Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Havelock North investigation must be truly independent


26 August 2016

Havelock North investigation must be truly independent


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council must stand aside and let the Attorney-General lead an independent investigation into the gastric illness outbreak at Havelock North to be independent to avoid conflicts of interest, the Green Party said today.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has announced it will investigate Hastings District Council’s alleged role in the drinking water crisis. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is also the regulator in charge of water quality in the Tukituki River, which is a suspected contaminant in the gastric illness outbreak, although it insists the river is clean.

“Any investigation into the Havelock North gastric illness outbreak must be independent. The Hawke’s Bay community deserves answers, not for their democratically elected councils to circle the wagons and blame each other,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“The Government needs to lead this inquiry. It should not be investigated by local authorities who have an interest in shifting the blame from themselves.

“Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is responsible for water quality in the Tukituki River and the aquifer that feeds Havelock North’s drinking supply. Any and all investigations into the what caused the gastric illness outbreak must look closely at the Tukituki River and the aquifer.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is also the main backer of the Ruataniwha dam project, which will make the Tukituki River even more susceptible to pollution.

“The impact of the dam is part of the wider issue of how water is used in the Hawke’s Bay, from the river to the tap.

“Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has a clear conflict of interest here, and it’s unhelpful that it has chosen to muddy the waters with their own pre-emptive attempt at an investigation.

“The people of the Hawke’s Bay people want to know what’s caused their community to get sick. They deserve nothing less than a full, frank and independent investigation into what really happened,” said Ms Delahunty.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.