Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett has resigned after the Moa Point treatment plant failure led to about 70 million litres of untreated sewage being discharged into Cook Strait daily, an incident described as an environmental disaster with public health and environmental consequences.
Leggett said the seriousness of the failure meant leadership accountability was required and stepping down would allow the organisation to focus on recovery and rebuilding trust, as an independent government review investigates the cause.
Deputy chair Bill Bayfield will become interim chair, while Wellington Mayor Andrew Little said the priority was ensuring recovery continues, clear information is provided to the public, and Wellington Water works with council and health authorities as repairs are expected to take months.
