### ODT Online Thu, 18 August 2016
Inquiry into Havelock North Water
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has confirmed a Government-initiated independent inquiry into the Havelock North water contamination. “To ensure we have a clear understanding of what has happened in Havelock North as well as any learnings from the situation, the Government will launch an independent Inquiry,” Coleman said. “This approach has been agreed between the Government and Hastings District Council as the best way forward.” NZME
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In 2014 council consented for barn-fed, robotic milking dairy farm on the land opposite Havelock North water bores.
— Whena Owen (@WhenaOwen) August 19, 2016
Our piss-pour, cow-scour friend, LGNZ’s Lawrence Yule………
As Havelock North recovers from the largest outbreak of water-borne illness in New Zealand in 30 years, Lisa Owen asks Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule how it happened and if the Council did enough to keep people safe.
Video (part 1):
What went wrong in Havelock North's water supply? @lisaowennz talks to Hasting mayor Lawrence Yule https://t.co/IcDQ631znp
— The Nation (@TheNationTV3) August 20, 2016
Video (part 2):
Ecologist Mike Joy on the water crisis in Havelock North. How can we stop it happening again? https://t.co/tp8IAhSj5U
— The Nation (@TheNationTV3) August 20, 2016
Lawrence Yule says whatever is in the aquifer is still there and the Council doesn't know yet how it got into the bores #nationtv3
— The Nation (@TheNationTV3) August 20, 2016
Yule says campylobacter can also come from food outlets and it took time to establish it was in the water.. they didn't want to cause panic
— The Nation (@TheNationTV3) August 20, 2016
Ecologist Mike Joy says Havelock North is a symptom of a bigger picture in NZ #nationtv3
— The Nation (@TheNationTV3) August 20, 2016
The Govt-subsidised Ruataniwha irrigation scheme will add 1000s of large ruminant animals into the Hawkes Bay. What could possibly go wrong?
— Russel Norman (@RusselNorman) August 21, 2016
Ok let's start w those at top who promote water pollution: Charges possible over Havelock North water bug – PM https://t.co/VNM56zpxSw
— Russel Norman (@RusselNorman) August 21, 2016
This cartoon in @ManawatuNZ hits the nail on the head #HavelockNorth #ichoosecleanwater pic.twitter.com/jCbS53ylrr
— Amelia Geary (@kakariki_green) August 21, 2016
Campylobacter inquiry won't consider legal liability https://t.co/2Pt5YkIYUE
— Brent Edwards (@rnzbrentedwards) August 22, 2016
Illness findings 'extremely unlikely' from Tukituki – council https://t.co/XmzBjXW7xz
— Brent Edwards (@rnzbrentedwards) August 22, 2016
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“We [NZ] have the highest level of many of these waterborne gastrointestinal diseases in the OECD.” –Prof Russell Death
### radionz.co.nz Mon, 22 August 2016
Radio New Zealand National
Checkpoint with John Campbell
Fresh water results worst ecology professor has seen
An ecology professor says council measures of water quality around Hawke’s Bay are lower than any he has seen before in New Zealand. A government-led inquiry launched today will look at how Havelock North’s water supply became contaminated and how the response was handled by local authorities.
An estimated 4100 people have suffered from gastric illness following the contamination of the water supply, and more than 500 have been confirmed as due to campylobacter. Several people were hospitalised, and a coroner is looking at whether the death of an 89-year-old woman, who had contracted campylobacter, was from other underlying causes or was connected to the infection.
In the latest round of tests, Hastings, Flaxmere and Bridge Pa returned clear results meaning the water there continued to be safe to drink. However, while the chlorine-treated water supply in Havelock North had also been cleared, a boil water notice remained there.
Massey University professor Russell Death has studied freshwater in the broader Tukituki-Papanui-Karamu area, which includes Havelock North. He told Checkpoint with John Campbell macroinvertebrate community composition (MCI) values, which measured the general health of the water, were very low in the broader area around Havelock North. “A town water supply in New Zealand is infected by many of the pathogenic organisms that live in our water supplies, it’s not surprising at all – in fact, it’s inevitable,” he said. He said, normally, a very unhealthy river could present MCI values as low as 80, but the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s own measurements had found levels even lower. “The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have done their own sampling around the Karamu catchment, and that’s where they’ve found MCI values down to 60 which, as I said, I didn’t realise MCI values could get that low.” He said students he had sent to the area had come back having seen dead animals on riverbanks and asked not to be sent to sample streams so badly affected again.
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█ Audio : Fresh water results worst ecology professor has seen
Checkpoint ( 6′34″ )
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.
What if? Dunedin... 