‘Kiwis need confidence on water’
The Government has announced a wide-reaching inquiry into how Havelock North’s water supply became contaminated, how it was handled and the response.
Beyond that the inquiry would also include any lessons and improvements that could be made in the management of the water supply network in Havelock North and across New Zealand, Attorneygeneral Chris Finlayson said.
‘‘It is important that New Zealanders have confidence in the quality of our drinking water, and the independent inquiry will ensure we have a clear understanding of what happened in Havelock North.
‘‘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 occurred as a result of the contamination,’’ Finlayson said.
Cabinet will consider who will lead the inquiry over coming weeks. The terms of reference exclude questions of civil, criminal or disciplinary liability and structural arrangements for local government. This comes after Prime Minister John Key earlier said he would not rule out civil or criminal action given 89-year-old Jean Sparksman died during the gastro outbreak. Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said Key’s comments were ‘‘a matter of law’’.
Yule noted Sparksman had other underlying health complications and her death might not be attributed solely to campylobacter.
A coroner would decide this, he said. The number of presentations at hospital for diarrhoea and vomiting peaked on Saturday, August 13, at 27 and were down to six on Sunday. Seven people believed to have been affected by the outbreak remain in hospital. Overall, more than 4100 people were affected.