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.
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:
Carey's Gully Sludge Dewatering Plant Annual Compliance Report 2025-2026
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Annual Resource Consents Report 2025-2026
Carey's Gully Sludge Dewatering Plant Annual Compliance Report 2024-2025
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 2024 - 2025
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 Pt Smoke Testing Report 2025-26
Appendix III - Moa Pt Airbourne Microbes Report 2025-26
Appendix II - Moa Pt Outfall Pipeline Assessment 2025-26
Appendix I - Moa Pt Inflow and Infiltration Consent Report 2025-26
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: September 2026
Commentary
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant main treatment processes are non-operational following the flooding event on 4 February 2026. Effluent is being pumped to the plant, screened and then discharged without biological treatment or disinfection.
Discharges
The plant is discharging screened wastewater via the long outfall, and this is an unauthorised discharge at normal dry weather influent levels. Air discharge from the plant is currently untreated.
Odour complaints
There were four odour complaints in September, for the Southern Landfill/Carey's Gully Sludge Dewatering Plant (SDP). The SDP ceased operations after the 4 February flooding event at Moa Point and remains inactive.
Items of significance:
Moa Point WWTP was shut down operationally following severe flooding of the plant on 4 February. The loss of power and damage to treatment equipment from the event resulted in a level 5 Emergency Management Team response.
Work to repair damaged equipment at Moa Point continues to make very strong progress.
A key priority is to minimise discharges through the short outfall pipe as much as possible. Remedial work has enabled more screened wastewater to be discharged through the long outfall pipe. There were four discharges to the short outfall in September, during wet weather inflows.
Read all the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant monthly performance reports
Public meeting resources
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - CLG Meeting Minutes and Presentation - 4 December 2025
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Assessment of Effects of Reduced Hydraulic Capacity - July 2023
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - CLG Meeting Minutes - 16 April 2025
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - CLG Presentation - 16 April 2025
Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - CLG Meeting Minutes & Presentation - 28 February 2024