Story perspectives
Wellington Water's Interim Leader Steps In Amid Sewage Crisis
2/21/2026
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Story summary
- Bill Bayfield, Wellington Water's deputy board chairman, will serve as interim leader after Leggett steps down amid a sewage crisis.
- A Moa Point plant failure on February 5 released untreated sewage into Cook Strait, closing south-coast beaches for months.
- Leggett aims to shift to remediation and transparency by contributing to an independent review.
- Wellington Mayor Andrew Little called the failure catastrophic and urged an independent inquiry.
