Overview
- A severe thunderstorm dropped 25.7mm of rain in two hours and produced more than 5,000 lightning strikes, which coincided with a blocked wastewater main that sent sewage, sanitary items and brown floodwater onto The Parade in Island Bay.
- Wellington Water confirmed a wastewater overflow from the blocked main affected five properties and deployed suction trucks and crews to remove waste and disinfect homes while placing signage to warn of contamination.
- The storm also caused further raw wastewater from the already impaired Moa Point treatment plant to be discharged near Tarakena Bay, prompting authorities to advise people not to swim, surf, kayak or collect shellfish along the south coast for at least 48 hours.
- Residents and local councillors described the scene as unacceptable and angry, and a nearby daycare closed on health grounds, underscoring mounting community concern about the city’s sewage infrastructure.
- The Moa Point plant has been partly malfunctioning since February with temporary fixes in place and a full restoration not expected until November, raising questions about system resilience and likely further scrutiny of council and Wellington Water operations.