Wellington City Council, Tiaki Wai prosecuted over Moa Point plant disaster
Wellington City Council and Tiaki Wai are facing prosecution by the Greater Wellington Regional Council following a major sewage spill at the Moa Point treatment plant. The charges involve unlawful discharges and breaches of an abatement notice, potentially resulting in millions of dollars in fines.
Why it matters
This case highlights the legal accountability of municipal bodies regarding environmental protection and the enforcement of resource management laws.
Greater Wellington Regional Council is prosecuting Wellington City Council and Tiaki Wai over the catastrophic failure at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant .
Billions of litres of raw sewage have spilled into the city's south coast since the plant flooded in February.
Wellington City Council says it anticipated the prosecution.
It acknowledges the seriousness of the impact on the environment, residents and businesses on Wellington's south coast.
The council says it's co-operating fully.
Wellington City Council chief executive Matt Prosser.
Greater Wellington said Tiaki Wai and Wellington City Council could face tens of millions in fines if convicted.
In a statement, it said each organisation faced 10 charges related to what it claims are unlawful sewage discharges from the plant.
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