Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant
At the Moa Point Treatment Plant, wastewater travels through a series of screens, tanks, bioreactors, clarifiers and ultraviolet treatments before being discharged as liquid into Cook Strait.The Plant has capacity to discharge up to 260,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day.
Each day the Plant cleans and disinfects wastewater from about 180,000 people. It treats an average 850 litres of water (or about three standard bathtubs) every second and up to 3,000 litres a second during heavy rainfall.
Much of the Plant’s equipment and parts are nearing the end of their service life, which means its more prone to service interruptions and needs more maintenance.
A multi-million-dollar programme of work is planned over the next seven years to renew and upgrade equipment at the Plant to improve its operation, subject to funding being confirmed. This programme includes improving the reliability and effectiveness of the treatment, increasing capacity to handle population growth, and improving safety.
More Information - https://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/projects/moa-point-wastewater-treatment-plant-refurbishment
Resource consents
WGN080003 [26182] Land Occupation by Outfall Pipe (Moa Point WWTP)
WGN080003 [26183] Contaminants Discharge to Air WWTP (Moa Point WWTP)
WGN080003 [31505] Discharge of Treated Wastewater to Coastal Marine Area (Moa Point WWTP)
WGN080003 [35047] Discharge of Partially Treated Wastewater to Coastal Marine Area (Moa Point WWTP)
WGN960094 [1471] Contaminants Discharge to Air IPS (Moa Point WWTP)
Resource consent reports
Annual Reports:
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents Report 2024-2025
Carey's Gully Southern Landfill Annual Resource Consents Report 2024-2025
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents Report 2023-2024
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents Report 2022-2023
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, GWRC Compliance Monitoring Report 2022 - 2023
Careys Gully Southern Landfill Annual Resource Consents Report 2021/2022
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents Report 2021/2022
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents 2020/2021
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents 2019/2020
Quarterly Reports
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment - July - September 2025 - Quarterly Resource Consents Report
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment - January - March 2025 - Quarterly Resource Consents Report
Moa point Wastewater Treatment Plant October - December 2024 - Quarterly Resource Consents Report
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant July - September 2024 - Quarterly Resource Consents Report
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant January March 2023 Quarterly Resource Consents Report
Consent Compliance Reports
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - Compliance Monitoring Report 2023 - 2024
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - Compliance Monitoring Report 2022 - 2023
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - Compliance Monitoring Report 2021 2022
Appendices
Appendix IV - Moa Point Outfall CCE Inspection report 2025.pdf
Appendix IV - Moa Point Outfall Diving Inspection report 2025.pdf
Appendix V - Moa Pt Ambient Microbe Monitoring August 2024 Issue.pdf
Appendix V - Moa Pt Ambient Microbe Monitoring February 2025 Issue.pdf
Appendix VI - Moa Pt WWTP Smoke Test November 2024 Issue.pdf
Appendix VII - Moa Point Bypass Flow sample results Cond.16 2024/25.pdf
Appendix VIII - Moa Point Shoreline sampling post discharge Cond.10 2024/25.pdf
Appendices - Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consent Report 2023/2024 -
Plant performance
Current Status: Non-compliant
Period: October 2025
Commentary
The faecal coliforms returned to compliance on the 90th percentile during October. The plant remains non-compliant for suspended solids on both the 90-day geomean and 90th percentile. Biochemical oxygen demand remains compliant.
Discharges
There were seven unconsented discharges reported in October due to the plant’s reduced treatment capacity, however five of these may not have been legitimate and are under review. (See items of signficance)
Odour complaints
No odour complaints in October
Items of significance:
Physical works are well underway to replace the plant UV disinfection system. This project is expected to take approximately eight months to complete. While these works are undertaken, the treatment capacity of the plant is reduced. This is unavoidable and means that during high flows some wastewater may bypass full biological treatment before being mixed with fully treated
wastewater and discharged via the long outfall pipeline 1.8km offshore. Additional signage has been erected along the south coast beaches advising the public to be cautious with recreational use of the coastal area after rainfall.
Read the full October 2025 Moa Point wastewater treatment plant monthly performance report