New Wellington water boss accused of working to discredit scientists over unsafe drinking water findings
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Tiaki Wai chief executive Michael Brewster supported the discrediting of a peer-reviewed scientific finding of heavy metals at 22 times safe levels in drinking water while boss of a water entity in Australia, it has been revealed.
Brewster, whose $645,000 salary puts him ahead of Wellington mayor Andrew Little and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, was previously the chief executive of TasWater in Tasmania, where in 2012 the small town of Pioneer had its water deemed unsafe to drink due to lead levels.
Brewster started as TasWater chief executive in 2013 and remained in the role until 2022. He was appointed to Tiaki Wai, the new water utility taking over from Wellington Water, in November.
A 2016 ABC article has now resurfaced casting doubt of his handling of the Pioneer saga.
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It came after Macquarie University environmental scientists Mark Taylor and Paul Harvey, released a 2015 peer-reviewed study which reported lead levels of 22-times safe levels in Pioneer homes, making it the worst in Australia.
The ABC article, citing emails released under freedom of information laws, claims Brewster backed a worker who challenged the “very wonky science” and wanted to get external reviewers from another university to “debunk” the claims.
That review found the Macquarie conclusions were plausible, but said not enough samples had been taken.
Brewster wrote to the worker: “Great job … I am just amending your PD [position description] now to incorporate media responsibilities.”
He later told ABC it was light-hearted banter.
“There was no deliberate strategy from myself to discredit his work, it was to determine the veracity of his findings.”
Taylor, who was approached for comment by The Post on Friday, previously told ABC: “They deliberately and purposefully constructed a scheme to attack the science rather than dealing with the issue.”
In a statement to The Post on Friday, Brewster accepted he made “loose comments” in emails, which he regretted.
TasWater always prioritised residents’ health and delivered safe drinking water by tanker to the township, he said.
“When I became [chief executive] at TasWater, there were 20 towns or communities with permanent boil water notices, and two with public health alerts because the water was not drinkable. In my time, all these alerts were removed as problems were resolved.”
Brewster said this was disclosed this at the time he applied for the role at Tiaki Wai and “acknowledged mistakes were made, which I have learnt from”.
“I have always prioritised public health and made sure safe water supplies were provided.”
Tiaki Wai Board chairperson Will Peet on Friday said the board was confident it found the right person to lead the organisation with Brewster.
“As with any recruitment process, the Board undertook extensive reference checks.”
Wellington Water Committee chairperson Ros Connelly was not aware of the specific 2016 allegations, but said Brewster had been “upfront” with the the Tiaki Wai directors.
“He had not done everything perfectly and would do some things differently,” she said.
Former Wellington City councillor Tim Brown, who is setting up a water users’ advocacy group, said the 2016 claims did not appear to be on the same level as the Wellington fluoridation “cover-up” ‒ a reference to 2022 when Wellington Water turned off the fluoride facilities at two plants without informing its shareholding councils or the public.
“While it was probably innocent it's disconcerting to read the correspondence of those responsible for providing clean water seemingly more interested in [public relations than health and safety],” he said.
“In theory, New Zealand has independent quality regulation, but it's likely the regime is some way from perfect.”