Source: Radio New Zealand
Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis.
Nick Leggett [ttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586892/wellington-water-chair-nick-leggett-resigns-over-moa-point-sewage-disaster stepped down] on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and had affected the environment, public health and the community.
Last week the plant failed – sending millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait per day.
Mayor Andrew Little said Leggett’s resignation was the right thing to do, and he believed the remaining directors could lead work on restoring the plant.
“Particularly the deputy chair person who is going to be stepping up – Bill Bayfield – I have confidence they [the directors] will continue to lead the organisation to respond effectively, they have to do that in conjunction with Wellington City Council.”
Little said Leggett made the decision to resign, and that it was “the right thing to do”.
“Wellington Water has I think been struggling with some public confidence issues for some time, this further incident doesn’t help. And it’s not a question of blame, it’s about indicating the organisation accepts the seriousness of it.”
File photo. Nick Leggett. RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Little said he spoke with Leggett last week, who raised with him that he was considering resigning.
He said the priority now was for the organisation to set about fixing the plant.
“The focus now though has to be on Wellington Water being supported to get the recovery done, and an assessment of the damage and a plan for reinstating it, and that’s got to be top priority and that’s my expectation as what they’ll be focusing on.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
