1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: So councils in Wellington are furious. I'm furious with a 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: new scathing report into Wellington Water. Just as we thought 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: the agency couldn't get any worse. The report found alleged theft, 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: poor value for money from contractors, and major structural issues. 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: In fact, it says the Lower North Island rate payers 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: have coughed up three times what it should have cost 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: to fix the pipes. So Anita Baker is the polaro 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: of mayor and joins me now coccording to you, Anita. 9 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 2: Good morning. 10 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: How was this allowed to happen? 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: Not just bloody? Is shocking the internal systems that Wellington 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 2: Water with the competitive tendering process a complete jack up, 13 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: just just disgrace. 14 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Yep, Let's remember that last year Wellington Water revealed a 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: fifty one million dollar budget error. Remember that, of course 16 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: you do. It seems like the whole organization has been 17 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: a clown show. 18 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: It certainly feels like that, and I have to thank 19 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: the new cepet Dockerty in Netleigets are running this report 20 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: and finding out these processes. Once that new CEE came 21 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: into place, staff just came out of with the issues 22 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: and we've been complaining about the pricing and this report 23 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: is an absolute eye. 24 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: So staff knew about the issues. 25 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: Staff internally had problems and I think just didn't want 26 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,559 Speaker 2: to come forward. You know, other people knew things. So 27 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 2: I think that organization has completely changed since Pat Dockety 28 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 2: has taken over. We're certainly you know, the price processes 29 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: have changed and they've got the even even though they 30 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: didn't have an IT system, For God's sake, how can 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 2: you not have an IT system that pay roll and 32 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 2: everything else they were relying on contract. 33 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: Suggest perhaps they borrowed it because they didn't have enough 34 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: money to make their own. 35 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 2: Yes, it was never set up from the start. Wellington 36 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: Water was set up to fail from my point of 37 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: view all those years ago. Sure, and it has not been. 38 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: Should Nick leg Get stepped down his chair he's. 39 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: Offered, I personally don't think he should. We're a year 40 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: out from water reforms. Him and Pat are working exception 41 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 2: of well together. We're out to two new directors at 42 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: the moment. Why would you push someone who's just revealed 43 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 2: what we wanted them to come out and tell us 44 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: there was issues. I just don't see why you chop 45 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: the head off something when they're working well as good 46 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 2: as a team and we need the processes in place 47 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: to go forward with water reforms. So personally I count 48 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: to the point. 49 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I get it because it's not the problems, not 50 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: with the head, it's with what's happening at the base. 51 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: So you pilot of a city, you're working with Hot City, 52 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: Upperhut City, Wellington City and Greater Wellington Regional Councils alongside 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: EWE Partners on a new model for water services delivery 54 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: and that new entity you're hoping to begin in July 55 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six, is this under the local water done well? 56 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: And how are you looking to pull your ability to 57 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: borrow more money so you can fix the bloody pipes? 58 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 2: You're not wrong because we've got lots of pipes that 59 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 2: need fixing, So yes we are, and water done well 60 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 2: is the only way to fix this now, and I 61 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 2: think this proves it. 62 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: Oh Anita, I thank you so much. I'm so sorry, 63 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: and I thank you so much for your time today. 64 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: It is shocking, shocking. For more from early edition with 65 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: Ryan Bridge, listen live to news talks it'd be from 66 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.