16 Feb 2026

What's going on with our water infrastructure?

From Afternoons, 1:10 pm on 16 February 2026

We need to talk about the state of our water infrastructure, this week some Christchurch residents have to boil water, last week Wellington's Moa Point wastewater treatment plant flooded, Aucklanders can't swim in some local beaches after heavy rain - and that's just this summer! So why doesn't our water infrastructure seem up to scratch and what can be done to future proof it? Dr Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer Architecture and Planning from the University of Auckland chats to Jesse.

Kawerau residents are being told their water needs to come to a rolling boil for one minute and using a pot on the stove is an ideal way to do it.

Photo: 123RF