A burst pipe in Mount Victoria, Wellington, has been spraying water high in the air. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Thomas
Frustration is mounting among Wellington's mayors and residents at the region's decaying water infrastructure.
Wellington Water is struggling to keep up with repairs to about 3,035 leaks in the water network, and it's estimated 40 percent of Wellington's drinking water is being lost through leaking pipes.
Wellington City Council recently denied Wellington Water's request for an additional $10 million in funding, citing a lack of confidence in the organisation to deliver the work, opting to allocate just $2.3 million instead.
These problems come as the government's plans for a multi-billion dollar water infrastructure programme continues to attract controversy, with 30 councils opposing the Three Waters reforms and calling for the bill to be delayed until after the election.
For Wellingtonians, burst pipes have become a common occurance around the city; closing roads, creating slips, and even threatening homes.
Last week, a leaking pipe that Lower Hutt residents had been complaining about for months caused a slip in Port Howard, causing 10 houses to be evacuated and cutting off power to 75 homes.
Kathryn discusses Wellington's water woes with three of the region's mayors; Campbell Barry from Lower Hutt and the chair of the Wellington Water committee, Tory Whanau from Wellington, and Wayne Guppy from Upper Hutt.
