Wellington Water's chief executive Tonia Haskell has resigned after a scathing report into the entity's processes and accountability.
So where to next for Wellington Water, and was Haskell forced out?
A frequent critic of Wellington Water, Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy joined Nick Mills to discuss the organisation's issues.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said, b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining us now is Upper hutmea, Wayne Guppy, Good morning, Wayne,
morning Mat. Okay, Now, you've been pretty hard on Willington
Order for a while and I understand why because your
rate payers would be getting on top of you as well.
The first question on everybody's lips was was Tanya pushed
ordered she leave?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I'm not sure about that, but I mean, from the
point of view that's a relationship with her and the board.
But the Wellington Water Committee, which in compriser, made it
very clear that on the report that was tabled for
us that there had to be changed at Willingham Water.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And did the report actually say that, Wayne, Did it
say hey, you've got a problem and your management sorted out.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, that was very clear. A number of issues that
were raised. And look, look, this is nothing new. This
is nothing new. This organization has been underperforming and certainly
not performing for the rate parts of the region for
a number of years. And this is the third report.
This is the third report that basically said the same thing,
and the and the regions chosen not to do anything
(01:14):
about it. But certainly this one was pretty hard hitting
and it could not continue doing what it was doing.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Way. What concerns me is that everything was supposed to
be okay, Tanya was the answer. We've got it sorted now.
Now again we're in exactly the same situation. Shouldn't that
scare your rate payers.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And meat, Well, it's that's nothing new to me because
we've been saying that for a long time, but certainly
from the point of view of performance, from the point
of view of value for money, I don't believe we've
been getting that from Wanting and Water for a number
of years. But there is light now because obviously this
report has really effectively scared the participants and said you've
(01:56):
got to do something about it because this organization is
not functioning should and not performing, and we all, all
of us that are shareholders, have a responsibility, like you said,
to our ratepayers, to make all that we are getting
really for money.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
What about the nick Leggett coming out and saying that
she's done some good stuff. I mean, she's got a
damn done and a bridge done and a few other
things done. She's got things done, hasn't she.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, they have got things done, but I'm not quite
sure that you know most things that one of the
issues that I've always had is one of them is
that most of the things that have done a gold
played it. And and yet yes they have got done.
But look, this is I said, this is not just
that's happened under her reign. The apple might have been,
it might appear to be rotten at the top, but
it goes deeper. And the and the report clearly said
(02:43):
there were cultural issues, there were management issues, there were
structural issues. And so it's clearly that you know, as
I said, what was made very clear to the to
the to the board, by the mayors of the region
that something had to happen. And we're seeing that process
take place.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Now, are you still confident or slightly confident or optimistic
that Wellington Water can actually be the organized that we
need now that they know we can borrow zillions of
dollars from the government.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Well, we're going through that right that process. Right now,
we're another meeting of the starthenon looking at what is
the best way of delivering as what the government's asked
us to do. How do we best deliver the word
at water services for the way incon region into the future.
And that's where we're working through that. Now.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Do you think the government's new plan for water done well?
Does it make sense allowing these water entities to have
more access to money?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And absolutely absolutely, and it'll know that will help relieve
the burden and the other thing that will happen as
we've known, and they've made it clear that that will
take some time to fix these problems in our region
here we're looking into probably to get everything spick and span,
if you like, and those sort of terminology we're looking at.
You know, it's fifteen to twenty years, but it can
be proved every year and certainly what the government's introduced
(03:57):
yesterday is the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
When did you, as a mayor of Upper Hut know
that tom Ya Haskell was going to be out?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Oh yesterday I got an email text verst because I
missed a phone call from from from Nick Sail sometimes
yesterday morning.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So you had no idea that this was going to happen,
no idea that the organization was getting ready to make
a move or she was getting ready to make a move.
I've got to be open about that. Before it was
actually done.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
No I know, as I said, I had a phone
call that I missed a phone call from from Nick
nick Leggett. But the next thing I knew there was
a press release and yeah, so but that was the
start of the change. I mean, there was an expectation,
there was an expectation from all to the board that
changes had to take place, and and and so, as
I said, there will be other changes in the organization,
(04:49):
and there'll be other changes and how they do things,
because that's very clearly pointed out. And remember this report
says nothing to what the Wellington City Council, who agreed
with me and had some issues and they initiated an
independent report from the Melbourne I'm under a very well
done Melbourne organization somewhat ten months ago and no one
(05:13):
wanted to discuss it Wellington City. It got pushed aside.
But this report highlighted exactly what we knew nearly a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You haven't answered my question, though, Are you optimistic that
that organization under a new leader can be what we
need it to be.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
This organization will not delivering the future water services to wellingcoon.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
You don't think you think Wellington Water will be a
thing of the past.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
This organization that stands will not be Wow, what do
you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Are you meaning that Wellington Water will be closed down?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Well, I know, but there will be you know, things
will be done differently and clearly and clearly the report said,
and we don't need that report, so it's clearly it
says that you can't carry on the way what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I want to get to I mean you feel I
think you feel quite strongly that Wellington Water is as
a going concern and as it is now will not
be the organization that delivers the new government's plans.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Structurally, it won't be because the way it's going to be,
the way that the governments set things up and the
way we're looking, you know, looking at how it's going
to be set up, that structure it will be different.
So we won't be having, as you say, the Wellington
Water Committee and a board, et cetera, et cetera, and
so there will be big changes. Absolutely, there will be changes.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Nice to talk to your way and appreciate you who
are taking your time out. I know you're a busy
person and to take the time out and speak to
it because it feels like nobody wants to talk about it.
But the fact that you do. It's great. Thank you,
appreciate having a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Wayne l joy the Test match tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
I will, I will upper Wayne. Guppy could has to
put his rugby plug it and doesn't it Good on him,
Good on him.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk said, b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining us now is Upper hutmea, Wayne Guppy, Good morning, Wayne,
morning Mat. Okay, Now, you've been pretty hard on Willington
Order for a while and I understand why because your
rate payers would be getting on top of you as well.
The first question on everybody's lips was was Tanya pushed
ordered she leave?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I'm not sure about that, but I mean, from the
point of view that's a relationship with her and the board.
But the Wellington Water Committee, which in compriser, made it
very clear that on the report that was tabled for
us that there had to be changed at Willingham Water.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And did the report actually say that, Wayne, Did it
say hey, you've got a problem and your management sorted out.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Well, that was very clear. A number of issues that
were raised. And look, look, this is nothing new. This
is nothing new. This organization has been underperforming and certainly
not performing for the rate parts of the region for
a number of years. And this is the third report.
This is the third report that basically said the same thing,
and the and the regions chosen not to do anything
(01:14):
about it. But certainly this one was pretty hard hitting
and it could not continue doing what it was doing.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Way. What concerns me is that everything was supposed to
be okay, Tanya was the answer. We've got it sorted now.
Now again we're in exactly the same situation. Shouldn't that
scare your rate payers.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And meat, Well, it's that's nothing new to me because
we've been saying that for a long time, but certainly
from the point of view of performance, from the point
of view of value for money, I don't believe we've
been getting that from Wanting and Water for a number
of years. But there is light now because obviously this
report has really effectively scared the participants and said you've
(01:56):
got to do something about it because this organization is
not functioning should and not performing, and we all, all
of us that are shareholders, have a responsibility, like you said,
to our ratepayers, to make all that we are getting
really for money.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
What about the nick Leggett coming out and saying that
she's done some good stuff. I mean, she's got a
damn done and a bridge done and a few other
things done. She's got things done, hasn't she.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, they have got things done, but I'm not quite
sure that you know most things that one of the
issues that I've always had is one of them is
that most of the things that have done a gold
played it. And and yet yes they have got done.
But look, this is I said, this is not just
that's happened under her reign. The apple might have been,
it might appear to be rotten at the top, but
it goes deeper. And the and the report clearly said
(02:43):
there were cultural issues, there were management issues, there were
structural issues. And so it's clearly that you know, as
I said, what was made very clear to the to
the to the board, by the mayors of the region
that something had to happen. And we're seeing that process
take place.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Now, are you still confident or slightly confident or optimistic
that Wellington Water can actually be the organized that we
need now that they know we can borrow zillions of
dollars from the government.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Well, we're going through that right that process. Right now,
we're another meeting of the starthenon looking at what is
the best way of delivering as what the government's asked
us to do. How do we best deliver the word
at water services for the way incon region into the future.
And that's where we're working through that. Now.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Do you think the government's new plan for water done well?
Does it make sense allowing these water entities to have
more access to money?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And absolutely absolutely, and it'll know that will help relieve
the burden and the other thing that will happen as
we've known, and they've made it clear that that will
take some time to fix these problems in our region
here we're looking into probably to get everything spick and span,
if you like, and those sort of terminology we're looking at.
You know, it's fifteen to twenty years, but it can
be proved every year and certainly what the government's introduced
(03:57):
yesterday is the right way.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
When did you, as a mayor of Upper Hut know
that tom Ya Haskell was going to be out?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Oh yesterday I got an email text verst because I
missed a phone call from from from Nick Sail sometimes
yesterday morning.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So you had no idea that this was going to happen,
no idea that the organization was getting ready to make
a move or she was getting ready to make a move.
I've got to be open about that. Before it was
actually done.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
No I know, as I said, I had a phone
call that I missed a phone call from from Nick
nick Leggett. But the next thing I knew there was
a press release and yeah, so but that was the
start of the change. I mean, there was an expectation,
there was an expectation from all to the board that
changes had to take place, and and and so, as
I said, there will be other changes in the organization,
(04:49):
and there'll be other changes and how they do things,
because that's very clearly pointed out. And remember this report
says nothing to what the Wellington City Council, who agreed
with me and had some issues and they initiated an
independent report from the Melbourne I'm under a very well
done Melbourne organization somewhat ten months ago and no one
(05:13):
wanted to discuss it Wellington City. It got pushed aside.
But this report highlighted exactly what we knew nearly a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You haven't answered my question, though, Are you optimistic that
that organization under a new leader can be what we
need it to be.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
This organization will not delivering the future water services to wellingcoon.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
You don't think you think Wellington Water will be a
thing of the past.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
This organization that stands will not be Wow, what do
you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Are you meaning that Wellington Water will be closed down?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Well, I know, but there will be you know, things
will be done differently and clearly and clearly the report said,
and we don't need that report, so it's clearly it
says that you can't carry on the way what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I want to get to I mean you feel I
think you feel quite strongly that Wellington Water is as
a going concern and as it is now will not
be the organization that delivers the new government's plans.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Structurally, it won't be because the way it's going to be,
the way that the governments set things up and the
way we're looking, you know, looking at how it's going
to be set up, that structure it will be different.
So we won't be having, as you say, the Wellington
Water Committee and a board, et cetera, et cetera, and
so there will be big changes. Absolutely, there will be changes.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Nice to talk to your way and appreciate you who
are taking your time out. I know you're a busy
person and to take the time out and speak to
it because it feels like nobody wants to talk about it.
But the fact that you do. It's great. Thank you,
appreciate having a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Wayne l joy the Test match tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
I will, I will upper Wayne. Guppy could has to
put his rugby plug it and doesn't it Good on him,
Good on him.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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