Havelock North outbreak sparks widespread call to protect water

Locals at a water symposium at Peak Vision Church, in Havelock North. Photo/Paul Taylor

From the water under Hawke's Bay, to the quality of what comes out of the kitchen tap - widespread concern about the state of the region's water was addressed at a public hui in Havelock North yesterday - not far from where the New Zealand's worst outbreak of water-borne disease occurred last year.

There will be no element of water in Hawke's Bay left unturned after this week's public symposium - with day one covering the science of the Heretaunga aquifer, keeping freshwater clean, how water's use is managed by various agencies, and its wider meaning as a taonga.

Although Hawke's Bay's water issues were of public concern well before, it was the Havelock North water contamination in August last year which thrust the issue into the spotlight, and sparked the call for the hui.

Yesterday's hui was jointly convened by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc. chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, and the leaders of two parties found wanting by the inquiry into the contamination, regional council chairman Rex Graham, and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule.

Through six segments, all speakers enforced the message that increasing public understanding of water as a taonga (treasure), and how it was managed as a resource was the best way to protect it in the future.

This was stated by Mr Yule in his opening address, and echoed by Mr Graham who said August's water contamination showed the Hawke's Bay's economy needed to run in harmony with the environment.

"We have to face other things that we've taken for granted in the past and can't take for granted in the future," he said. "That will be hard for some people, because some of the activities which we've taken for granted no longer are suitable around water."

As well as sharing information, Mr Tomoana said that by the end of the symposium they hoped to have established a clear sense of direction on what should be done to protect the region's water.

If implementing a way to better manage Hawke's Bay's resource meant national laws or local edicts had to change, the chairman said he was "totally for that".

Yesterday 15 speakers - including experts from Niwa, GNS Science, and ESR, and representatives of agencies in charge of the region's water - took to the stage to address public concern.

They also fielded questions from the large group of attendees, which included local residents, staff and councillors from both councils, and representatives of national organisations.

While there were a vast range of topics covered yesterday a key focus was on the Heretaunga aquifer - which supplies water to Napier, Hastings, and nearby rural areas - with experts explaining the form of the aquifer, how water gets into it, and how it can be better understood.

A lack of wide understanding about the aquifer has led it to be one of the biggest areas of public concern - particularly on how the water within it is used.

Fronting up to this yesterday was council External Relations Group Manager Liz Lambert, who addressed misconceptions around its ability to manage water takes - from confusion about irrigators being used during summer to charging royalties on water use.

As the body responsible for managing waterways and the use of such water, the regional council has come increasingly under fire as concern over water has grown.

Going forward, Ms Lambert said everyone, including the regional council, needed to agree "we are willing to do what is necessary to lift our game".

Freshwater would be coming under increasing pressure in the future, with a raft of environmental challenges, and risks to freshwater management on the Heretaunga Plains thrust into the spotlight.

While there were different values of water - from taonga for Maori to an economic resource - the need for freshwater restoration was clear, and had been reinforced over recent decades, Niwa chief scientist John Quinn said.

However, there were many challenges facing it - from increasing demand, climate change, and biosecurity risk.

Not managing or mitigating risks did not just affect the health of Hawke's Bay's waterways, but poor water quality had consequences for human health as illustrated by August's outbreak.

Hawke's Bay District Health Board's Dr Nick Jones said even though Hawke's Bay had been historically shown to be prone to water-borne disease, "perhaps we have become a bit blasé about it, or have lost our memories about it".

Aside from the contamination, he added, not having enough water was a "real problem" for many in the region in rainfall dependant communities.

"With increasing climate change, we know those communities are going to become more vulnerable."

Topics to be covered at the final day of the hui today will include lessons from the Havelock North contamination, water bottling, the economics of water, and the TANK process regarding the Heretaunga aquifer.

The community symposium is held from 8.30am to 5pm at Peak Vision Church, 393 Te Mata Mangateretere Rd, Havelock North.