Wellington sewage spill: Nick Leggett resigns over Moa Point failure
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Nick Leggett has stepped down as chairperson of underfire Wellington Water following the pollution disaster at Moa Point.
Leggett, who was appointed to the utility in 2023, said “someone had to be accountable” after the plant failed, pouring 70 million litres of untreated sewage into Cook Strait every day and closing beaches.
An inquiry is under way into the incident, that happened during heavy rainfall early in February.
But Leggett told The Post stepping aside was necessary to underline the seriousness of the crisis and restore public trust.
“I think it is important that when bad things happen, people are accountable, because it underlines the importance and the significance of what has gone on,” he said.
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Leggett, and Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty, have faced calls to resign in the past week.
He said his departure would remove distraction while the causes of the failure are investigated, the clean-up continues and the city transitions to an new regional water entity, Tiaki Wai, in July.
“My decision is intended to remove distraction and allow the focus to remain squarely on remediation, transparency, and learning,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that the disaster reflected a failure of the current leadership team, saying Dougherty, recruited 18 months ago to reform the organisation, should remain in place.
“He is a water engineer. He has decades of experience in local government. The region needs him in that job until the new organisation takes over,” Leggett said.
The board will continue to operate with deputy chair Bill Bayfield expected to take on an interim leadership role. Bayfield was the establishing chief executive at new national water regulator Taumata Arowai.
Leggett, a former Porirua city councillor and mayor, now boss of Infrastructure New Zealand, said the Moa Point breakdown exposed deeper structural problems in how water infrastructure has been funded and governed.
“Wellington Water provides advice on assets for six councils. It says this is what you should spend, and then councils make a decision and we carry that out,” he said.
He argued years of financial pressure on councils had constrained investment, leaving the region with an “unsustainable” model that is now being replaced.
“This is a vast failure and there aren’t any excuses for that. But there will be an inquiry, and what people need to consider is that this model is wrong. That’s why we’re changing it.”
In a statement on Sunday, Wellington mayor Andrew Little acknowledged Leggett’s service.
He said the council had an important role in supporting Wellington Water and regional public health authorities to keep up the flow of clear information to the community.
'This is crucial so Wellingtonians can keep themselves safe and know what the next steps in the recovery are.
“I have spoken to the incoming interim chair and reinforced my expectation that Wellington City Council partners with him to ensure this happens.”
Meanwhile, Wellington Water will now front a public meeting about Moa Point, hosted by Green Party MPs Julie Anne Genter and Tamatha Paul, after initially saying it would not.
In a statement on Saturday, a spokesperson said the organisation’s role was to provide essential services, not to attend “political events”.
“Given the political nature of this community event, we passed on the request to our shareholding council (WCC) and at this stage we are not planning to attend.”
However, it u-turned on that position on Sunday saying, chief executive Pat Dougherty had been asked to attend by Little.
The meeting will be held at the performing arts centre at St Patrick’s College in Kilbirnie on Monday. Doors open 6.30pm, meeting starts at 7pm.
Nick Leggett’s statement
“The failure at Moa Point is deeply serious. It has had environmental, public health and community impacts that none of us should take lightly.
“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.
“There is a great deal of commentary and blame circulating. My decision is intended to remove distraction and allow the focus to remain squarely on remediation, transparency, and learning.
“Wellingtonians deserve clarity as the Mayor and council, and other responsible organisations navigate this difficult period ahead.
“An independent review run by the Government will seek to examine the root causes that led to the failure at Moa Point. I will contribute to that as required and 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.”