Tiaki Wai chief executive Michael Brewster earns $645,000 a year and confirmed he rents a home in Hutt Valley, meaning he does not receive a personal water bill. He said he asks people to send him their bills so he can see current charges.

Water bills have been separated from council rates and are now issued directly by Tiaki Wai. Total household costs have risen. Renters currently pay through rent, and future water meters will allow landlords to pass usage charges on.

Brewster previously worked at TasWater in Tasmania and said his role at Tiaki Wai was to get the new entity established. He has no fixed contract and described himself as a short‑term steward who would leave once he no longer provided value.

He said his salary reflected what the board was willing to pay and pointed to his experience leading water reform, consulting, and managing change.

Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter said the $645,000 salary was too high, noting it was close to the combined salaries of the prime minister and Wellington’s mayor. She said CEO pay needed scrutiny to avoid growing public frustration.

Read the full article on The Post

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.

17/08/26