10 September 2016

MEDIA STATEMENT

Michael Laws
Former Mayor
Wanganui District Council

Whanganui Wastewater Inquiry: Findings “Shocking”


Former Wanganui district council mayor Michael Laws today welcomed the findings of an independent inquiry into Whanganui’s failed wastewater treatment plant, saying that the findings “still have the capacity to shock no matter that the actions took place over a decade ago.”

“ I feel very sorry for the governance team that is elected next month,
and the good folk of Wanganui/Whanganui, that they will inherit
the consequences of such management misfeasance of twelve years ago.

Mr Domm, and those current councillors who argued for an inquiry, have
done democracy a good service.

That senior managers so clearly and categorically misled the mayor
and councillors of the time, still has the capacity to shorten one’s breath.
Even more so when you consider the dreadful consequences of such
actions.

You do wonder if criminal or civil charges should not be considered
against those who were parties to such deception.”

Mr Laws said that he could understand that the inquiry findings “might not suit the prejudices or politics of those who sought to blame my administration for all the plant’s ills. That narrative is certainly demolished by this inquiry.”

“ But I am angry, on behalf of all those decent ratepayers and residents,
who are going to miss out on so much – and pay so much through their
rates. This inquiry certainly justifies what I was saying at the time – that
my new council couldn’t trust the advice that we were being given.”

ENDS

http://www.whanganui.govt.nz/our-district/major-projects/wastewater-project/Documents/WWTP-Independent-Inquiry.pdf

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