Overview

Pursuant to sections 255(3) and 258 of the Local Government Act 2002 (“Act”), the Minister of Local Government gives notice of his appointment of:

Raveen Jaduram as chair, and

Helen Atkins,

Garry Macdonald, and

Michael Weatherall

as members to the Crown Review Teams to the Wellington City Council (WCC) and Wellington Water Limited (WWL).

The term for the Crown Review Team starts on 16 March 2026 and will conclude on 31 August 2026. 

Background

1. A major failure at the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant on 4 February 2026 caused catastrophic flooding, the complete shutdown of the plant, and discharge of millions of litres per day of untreated wastewater in the surrounding harbour, creating significant environmental and public health impacts across the Wellington South Coast.

2. A Crown Review Team may be appointed at the request of Wellington City Council , a local authority under Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002.

3. Lessons must be identified and available to inform the establishment of Tiaki Wai Limited (Tiaki Wai), the new metropolitan Wellington region water services provider commencing 1 July 2026.

Purpose

4. The purpose of the Crown Review Team is to examine WCC’s governance, oversight, accountability, funding, asset‑management and statutory responsibilities in relation to the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant that may have contributed to the failure of the plant on 4 February 2026, and to identify improvements WCC could take to reduce the likelihood of future failures.

5. A Crown Review Team, comprising the same members, is also being appointed to examine issues at Wellington Water Limited. There is a separate, complementary terms of reference for that appointment.

6. The Crown Review Team will also:

• Establish a high‑level sequence of events, operation and identify immediate and long-term opportunities for improvement in WCC’s stewardship of wastewater services based on the information available during the ongoing emergency;
• Identify lessons learned and recommend actions to reduce likelihood of recurrence;
• Provide advice to the Minister of Local Government on whether further intervention is warranted.

Scope of Crown Review Team

7. Pursuant to section 258(4) of the Local Government Act 2002, the Crown Review Team must, to the extent authorised by its terms of reference:

1. investigate and report on the nature and extent of the problem; and
2. make recommendations to WCC and the Minister on how WCC could address the problem; and
3. make recommendations to the Minister on whether the Minister should take further action in relation to WCC, including whether the Minister should appoint any other Ministerial body to WCC; and
4. ensure, as far as practicable, that the existing organisational capability of WCC is not diminished.

8. The Crown Review Team for WCC will undertake a review, based on the information available to WCC and subject to the practical constraints arising from the ongoing incident. The Crown Review Team is not expected to determine the mechanical or technical cause of the wastewater plant’s failure.

9. The following are in scope of the review:

• Technical documentation held by the WCC relating to the design, commissioning, construction, maintenance and modification, systems and operations of the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant;
• WCC’s response to information it received from WWL prior to the failure, including risk signals, performance concerns, or relevant status updates;
• WCC’s governance, contract management, accountability, oversight responsibilities and capability for wastewater infrastructure at Moa Point, including the regulatory and legislative context that may have influenced events leading up to the failure on 4 February 2026;
• WCC’s shareholder oversight of WWL, including service delivery expectations, funding and investment decisions, monitoring frameworks, risk management processes, performance reporting, and escalation pathways;
• WCC’s funding, budgeting, and investment decisions relating to the renewal, maintenance, and resilience of the broader wastewater network;
• WCC’s asset management obligations, including whether its policies, plans, and investment signals supported the effective operation and resilience of the plant; and
• Immediate lessons and long-term improvement opportunities for the transition to Tiaki Wai.

Out of Scope

10. The Review will not:

• Make findings as to criminal, civil or disciplinary liability;
• Where possible, make findings that ascribe particular actions or inactions in relation to the Moa Point incident to identifiable individuals;
• Form any views in relation to any internal business practices of third-party contractors or any individual contractors; or
• Undertake or make findings on any regulatory investigations or any related compliance and enforcement activity under the Resource Management Act 1991 or other relevant legislation.

Conflicts of Interest and Member Conduct

11. Members must disclose any conflict, potential conflict, or perceived conflict of interest as it arises.

12. Members must exercise their professional judgment and carry out their functions objectively and impartially.

Membership

13. The Crown Review Team comprises the following members:

• Raveen Jaduram – Chair
• Helen Atkins – Member
• Garry Macdonald – Member
• Michael Weatherall – Member

14. These members are considered to hold expertise in:

• technical wastewater engineering;
• organisational governance and funding;
• operational management and delivery; and
• commercial and contractual management.

Approach to Functions Including Handling of Information

15. The activities conducted by the Crown Review Team can include reviewing documents, workshops, engagement with community and commissioning technical, legal, or analytical advice as required to support the review.

16. The work undertaken by the Crown Review Team operates in parallel with, and must not constrain any investigation, or any other compliance and enforcement activity, undertaken under the Resource Management Act 1991 or other legislation.

17. The Crown Review Team must conduct its work in a manner consistent with natural justice.

18. The Crown Review Team must avoid the disclosure of information that may prejudice any criminal or regulatory investigation, legal action, or insurance claim in relation to the Moa Point treatment plant, except in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002 or any other enactment or requirement of law.

Deliverables and Timeframes

19. The Crown Review Team will provide an interim report to the Minister of Local Government by 30 June 2026 and a final report by 31 August 2026. The report must meet the requirements of section 258U of the Local Government Act 2002, including covering the following:

• Key findings from the review;
• Lessons to avoid a similar failure taking place in the future;
• Recommendations in line with the requirements covered in section 258(4) under Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002, referenced in the scope section;
• Next steps for the Minister for Local Government and the relevant organisations to consider.

Official Information

20. Subject to sections 258U and 258Z of the Local Government Act 2002, and any other enactment or rule of law to the contrary, the Official Information Act 1982, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and the Privacy Act 2020, apply to all information held by the Crown Review Team.

Secretariat Support

21. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will provide secretariat support to the Crown Review Team. This will include coordination of meetings, facilitating access to documentation, access to specialist technical advice, legal advice, and analytical services if needed, and project management and coordination as required.

Remuneration

22. Pursuant to section 258V of the Local Government Act 2002, members of the Crown Review Team will receive remuneration in accordance with the Cabinet Fees Framework CO(25)2 at a rate of $1,645 a day for the chair and $1,240 a day for each member. Remuneration will be paid from money belonging to WCC. Members of the Review Team are responsible for ensuring any expenses claimed are reasonable and necessary.

Cost Recovery

23. Pursuant with section 258W(2) of the Local Government Act 2002, expenses incurred by the Crown in relation to the appointment and work of the Crown Review Team – including remuneration, fees, specialist advice, administration, and other costs – may be recovered from WCC.

24. The DIA secretariat will support the Crown Review Team with cost recovery and will consult with affected local authorities before issuing any cost recovery notice.

Dated at Wellington this 9th day of March 2026.

Hon SIMON WATTS, Minister of Local Government.