Wellington’s new water chief executive, Michael Brewster, has accepted responsibility for confusion caused when Tiaki Wai’s first bills were sent out before council rates notices. Many residents added the new bill to their old council bill, creating inflated totals. Rates bills later arrived with water charges removed, reducing the amount but not enough to match public expectations. Brewster said he wrongly assumed rates bills would be issued first.

Tiaki Wai was created under Local Water Done Well reforms, allowing water entities to borrow and bill households directly. It inherited Wellington’s long‑standing infrastructure problems and many of Wellington Water’s staff and facilities.

Brewster said the organisation lacked basic operational systems, including billing, customer care, asset management, finance, HR, safety, planning, and payroll. Most systems were borrowed from councils or outdated. He said Tiaki Wai must build these systems while also repairing the city’s deteriorating network.

Tiaki Wai plans to spend $25b over 30 years. Brewster said Wellington faces about a decade before pipes reach a passable condition. This year’s planned spend is $799m, funded by $465m in revenue and $334m in borrowing. He said rising debt increases interest costs and reduces money available for upgrades, but essential maintenance cannot be deferred.

Read the full article on The Post: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361059792/tiaki-wai-boss-mea-culpa-over-wellington-billing-fiasco-i-shoulder-responsibility

Source: Tom Hunt / The Post

A “thank you” to the editor at The Post for giving The Upper Hutt Connection permission to publish summaries of their articles.

13/08/26