PM Chris Luxon has labelled Wellington Water a ‘Basket Case’ however Porirua Mayor Anita Baker has pushed back against calls for Wellington Water chairman Nick Leggett to resign. This is in spite of a scathing report revealing that Wellington, including Porirua, ratepayers are paying nearly three times more than those in other cities for unplanned pipe maintenance.
‘Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy has calls for Leggett’s resignation’
However Porirua Mayor Baker has defended Leggett’s leadership, arguing that the report’s findings are a step toward fixing long-standing issues. “Pat Dougherty and Nick as chair have led this report and driven these findings… I would not understand why you would want to throw that out,” says Baker.
The report also found Wellington Water’s ability to detect and prevent fraud has been significantly weakened due to unreliable safeguards. Leggett has apologised and is “pausing for thought” on whether he should remain in his role, stating that accountability is about identifying problems and fixing them.
With Wellington Water owned by multiple councils, including Porirua, the decision on Leggett’s future now lies with regional leaders. Will they see him as part of the problem or the solution?
