The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is warning Havelock North residents to continue to boil their water because it may contain a bug that isn’t affected by chlorination.
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After coping criticism from locals for its poor handling of the crisis the Hastings district council brought in nine water tankers and stationed them around the town for people to collect free water it said was safe to drink. Health officials say that new cases of the illness have begun to taper off.
“The inquiry will look into how the Havelock North water supply became contaminated, how this was subsequently addressed and how local and central government agencies responded to the public health threat that occured”, he said. Havelock North is located in a picturesque region known for its vineyards.
E coli is often tested for as an indicator that other, more harmful bacteria – such as campylobacter – could be infecting a water supply.
“Cabinet has today agreed to initiate a Government inquiry which will report to me as Attorney General”.
“We’ve got to make sure that people can be absolutely confident that the water that comes out of the tap in New Zealand is clean, and clearly something’s happened here”, Coleman said.
Water New Zealand’s chief executive, John Pfahlert, has called for all towns to chlorinate their water supplies, because they were at risk of a similar contamination to Havelock North.
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He said that court action could involve civil or criminal charges.
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The terms of reference were very wide, and included any lessons and improvements which could be made in the management of the Havelock North water supply network and across New Zealand.
