By One Network Wellington Live, for the People of Wellington
Nick Leggett’s a name that echoes round Wellington. He’s the boss of Wellington Water, the bloke meant to keep our taps flowing and our streets puddle-free. But lately, he’s been splashed across the news—pipes bursting, rates soaring, and now a row dubbed “Leggetgate.” Some see him as a fighter tackling a rotten system; others reckon he’s part of the muck. Don’t judge a book by its cover, though—look deeper, and you’ll find a man making waves, splashing through Wellington’s water mess. This is his tale, all for you, the people of Wellington, and it’s got a bit about how we might save our water too.
Nick’s no newbie here. He was Porirua’s mayor from 2010 to 2016—young, bold, and full of plans. He’s loud, he’s brash, and he loves a stir. After that, he led Infrastructure New Zealand, banging on about better roads and pipes nationwide. In 2023, he grabbed the chair at Wellington Water, vowing to fix the leaks. On the surface, he’s a slick suit—big talk, big ideas. But peel back the pages, and there’s more to him—a chap who’s not afraid to dive in, even when the water’s murky.
Wellington’s water’s been a disaster for ages. Old pipes—some over a century—keep popping. Just this month, March 2025, Brandon Street in the CBD turned into a muddy river after a burst. Last year, we lost millions of litres to leaks—enough to fill every bathtub in town. Wellington Water, owned by six councils including WCC, is supposed to sort it. But it’s a shambles—two brutal reports this March say they’ve blown cash, lost track of it, and maybe even let some get nicked. Nick’s the face at the top, and he’s taking the flak.
“Leggetgate” hit hard in March 2025. Reports slammed Wellington Water—wild spending, dodgy deals with contractors, maintenance costs three times higher than Hamilton’s. On March 6, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and most councillors wrote a letter demanding Nick quit. “We’ve lost faith,” they said, eyeing him and board member Leanne Southey, who watches the books. You lot—us Wellingtonians—are livid—rates up, water down—and we want someone to pay. Nick’s in the spotlight, but is he the bad guy, or just the one holding the bucket?
Dig deeper, and Nick’s not ducking out. On March 11, he told Newstalk ZB, “I’m here to fix it—I’m not quitting.” He’s been chatting to the six councils, testing the waters. Three want him gone; three say stay Порирua’s Anita Baker called the sack talk “vindictive.” A tense meeting on March 10 split even, and today, March 15, they’re at it again. Nick’s hanging tough, splashing back at the naysayers, insisting he’s the one uncovering the mess, not making it.
It’s not all Nick’s doing, mind. Wellington Water’s troubles run deep—pipes crumbling, cash tight, and a council that’s botched it for years. WCC’s paying NZ$100 million a year in debt interest—NZ$100 million!—just to keep the banks happy. That’s money not fixing leaks, not building homes, just gone. The region’s councils owe over NZ$600 million, says the NZ Herald, and WCC’s Long-Term Plan’s a joke—scrapped an airport sale in 2024, landed a Crown observer till July 2025. Nick’s stuck in a swamp WCC helped dig.
But he’s making waves. Those March reports? Nick ordered them—two big looks into Wellington Water’s guts. They found overspending, loose contractors, maybe even stolen cash. “I could be the fall guy,” he told RNZ on March 4, “or I could sort it.” He’s not hiding—he’s splashing the ugly truth out, even if it stings him too. Some say he’s late—councillors like Nikau Wi Neera have screamed about underfunding forever. But Nick’s the one with the proof, waving it loud.
Here’s the bit about Wellington Water’s mess and how we might save it. The pipes are knackered—losing water daily, millions of litres gone. Reports say costs are triple what they should be—NZ$51 million missed in budgets last year alone, says RNZ. WCC’s NZ$100 million debt interest is a killer—cash that could’ve replaced pipes, not padded banks. Rates might double, water bills too—Wellington.Scoop reckons it’s coming. Six councils fighting over one company’s a disaster—Nick calls it a “structural nightmare.” Is “Leggetgate” the start of a bigger rot in public service and LGNZ? X posts hint at a “cosy cartel”—too many suits, not enough shovels.
So how do we fix it? Rip up the six-council mess—make one boss with power, not a bickering club. Slash that NZ$100 million interest—sell something (airport shares again?) or beg the government for a rescue to free up pipe money. New pipes need NZ$2 billion over 20 years—spread it with loans, not rate hikes, so we’re not broke now. Track every dollar—those theft whispers need squashing. Nick’s idea to rent pipes to a new water outfit could work—share the cost, bring in pros. The government’s Local Water Done Well plan might merge it nationally—Minister Chris Bishop’s keen. The rot in LGNZ? Shake it up—less chat, more action. Nick’s a spark, not the fix—change the game, and our water might flow right.
Back to Nick—he’s no quitter. Youngest mayor in Porirua at 31, he turned a sleepy place into a goer. He’s not fancy—worked his way up, gets the grind. At Wellington Water, he’s not just posing—he’s dived into the stink, dragging up reports that bite him too. “Sorry we didn’t hear staff sooner,” he said on March 3, owning it. That’s rare—a boss saying he’s wrong, not dodging.
You, Wellington, deserve clean water and fair rates. That NZ$100 million debt interest is a slap—years of WCC fluffing it, not Nick’s fault alone. He’s pushing—new funding, tighter grip—but he’s tied up. “The system’s broke,” Bishop said on March 4—six councils, one mess. Nick’s waves are loud—he’s yelling for us—but the current’s strong. Today’s vote decides—stay, he might turn it; go, and who steps up?
Is “Leggetgate” the tip of a bigger rot? Maybe. Nick’s also Infrastructure NZ’s CEO—some, like Ray Chung, smell a clash. He’s lobbying big while chairing water—dodgy to them. LGNZ’s meant to help councils, but Wellington’s chaos says it’s failing. X posts call it a “public service stitch-up”—too many insiders, not enough workers. Nick’s in the thick, but is he the rot or the rake?
Don’t judge him quick. He’s brash, a bit flash, but he’s splashing for us. “Wellingtonians are done,” Bishop said—Nick nods. Two years in, pipes still burst—but he’s not the baddie. WCC’s NZ$100 million hole, LGNZ’s drift—that’s the real yarn. “Leggetgate” might be a flare, but the fire’s older. Look deep—Nick’s a fighter, not a flop.
For you lot, he’s waving a flag. Rates climbing, water leaking, debt choking—it’s rough. “I’m here to mend it,” he says, and today’s call decides his shot. He’s no saint—maybe too matey with the top dogs—but he’s no coward. Judge him by his splash, not his shine. The rot might stretch past him, through LGNZ, through councils asleep at the wheel. Nick’s the face we see, the one making waves while the pipes weep.
