7:09 am today

Wellington Water chairman mulls resigning after damning report

7:09 am today
An independent report reveals Wellington Water staff took four months to tell the region's councils about an error in budgeting advice, which has left the councils with a bill of $51 million over three years.

Nick Leggett. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker

Wellington Water board chair Nick Leggett says he is "taking soundings" on whether he should resign after a scathing report revealed possible theft and problems at his organisation.

"I could be the sacrificial lamb," he told Morning Report on Tuesday.

He could also help with the fix, he told the programme.

"I think the leadership, and improving things, is where we need to be heading with this."

Meanwhile, an urgent meeting has been called in the wake of a damning report into Wellington Water.

The report - released on Monday - found structural problems and theft at the agency, and said the capital's ratepayers were paying nearly three times more for water repairs than in other parts of the country.

It is the second report to show poor control of contractors and finances.

The water Advisory Oversight Group, chaired by former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast, is scheduled to meet this morning at 7.30am to discuss the report.

A burst pipe in Mount Victoria, Wellington, has been spraying water high in the air. 5/3/21

Wellington Water has bigger problems than the never-ending leaks around the capital. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Thomas

It was established under the government's Local Water Done Well initiative to set up a new organisation to oversee water services in the region.

The prime minister yesterday described Wellington Water as "a total basket case" without proper governance or proper management.

Christopher Luxon wanted to see the water assets professionally managed under a Local Water Done Well model.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Wellington Water needed to urgently change the way it operated.

He said Wellington Water's problems were the result of the government scrapping reforms already underway when it came to power.

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