Wellington Water has appointed a new board chairperson after Nick Leggett resigned over the Moa Point wastewater failure on Sunday.
Bill Bayfield, who had acted as interim chairperson, was confirmed as the new board chair on Thursday.
"On behalf of the Wellington Water Board, I would like to thank Nick for his valuable contribution and leadership over the past few years during his time as chair," he said.
"The Wellington Water Board remains committed to the smooth transition of our hard working and capable people to Tiaki Wai on July 1, the ongoing maintenance of the region’s water networks and, of course, the recovery and repair of the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant."
The Moa Point wastewater plant's lower floors were completely flooded earlier this month when sewage backed up in a 1.8km outfall pipe, sending raw sewage spilling out from a five-metre pipe directly into Wellington's southern coastline.
The flooding caused beach closures off the capital's south coast, with officials saying repairs could take months.
Continued pollution from the failure of the Moa Point treatment plant fires a heated community meeting. (Source: TVNZ)
Leggett, in his resignation on Sunday, described the Moa Point failure as "deeply serious", acknowledging its environmental, public health and community impacts.
"Crises like these undermine public trust in institutions, and we won't begin restoring that trust until leaders accept responsibility, in actions as well as words," he said.
"The failure at Moa Point is deeply serious. It has had environmental, public health and community impacts that none of us should take lightly.
"While the operational causes of this event will be independently examined by a government review, leadership carries responsibility."
Leggett said his resignation was intended to remove distraction and keep focus on "remediation, transparency, and learning".
"Strong organisations improve when those in leadership roles are prepared to stand up in difficult moments. That is what I am doing."
Wellington Water is owned and fully funded by Wellington City Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, and Upper Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and South Wairarapa District Council. All six councils are equal shareholders.
Bayfield had been chief executive at both Environment Canterbury and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, as well as chief executive of the new national water regulator Taumata Arowai, where he was responsible for its establishment.
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