Leaked emails show ORC councillors aren't happy over Queenstown sewage transparency

Why is the local regulator of water quality not regulating water quality?

Tensions are growing in the chill Dunedin ORC corridors of power.

Hardly anyone understands why the ORC has not prosecuted or even influenced the QLDC in terms of preventing the dumping of partially treated effluent into local rivers.

Both Crux and now the Otago Daily Times have filed official information (LGOIMA) requests with the Otago Regional Council regarding the Shotover sewage crisis but found ourselves blocked by a wall of technical objections.

In a string of leaked emails obtained by Crux it becomes clear that ORC elected members don’t approve of this tactic. Its a fascinating insight into local politics.

The emails are in reverse date order - most recent at the top. We’ve removed cell phone numbers and any other personal data but all of the email addresses are in the public domain.