Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett resigns over Moa Point sewage disaster

From RNZ.

The chair of Wellington Water has resigned following the Moa Point crisis.

Nick Leggett said the failure of the Wellington treatment plant was deeply serious and had affected the environment, public health and the community.

A failure at the treatment plant on Wellington's south coast earlier this month has been spilling 70 million litres of untreated sewage a day into Cook Strait.

Labelled an environmental disaster by the city's mayor, Wellington Water has warned it could be months before the plant is operating again and the waters are again swimmable.

Leggett said leadership carried responsibility, and stepping aside would allow Wellington Water to focus on fixing the problems and restoring public trust.

An independent government review would examine the causes of the failure. Leggett said he would fully cooperate with that process.

His last day will be Monday. Deputy chair Bill Bayfield will take over as interim chair.

Leggett had been in the role since 2023.