Wellington Water chairman Nick Leggett quits after Moa Point sewage plant failure

The chairman of Wellington Water has resigned following the “catastrophic failure” at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant, resulting in raw sewage being pumped into the ocean.

Nick Leggett released a statement this morning, saying he would be stepping down from his role following the “deeply serious” disaster.

“While the operational causes of this event will be independently examined by a government review, leadership carries responsibility.

“Crises like these undermine public trust in institutions, and we won’t begin restoring that trust until leaders accept responsibility, in actions as well as words.

“As chair of Wellington Water, I believe therefore it is appropriate that I step aside.”

Tomorrow will be Leggett’s last day in the role, with Wellington Water’s deputy board chairman, Bill Bayfield, to fill in on an interim basis until the board confirms a permanent replacement.

It comes as untreated sewage continues to flow into the sea off Wellington’s south coast, after a serious failure on February 5 saw the Moa Point plant flood and become inoperable.

The capital’s south coast beaches are currently off limits, and are expected to remain so for months as the plant is fixed.

Leggett said there had been “a great deal of commentary and blame circulating”.

His decision was intended to remove distraction and allow the “focus to remain squarely on remediation, transparency, and learning”, he said.

“Wellingtonians deserve clarity as the mayor and council, and other responsible organisations, navigate this difficult period ahead.”

Leggett said he would contribute as required to a government-run independent review which will seek to examine the root causes that led to the failure.

“[I will] look forward to the results so we can all understand how this occurred.

“Strong organisations improve when those in leadership roles are prepared to stand up in difficult moments. That is what I am doing.”

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little met Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last Monday to discuss the need for an independent inquiry into the disaster.

Little described the failure as “catastrophic”.

He said the review would need somebody independent of all the organisations involved “to step in [and] see who knew what when”.

Wellington City Council owns the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant site, Wellington Water is contracted to run the region’s water network, waste management company Veolia is contracted to run the plant and Greater Wellington Regional Council has regulatory oversight.

A map which tracks where the sewage is located on the south coast has been made by Calypso Science alongside Oceanum.

Physical oceanographer Remy Zyngfogel told the Herald the map was there to help people understand how the plumes are affected by the wind and tide.

Zyngfogel said the map is not part of the council or Wellington Water’s work.