Watch: Wastewater leak streaks across Wellington’s south coast

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

A New Plymouth based oceanography research company has created a map that shows the wastewater spill following the failure of the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant last week.

Calypso Science captured the moment millions of litres of raw sewage leaked into into the ocean on Wellington’s south coast, prompting warnings to stay out of the water and avoid collecting kaimoana.

In an update Tuesday, Wellington Water said work was continuing at at the facility to clean the plant and minimise the impacts of odour.

They said removing biological material from the plant and cleaning out affected rooms was a significant task, and they were continuing to “ascertain the full impact of the flooding on the plant’s equipment and operations”.

In the statement Tuesday, Wellington Water said odour complaints had been received.

“Odour neutralising equipment is being deployed to reduce the amount of odour around the plant, and we have odour monitors measuring the impact at sites surrounding the plant,” they said.