Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater plant has flooded and shut down, dumping raw sewage into the south coast – this untreated discharge is set to continue for weeks.  

Heavy rain overwhelmed the facility, built in the 90s, triggering beach rāhuis, health warnings, and exposing how climate-driven storms are already stressing coastal infrastructure. 

Billions of dollars is likely required to get our wastewater infrastructure up to scratch nationwide... but after a long history of underfunding, are we too late? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury associate professor Ricardo Bello Mendoza is with us to unpack the engineering lessons from Moa Point, the climate risks, and what it means for our future. 

But first, NZ Herald senior reporter Melissa Nightingale will set the scene for us in Wellington.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

Wellington&rsquo;s Moa Point wastewater plant has flooded and shut down, dumping raw sewage into the south coast &ndash; this untreated&nbsp;discharge&nbsp;is set to continue for weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Heavy rain overwhelmed the facility,&nbsp;built&nbsp;in the 90s, triggering beach&nbsp;rāhuis, health warnings,&nbsp;and exposing how climate-driven storms are already stressing coastal infrastructure.&nbsp;
Billions of dollars&nbsp;is&nbsp;likely&nbsp;required&nbsp;to get our wastewater&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;up to scratch nationwide... but after a long history of underfunding, are we too late?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page,&nbsp;University of Canterbury associate professor Ricardo Bello Mendoza is with us to unpack the engineering lessons from Moa Point, the climate risks, and what it means for our future.&nbsp;
But first, NZ Herald senior reporter Melissa Nightingale will set the scene for us in Wellington.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

‘Flush and forget’: Is Moa Point a warning for other wastewater plants?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6c64282a-4232-41c6-a933-b3ed002ffb50/transcript