August 01, 2019
Marae caught up un water quality rules
The quality of water supplies to marae and papakainga will come under a new regulatory system for water.
As part of its Three Waters Review and its response to the 2016 Havelock North campylobacter outbreak where 5,000 people got sick from their drinking water, the Government is to set up a dedicated watchdog and new water regulations.
Health Minister David Clark says public safety is a non-negotiable priority, and access to safe, clean drinking water is a birth-right for New Zealanders and a key concern for communities up and down the country.
Oversight of water has been split between a number of agencies and legislation, and as a result, responsibility has been fractured and ineffective.
The changes include extending regulatory coverage to all water suppliers, except individual household self-suppliers, and strengthened Government stewardship of wastewater and stormwater services, with Regional Councils remaining primary regulators for the environment.
The proposed regulations were tested by targeted consultation with iwi/Māori at nine workshops across the country and in discussions with a number of Māori representative groups.
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