The forecast cost to install water meters across the Wellington metro has more than tripled since 2020, rising from $144 million to $590 million according to Tiaki Wai. That equates to $4,041 for each of the 146,000 meters being installed.

Responding, Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Why are Wellington councils completely incapable of keeping major capital projects on budget? Four thousand dollars per household to install a water meter is nowhere close to acceptable.”

“Auckland’s Watercare is replacing meters for $450 each, nine times cheaper than those in the Wellington region.”

“Ratepayers are sick to the back teeth of councils’ continued failure to manage water infrastructure properly and at a reasonable cost. What was the point of replacing Wellington Water if the new entity is already repeating all the same management failures?”