Nick Leggett. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
Wellington Water board chair Nick Leggett says he is "taking soundings" on whether he should resign after a scathing report revealed possible theft and problems at his organisation.
"I could be the sacrificial lamb," he told Morning Report on Tuesday.
He could also help with the fix, he told the programme.
"I think the leadership, and improving things, is where we need to be heading with this."
Meanwhile, an urgent meeting has been called in the wake of a damning report into Wellington Water.
The report - released on Monday - found structural problems and theft at the agency, and said the capital's ratepayers were paying nearly three times more for water repairs than in other parts of the country.
It is the second report to show poor control of contractors and finances.
The water Advisory Oversight Group, chaired by former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast, is scheduled to meet this morning at 7.30am to discuss the report.
Wellington Water has bigger problems than the never-ending leaks around the capital. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Thomas
It was established under the government's Local Water Done Well initiative to set up a new organisation to oversee water services in the region.
The prime minister yesterday described Wellington Water as "a total basket case" without proper governance or proper management.
Christopher Luxon wanted to see the water assets professionally managed under a Local Water Done Well model.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Wellington Water needed to urgently change the way it operated.
He said Wellington Water's problems were the result of the government scrapping reforms already underway when it came to power.
'Utterly unacceptable'
Wellington's councils say Wellington Water's problems are "utterly unacceptable" and have apologised to residents.
Shareholder councils Wellington, Porirua, Hutt City and Upper Hutt, and Greater Wellington Regional Council, along with iwi leaders, Tuesday morning met to discuss the issues raised by the recent reports.
In a joint statement they said "it is utterly unacceptable that the operations and maintenance costs incurred by Wellington Water do not represent good value for ratepayer money".
"Members unreservedly apologise to the people of the Wellington region for the high costs identified and the failure to provide oversight on appropriate practices and organisational culture to ensure competitively priced services.
"Wellington Water Committee acting chair councillor Ros Connelly said the impact on the community was "simply intolerable and it cannot continue".
An meeting to discuss the issues will be held on Monday at 3.30pm.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
