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:
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 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: February 2026
Commentary
Moa Point WWTP 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.
Odour complaints
There were ten odour complaints in February. These included a mix of comments and complaints about odour and wastewater discharges. There were six odour complaints for the Southern Landfill/ Carey's Gully Sludge Dewatering Plant. These were all after 4 February when the plant ceased operations.
Items of significance:
Moa Point WWTP was shut down operationally following severe flooding of the plant that occurred in the early hours of 4 February. The loss of power and damage to treatment equipment from the event resulted in a level 5 Emergency Management Team response.
Initial investigations have concluded that around 80% of the plant's critical electrical and control systems were affected.
Because of the scale and complexity of the damage, we have brought in specialist mechanical and electrical experts from New Zealand and Australia to assess the plant and systems.
A key priority has been diverting as much wastewater as possible through the long outfall pipe. Recent remedial work has enabled more screened wastewater to be transferred this way, reducing our reliance on the short outfall pipe for unscreened discharges during wet weather.
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