The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Editorial: Now is the time for water solutions

By Andrew Austin
Hawkes Bay Today·
2 Feb, 2017 09:30 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

It seems like a day doesn't go by without more news reinforcing the dire state of our water.

With the Government inquiry into the Havelock North gastro crisis in full swing, we have heard it all, from theories of the cause of the contamination to the strained relationship between two of our councils - the Hastings District Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The latest hit for beleaguered residents was the news yesterday that the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and Napier City Council had agreed chlorination of the Enfield Rd Reservoir that supplies much of Napier was necessary, as a precautionary measure, following a positive E.coli sample result from the reservoir.

For months we have been told that Napier water was safe and now this. Another test will be taken today and hopefully that will come back negative, but it is still a worry.

I suppose the one good thing to arise from last year's gastro crisis is that the bar has been set higher in terms of action being taken when there is suspected contamination. This is a good thing, but more is needed.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Our councils tell us that they are working together on the issue, but it is quite clear that this needs to be more co-ordinated and probably more transparent. The costly prosecution of the district council by the regional council, which was eventually dropped, is just one example of a lack of co-operation.

Another one is the airing of the dirty linen at the hearing this week, indicating tensions between the councils over a number of years.

In a Talking Point in this newspaper yesterday, Rex Graham, the chairman of the regional council, wrote about the need to work together to tackle water issues. He pointed to the work being done by Tank, a body made up of different stakeholders from across the region. He also spoke about a water summit planned for March-April.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It will be good if everyone can get on the same page, because we actually need less talking and more solutions.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

Their adopted pig charmed the world. Then their romance crumbled

15 May 03:45 AM
The Country

'Pure luck': Driver unhurt after ute hits cattle beast on highway

15 May 03:37 AM
The Country

'Job well done': Sanford doubles half year profit

15 May 03:22 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Their adopted pig charmed the world. Then their romance crumbled

Their adopted pig charmed the world. Then their romance crumbled

15 May 03:45 AM

Esther's dads, Jenkins and Walter, founded a 20ha sanctuary for her and other animals.

'Pure luck': Driver unhurt after ute hits cattle beast on highway

'Pure luck': Driver unhurt after ute hits cattle beast on highway

15 May 03:37 AM
'Job well done': Sanford doubles half year profit

'Job well done': Sanford doubles half year profit

15 May 03:22 AM
Farm succession on The Country

Farm succession on The Country

15 May 01:40 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP