The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling out Wellington Water for spending $1.3 million on a communications budget that was kept hidden by the previous senior leadership.

Leadership also directed staff not to ask for overall costs, resulting in consultants being hired to manage other consultants and communications companies brought in to manage the fallout from consultant spending.

Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman, James Ross, said:

“Ratepayers were fleeced out of money meant for repairs across the failing water network, with funds instead leaking to unnecessary consultants while. If senior leadership weren’t embarrassed by this, why did they try to hide it?”

“The new Tiaki Wai Metro Water group cannot repeat the failings of the old. With $18 billion in assets and $25 billion in investment needed over the next 30 years, ratepayers will be expecting more for their money.”

“Tiaki Wai Metro Water needs to lead the way for the other new water groupings by being a slimmer, more effective organisation that prioritises transparency.