The Crown Review into the responsibilities of Wellington City Council and Wellington Water regarding the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant has been released.

The primary purpose of the report was to look at how the governance, management, ownership and maintenance of the plant between Council and Wellington Water contributed toward its failure.

The Crown Review Team found that the failure is not an isolated event, but rather, the culmination of deeper, long-developing systematic weaknesses across ownership, management, and operation. The governance model used to provide oversight of Wellington Water while sound in theory, had drifted creating gaps in stewardship, accountability and risk management.

On the Wellington City Council side, the failures were that we didn't take an assertive enough role as the asset owner to define expectations and risk tolerances. We relied too heavilly on receiving assurances on the plant condition from Wellington Water.

The lack of an asset management plan for the plant meant that the council was not making informed decisions around when and where to invest and this increased the risk of failure.

On the Wellington Water side, their role in running the plant was blurred. They were operating partly as the asset manager, coordinator and at times a shadow operator. This blurred the separation between asset management and operations and compounded into a reduced focus on long-term asset management while weakening accountability, particularly in the oversight of Veolia as plant operator.

Ultimately the report finds that at Wellington Water a risk culture developed over time that allowed non-compliance to be explained off and become business as usual, rather than being escalated.

How do we ensure this doesn't happen again?

The report finds that the new structure under Tiaki Wai can address the fundamental issues I've outlined but it's no given. All parties need to front up, own their failures and work together.

The report also identifies that the risk of a repeat event remains while major treatment processes are out of service.

Enhanced Standard Operation Procedures (SoPs) are planned by Tiaki Wai along with new instrumentation and alarms so there is greater, real-time monitoring of these risks.

The report has eight ultimate recommendations shared between the Minister for Local Government, Wellington City Council and Tiaki Wai.

For council what we can and must do is maintain active oversight and stewardship in wastewater services, have the governance and asset management capability in the organisation to execute such and recognise we will always be accountable for the end result to the community.

Both WCC and Tiaki Wai acknowledge and accept the report's findings and will work together closely to implement its recommendations.

from Island Bay Marine Education Centre:

"Judy here.

I have devastating news for all our friends, supporters and followers.

Victor has died.

I’m beyond sad.

For those of you who have known us from the very first when we created our Island Bay Marine Education Centre at the old Marine Laboratory over 30 years ago, you will know that Victor was my best friend. He was also the most kind, compassionate and humble person I’ve ever known.

He was Dr Shark. I was Ms Orca. We were a team. With Victor at my side, I felt that we could achieve anything.

All he wanted in life was to make people happy. And if he could inspire them to become as passionate about caring for our marine environment as he was, then that was a bonus.

He was an excellent communicator and had a formidable intellect which he shared with everyone in a fun, accessible and exciting way. I think he did a good job.

As well as his role as a mentor, inspirer and consummate host, he was a respected Scientist and Marine Biologist who travelled the World from Antarctica to China and many other countries sharing his knowledge. He touched a lot of people in many different ways.

I’m still working through things, and I ask for your patience while I figure out the best way to help everyone share their memories of Victor and celebrate his life to the utmost.

He hated funerals but he liked parties. So, I’ll try to find a way to help everyone remember him in a fun way. Maybe a party at Octopus Headquarters. I won’t be able to respond for a while but if you feel like sharing your memories of Victor then please do so.

Our little Education Centre is thriving despite a year of sewage pollution, storms and other setbacks. I’m determined for it to continue to operate for a long time. That would make Victor very happy.

I’m so grateful to have Sam Chan as our Aquarist and Luca, Kris and Sean looking after our booked groups and Open Sundays @ the Bait House. And, of course, our awesome Volunteers who help make a visit to the Bait House memorable.

Riposa in pace, my best friend, Vittorio Costantino Antonio Anderlini.

You were one of a kind and you made the World a better place."

Its been quiet out in the bay this winter. I could hear one down the valley. Ast year year we had a pair that called to each other and another thst sounded like a toad..

you can now buy hot donuts at the Wellington railway station and crikey you can smell them the second the train door opens.

I have a chronic illness + disability and my doctor recommended swimming to help me build my strength back up. I love the ocean here, but on windy days I’d love to have a relaxing indoor pool option too, ideally somewhere I can wade/swim gently rather than having to do laps.

Does anyone know of any good pools in Wellington that are preferably saltwater or not too chlorinated, and have more of a calm/spa vibe rather than harsh gym lighting? I feel like perhaps a hotel pool where locals can pay membership would be nice. Thank you.

Time for a service on my motorbike and found out that Boyle’s Motorcycles (next to Maccas at the Basin) has closed :( I’ve been going to them for 10 years now and they were great.

Can I please get some recommendations of some friendly and honest shops? I’ll admit I don’t know too much about motorbikes and only use my low Cc bike for city commuting, so looking for someone who can explain things in plain language if need be.

Thanks!

(There should be a recommendation request flair perhaps?)

'They should be at work': Christopher Luxon on 10,000 striking public servants https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/1207896/they-should-be-at-work-christopher-luxon-on-10-000-striking-public-servants

I didn’t know about this strike and will definitely be showing up to tautoko! You’re hearty as

Imagine if we had a Lidl or Aldi here?

It would change so many people's lives.

We’ve recently had new neighbours move in and they use their wood-burning fireplace multiple times a day. I think, legally, this is ok but it is really affecting our home and family. I have three children, one with asthma and I’m getting worried that he will get very ill from the smoke. I constantly smell smoke. The amount coming out of the chimney just seems wrong. I don’t know if the previous homeowners just didn’t ever use the fireplace but I’ve never noticed the smoke before.
Does anyone know how I can handle this? What can I do to prevent the smoke from coming in? I live in an old house so there are lots of places where the smoke can creep in.
Also, we brought it up with them when it first happened and they admitted they were burning wet wood and said they wouldn’t do it again but I’m not sure that has stopped.

Can anyone tell me why our trains frequently wait outside Wellington station for a platform? Currently on the 8.05am express from Waterloo and we’re stopped just north of the stadium.
Do we have that many trains moving around that we can’t just go straight into Wellington station to a platform? Or is it something else?

I want to learn to speak, and eventually maybe read and write te reo Māori.

My parents are immigrants, so I don’t have any Māori background myself, just European/Sri Lankan roots. But I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. With everything going on right now (the pushback on Māori language and culture from certain corners of politics ^cough^), it feels like the wrong time to sit on the sidelines. If anything, that’s exactly why it matters to actually put the effort in and connect properly with the whenua I live on and the culture that’s foundational to Aotearoa, not just admire it from a distance/walk around as I know most immigrants/ descendants of immigrants do (this is my personal experience, i may be wrong but oh well)

I’m a total beginner, am genuinely starting from zero. When I say starting from zero, I do of course understand commonly used words and phrases but that’s about it.

So if anyone in Wellington has done a good intro-level course, or knows a class that’s welcoming to people with no prior exposure to te reo or tikanga, I’d really appreciate the pointer. Doesn’t need to be fancy, just somewhere I can actually start learning properly xx

Thought this might be of interest, Audioculture covering the history of Cuba Dupa festival!

I've been a Molemap person for the last probably 10yrs at least, always making sure I book an appointment to get a check no matter how expensive it was... however there was a post on Reddit awhile back (though I think they were Auckland based) about how they missed a spot (that even got sent away to check) that did turn out to be cancerous. Given how expensive it is, I'm wondering if I should try going somewhere new

So I'm wondering if anyone has any skin specialists (that aren't Molemap) in Wellington that they go (and recommend highly) to have their moles and spots checked?

Hey, I'm trying to find a cheapish place in welly to cut my hair but they'll all pretty pricey and I'm also a student on a budget, any help will be appreciated, thank you!

Just admiring the absolutely wonderful weather we are having today.

Took my bike out of the garage and CRCd it for the spring and summer. A brisk cycle up and down the culdesac to make sure it still works as per normal.

Tui snapped happily feeding on nectar from the kofis this morning right above me as I worked away.

Have an amazing Tuesday everyone.

For businesses that use AI to enhance your products you must be aware of the Fair Trading Act, you wouldn't want to be done for 'Misleading Descriptions.' If nyone turned up to your business expecting what they see on your advertising and the product doesn't meet expectations, you could find yourself in trouble.

This is a totally selfish post, as a Graphic Designer this absurde use of AI truly makes your business look terrible.

Kia ora folks. if your looking for something different to do this saturday, I came across this Korean Festival at the Michael Fowler Centre. Its from 12pm - 5pm and free entry, theres gonna be Korean food, KPop, cultural performances, cooking shows, arts & crafts and K-Food/K-Beauty stalls.

Thought I’d share it here incase anyone wants to go along and have some fun, maybe try something new this weekend haha

Im not the organiser or involved with the event btw, just came across it and thought it looked pretty cool so thought I’d share 😊

There’s a carpark by the Airport Retail Park with buses picking people up? I assume film related as there’s security and signage about crew.

Anyone know what’s going on?

selling vintage clothes on the 27th of september starting 12pm, 12 hunter street, hope to see you there 😉

@everythingontheracks and @sam_antha_margaret on ig!

https://www.instagram.com/everythingontheracks?igsi=N3I3OTN4bHJyZW9w

https://www.instagram.com/sam_antha_margaret?igsi=MTJsMG95NzJ3ZmdoOA==

Make sure you have your water and food stocked up and your plan to get home.

Had a huge traffic jam after the Paremata Roundabout turning to Mana espl. Turns out this huge ass truck was parked here while the clearway was operating.