Sewage Discharge
Since the catastrophic failure of Wellington’s sewage treatment plant at Moa Point on the 4th February 2026, the raw and untreated sewage of 180,000 Wellingtonians is being discharged into Wellington’s South Coast every day.
Over 7 billion litres of untreated sewage as at 17 May 2026… and counting!
The ongoing release of Wellington city’s raw sewage is one of the most significant pollution events the region has faced in decades. It presents serious risks to public health and to the marine ecosystems along the South Coast.
Stopping this discharge must be treated as an urgent priority. The Moa Point Treatment Plant needs to be fully repaired without delay.
We also expect much clearer, more proactive communication from Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. People deserve timely, transparent information about:
- the actual health risks of entering the water
- the scale and nature of the sewage being released
- the impacts on the marine environment
- the monitoring underway and what it is showing
- a realistic timeline for repairs and for ending the discharge
You can read a full statement of the Trust on the Moa Point Treatment Plant failure here (28 April 2026, pdf).
Only with accurate and accessible information can the public make informed decisions about whether it is safe for them to undertake water activities on the South Coast.
