Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule and Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham have met with their senior staff members in a bid to improve relations between the two councils, particularly in respect to public water supplies.
The move was a response to the Havelock North Water Inquiry's criticism of the relationship between the two authorities, which prompted inquiry panel chairman Lyn Stevens, QC, to comment that the "strained relationship, together with an absence of regular co-operation, saw a number of missed opportunities that may have prevented the outbreak".
Mr Yule and Mr Graham said they unreservedly accepted all the inquiry findings and that they were taking another step forward in their resolve to address all the failings highlighted throughout the investigation into last year's water contamination.
"The public is naturally concerned and expects better - we both agreed that the top priority is to give people safe clean drinking water, and we will work together, and with the Government, to do that," Mr Yule said.
Hastings District Council staff at the meeting included chief executive Ross McLeod, water services manager Brett Chapman, and group manager asset management Craig Thew.