maseina will officially begin as Chief Executive in mid-October. The new WSCCO/QLDC 3Waters Ltd is 100% owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council and takes responsibility for the district’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from 1 July 2027.