There is an ongoing untreated wastewater discharge from Moa Point. We strongly recommend the public stay out of the water on the South coast of Wellington. Do not collect kai moana.

Wellington Water is responding to a significant incident at the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant which has resulted in untreated wastewater discharging into Tarakena Bay on the south coast.
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Projects / Harris St Syphon

Harris St Syphon

On behalf of Wellington City Council we are cleaning out a stormwater syphon which has become clogged with silt and debris, creating odour.
Overview
Background
More Repairs
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Start Date
2/03/2026
End Date
10/03/2026
Contact:

If you have any questions about this work, please contact:

Wellington Water, 04 912 4400

Wellington Water on behalf of Wellington City Council will be working on several streets in the CBD to clear stormwater pipes which have become filled with silt and are creating odour around Frank Kitts Park. 

Wellington Water on behalf of Wellington City Council will be working on several streets in the CBD to clear stormwater pipes which have become filled with silt and are creating odour around Frank Kitts Park.

The syphon system, which is meant to drain stormwater away from the CBD and discharge it into the harbour, has become clogged with silt and debris, which is blocking the flow of water and leading to odour and potentially bacterial buildup. 

This work involves: 

  • Cleaning out the grit trap on Harris Street (planned for 2 to 5 March) 
  • Running pumps on Harris Street to keep the flow going while water is flushed through the upstream parts of the system at: 
      • Victoria Street (planned for 5 to 8 March) 
      • Bond Street (planned for 8 to 10 March) 
  • Debris and silt will be collected at Harris Street and trucked to landfill 

These timeframes may shift depending on weather conditions and how quickly the work progresses. 

Noise and odour 

There will be increased noise on Harris Street from the pumps, which need to run 24/7 for the duration of the works.  

There may also be odour due to the silt and debris being removed from the site.  

Impacts on road traffic 

  • Harris Street will be reduced to a single one-way lane, with access provided for the Police Station garage. 
  • Some footpaths will be closed on Harris and Bond Streets 
  • There will be signage in place to guide drivers and pedestrians safely around the work site 
  • There may be some traffic management in place on Willis Street to access one of the manholes on Bond Street. 

We are coordinating with other projects in the central city to minimize the amount of disruption to residents and traffic.