Legal action could be coming over contaminated water:

"I find it strange for the Government to be telling people your land's contaminated, but it's safe. How do they know?" Andrew Hooker, Shine New Zealand managing director

People whose water was contaminated near New Zealand air force bases could launch a class action against the Government.

An Australian law firm has begun organising meetings with people potentially affected by runoff of toxic chemicals from Ohakea and Woodbourne airbases.

Shine New Zealand managing director Andrew Hooker said the firm was taking ‘‘a very big test case’’ against the Australian Defence Force because of similar issues from use of the now-banned firefighting foam. Damages of ‘‘many millions of dollars’’ were being sought there.

New Zealand officials have said the extent of the problem is much worse in Australia because of the concentration of the chemicals and the amount of area affected.

The law firm wanted to talk with farmers and residents from Ohakea about their rights, Hooker said.

Meanwhile, Horizons Regional Council strategy and regulation manager Nic Peet said government ministries dealing with the contamination needed to urgently give more information to those potentially affected, and start on the next round of testing for the contaminant right away.

The council is seeking its own legal advice.

‘‘The community needs to know – ‘talk to people, and do it fast’ is our advice.’’

The PFAS chemical contamination was publicly revealed in early December, and initial test results from 64 properties surrounding the bases include 41 samples where it was detected, and 15 at levels higher than drinking water guidelines allow.

People at some of the properties had been drinking the contaminated water.

Ohakea resident Christine Hills’ family’s farms are ‘‘in the middle’’ of the testing area, and their land tested high for PFAS. They are among those meeting with the Shine lawyers.

‘‘It’s a bit of a shock to the system. We’re still dealing with the [fallout] of what’s going to happen with all of this,’’ she said.

‘‘It’d be nice to consider what’s happening, and how we can help ourselves.

‘‘I love living by the air force, and it’s not their fault. You’ve got to give them a chance ...‘‘

Hooker said ‘‘joining together’’ would ensure the problem ‘‘doesn’t just get swept under the carpet’’.

The law firm would also look to organise meetings with people near the Woodbourne base in Marlborough.

‘‘I find it strange for the Government to be telling people your land’s contaminated, but it’s safe. How do they know?’’

A detailed report by an independent investigator was needed, and should also cover other areas where contamination could have happened, he said.

‘‘The reality is you’ve got land that’s suddenly lost a whole lot of value. There’s issues with banks in Australia around loaning money on land that’s contaminated ... and businesses operating nearby.

‘‘There are lots of things people need to be thinking about now.’’

Health Minister David Clark said on Thursday ‘‘the advice of health officials remains that there is no acute [sudden] health risk, but a precautionary approach is being taken because the long-term effects are uncertain’’.

The initial testing zone around Ohakea and Woodbourne had been ‘‘slightly expanded to be absolutely sure of the extent of the problem’’, he said.

A Ministry for the Environment spokeswoman said ‘‘we are aware an Australian firm has talked about possible class action here, but have not heard anything about it actually happening’’.

‘‘Our focus has been on addressing the needs of those affected. We have not had any contact from lawyers acting on their behalf.’’

The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health were also approached for comment.