Overview

Pursuant to sections 255(3) and 258 of the Local Government Act 2002, 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 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 Water Limited, a water organisation 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 undertake a review of WWL’s oversight and management of contractual arrangements, setting of performance expectations, risk monitoring and incident response that may have contributed to the failure of the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant on 4 February 2026, and to identify improvements WWL or Tiaki Wai 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 City Council. 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 and identify immediate and long-term opportunities for improvement in the operation, maintenance, and management of the plant, based on the information available during the ongoing emergency;
• Assess operational and contracting arrangements and management, governance oversight, shareholder responsibilities, funding arrangements, service delivery arrangements, and decision‑making across relevant entities;
• 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 WWL and the Minister on how WWL and Tiaki Wai could address the problem; and
3. make recommendations to the Minister on whether the Minister should take further action in relation to WWL, including whether the Minister should appoint any other Ministerial body to WWL; and
4. ensure, as far as practicable, that the existing organisational capability of WWL is not diminished.

8. The Crown Review Team for WWL will undertake a review, based on the information available, 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 Crown Review Team is not expected to undertake a forensic or engineering investigation into the mechanical or technical cause of the Moa Point plant failure. However, the Review Team may consider information provided by WWL regarding the likely or probable causes of the failure, including technical assessments already available, insofar as this informs the Review Team’s examination of governance, management, maintenance practices, and organisational decision‑making.

10. The following are in scope of the review:

• High-level findings relating to the design, construction, contract management, maintenance, systems, operations, and commissioning of the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant;
• The known sequence of events leading to the plant failure, including any early indicators of risk;
• Governance, management, accountability, oversight systems, funding arrangements, and capability within WWL, including the regulatory and legislative context that may have influenced their management or ability to manage the plant;
• Contractual and operational arrangements relevant to the immediate performance of the plant;
• Public health and environmental risk communication, particularly the timeliness and adequacy of immediate notifications and warnings;
• Systemic or structural issues within WWL that may have contributed to vulnerabilities at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant; and
• Immediate lessons and long-term improvement opportunities for the transition to Tiaki Wai.

Out of Scope

11. 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

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

13. Member must exercise their professional judgment and carry out their functions objectively and impartially.

Membership

14. The Crown Review Team comprises the following members;

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

15. 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

16. 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.

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

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

19. 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

20. 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 occurring 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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 WWL. Members of the Review Team are responsible for ensuring any expenses claimed are reasonable and necessary.

Cost Recovery

24. In accordance 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 WWL and its shareholding councils.

25. 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 on this 9th day of March 2026.

Hon SIMON WATTS, Minister of Local Government.