Most Wellington councillors think Wellington Water Board chair Nick Leggett should step down. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
- Two scathing reports into Wellington Water were released last week
- Most Wellington city councillors have called for Wellington Water's Board chair to step down
- The reports will be discussed at a meeting with council leaders in the Wellington region this afternoon
The future of the Wellington Water Board chair will be discussed by the region's leaders at an extraordinary meeting today.
The water provider released summaries of two reports last week, which showed its unplanned maintenance spending was far higher than four other comparative councils, and that it had not managed contractors well, with poor financial oversight.
In a covering note attached to the full AECOM report released on Thursday, Wellington Water said its higher spend was because the network was older and in poorer condition - so it broke frequently and cost more to fix.
Wellington Water's shareholding councils - Wellington City, Greater Wellington, Porirua, Hutt City, Upper Hutt and South Wairarapa - make up the Wellington Water Committee.
An extraordinary meeting to discuss the reports was called for the group, due to take place at 3pm today.
A letter to the committee on Thursday from Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, supported by most councillors - aside from Diane Calvert, Nicola Young, Tony Randle and Nureddin Abdurahman - called for Wellington Water Board chair Nick Leggett's resignation.
The elected officials also said they did not have confidence in Leanne Southey - Wellington Water's board member responsible for audit and risk.
Councillor Nikau Wi Neera, told Morning Report, he believed the leadership of Wellington Water "had to take the fall".
"We're constantly told by Wellington Water they're underfunded and desperate for cash - we've been trying for many years to get accountability from this organisation."
If the committee did not agree on sacking Leggett they want him to front up to the council, answer questions and apologise to ratepayers.
But they do support newly appointed Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty.
"He has taken on a huge challenge and, for he first time in years, we are getting straight talking and real action to improve things at Wellington Water."
As well as Leggett's resignation the majority of Wellington city councillors wanted the following:
- An analysis of Wellington Water's unplanned maintenance costs, with a view to seeking either a refund for ratepayers, or discounted rates on future work, from contractors;
- A public call to previous staff and contractors if they had information about poor practice or fraud;
- The findings of the Deloitte and AECOM report to be referred to the Auditor-General for investigation;
- A meeting with the local government minister to ask for support to ensure value for money from ratepayers;
- Monthly rather than quarterly meetings of the Wellington Water Committee;
- Appointment of a person with contract management expertise to monitor Wellington Water's work.
Not all council leaders support Wellington Water's Board chair stepping down.
Porirua mayor Anita Baker has defended Leggett and said she was "pretty mad" when she read the letter.
"It's like a vindictive try to just to go after one person," she said.
"Why do you take down the head of the board, who has been in there and done the job you asked him, and then you don't like the report? It sounds like children, the things they have written, it was just disgraceful."
Baker said Wellington Water must be held to account, and the public needed answers, but Whanau and the councillors went the wrong way about it.
Councillor Diane Calvert agreed with Baker and told Morning Report, she thought it was "too soon" to say Leggett should resign.
"We really don't know all the facts and haven't verified all the information."
Calvert said the council needed to take some responsibility too.
"Reports have been going on and this council has done nothing about it.
"I think it would have been more appropriate for the mayor to go into the meeting this afternoon with an open mind.'
Leggett would not comment before Monday's meeting with the shareholding committee "as is appropriate in these situations".
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