8. Drinking-water Contamination—Havelock NorthHon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister of Local GovernmentDrinking-water Contamination—Havelock North8. Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister of Local Government: Does she agree with the Prime Minister's answer yesterday that drinking-water contamination in Havelock North was about local government performance and overseeing ratepayer-funded assets whose purpose is to deliver clean and healthy water to its local people. The extensive inquiry into that incident was warranted by widespread illness in the area … it is about local body performance in overseeing their clean water system"?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Local Government): Yes. Stage 1 of the inquiry into the Havelock North water contamination commissioned by the Attorney-General identified that whilst no single organisation was at fault there were a number of shortfallings in the way councils undertook their duties in relation to drinking-water management. That is why I have written to all councils and mayors setting out my expectations that they carry out their obligations to provide a safe and clean water supply to their residents to the highest standards. Whilst I have no responsibility for it stage 2 of the findings will provide a wider view of the systems that surround the supply of drinking water.Hon David Parker: Does she agree with the inquiry finding that the district council did not implement the high standard of care required of a public drinking water supplier particularly in light of its history of a high number of prior E. coli transgressions?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes. The inquiry found that several parties—the regional council the Hastings District Council and the drinking-water assessors—failed to adhere to the high levels of care and diligence necessary to protect public health.Hon David Parker: Does she recall that after the Cave Creek tragedy the local Department of Conservation manager resigned the chief executive of the Department of Conservation resigned and the Minister of Conservation resigned thereby taking responsibility for the organisation that they were responsible for?Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there may be ministerial responsibility the Hon Anne Tolley.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I have no ministerial responsibility.Hon David Parker: Does she believe that the mayor of the district council that infected 5500 of its residents with campylobacter causing premature deaths Guillain-Barré paralysis and terribly painful reactive arthritis amongst other complications was responsible for the council he has led for more than 15 years?Mr SPEAKER: Well again in so far as there may be some ministerial responsibility—Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If you are implying that the Minister of Local Government does not have responsibility to offer an opinion as to whether the mayor of a district council is responsible for the institution he has led for 15 years I think that is an inappropriate hint for you to give the Minister.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am just pointing out that the Minister under Speaker's ruling 176/2 has no responsibility for operational activities or the decision making of the local authority. I am not saying the question is out of order and have never attempted to. I am just calling the Minister to answer in as far as she may have ministerial responsibility.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Supplementary question Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No no. I need the answer first of all if the Minister wishes to answer.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I repeat that the inquiry found that the Hawke's Bay Regional Council the Hastings District Council and the drinking-water assessors all failed to adhere to the high levels of care expected. But it also made the point that none of the faults omissions or breaches of standards directly caused the outbreak.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Has the Minister seen the statements from Opposition parties last year saying that the water contamination in Havelock North was caused by intensive dairying when in fact the inquiry found that it was not intensive that it was sheep—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The latter part of the question is completely unnecessary. The first part of the question was "Has the Minister seen such statements?". I am prepared to let that part stand.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister is not responsible for statements by Opposition members of Parliament.Mr SPEAKER: The question did not ask whether she was; it simply asked whether she had seen statements. I have said that that part can be answered.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes I have seen those statements and to date I have seen no apology for getting it so absolutely wrong.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just to be clear if we ask Ministers about matters for which they are not ministerially responsible whether they have seen statements—for example statements by backbench National Party members of Parliament—will that be deemed to be acceptable?Mr SPEAKER: I rule on everything on a case by case basis as I see fit at the time as I always have.Hon David Parker: Does the Minister believe it is appropriate that the mayor who has been in charge of that council for the last 15 years has not taken proper responsibility for the institution by resigning but rather is seeking election to this Parliament for her party?Mr SPEAKER: Order! The fact that a former mayor is seeking election to Parliament has got nothing to do with ministerial responsibility.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] The member will resume his seat. If the member wants to raise a point of order he is perfectly entitled to do so unless it is a point of order that sets out to argue against a decision I have made.Hon David Parker: It is one thing for the Government members to stand and say they do not think there is responsibility; it is another thing for you to do that for them.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have ruled the question out of order. I am saying there is no ministerial responsibility for the fact that a former mayor wants to stand for this Parliament. That is the end of the matter. The member might not like the way I have dealt with the question but it is not up for debate. Does the member—[Interruption] No I am not—[Interruption] Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just want to be absolutely clear—because I can see a course of action being charted here—that if the member wants to raise a fresh point of order on any matter I am only too happy to hear it. But if the member is going to continue to argue and relitigate a decision I have made I will be asking the member to leave the Chamber.Hon David Parker: My fresh point of order is that when you did not like the question from the Hon Nick Smith you said: "Stick to the first part of the question delete the second part."; in respect of mine you just rejected the whole of my question rather than just the end. I expect fair treatment across the House.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will now leave the Chamber. [Interruption] The member will leave the Chamber. That is a direct reflection on the Speaker of this Parliament. Hon David Parker withdrew from the Chamber. Catherine Delahunty: Does the Minister think regional councils would benefit from having a charge on water bottlers that was in part—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise to the member. I am having trouble hearing the question because of chatter coming from my left. I will ask the member to start the question again.Catherine Delahunty: Does the Minister think regional councils would benefit from having a charge on water bottlers that was in part returned to them to help manage and clean up local water sources?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I have no responsibility for that part of the drinking-water regulations and I suggest the member direct it to the appropriate Minister. I would say however that that matter has been referred to a technical task force to consider.Catherine Delahunty: Does she think it is wise for councils to allow stock grazing close to drinking water bores?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: What I would say is that up and down the country I am well aware of the huge investment that the farming sector has put into preventing stock from entering into waterways. Catherine Delahunty: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think she may have misheard my question. I did not ask about waterways; I said water bores.Mr SPEAKER: I think that has been addressed in the answer that was given by the Minister.Catherine Delahunty: Will the Minister support my bill to make aquifers and other drinking-water sources a matter of national importance in the Resource Management Act so that councils can manage them properly?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Could you indicate to the House—if a question contains a component that is in order and a component that is out of order on what basis do you make the decision as to whether or not the Minister should be invited to address the part of the question that is in order? We seem to have had two examples of that today. In one example the Minister was invited to address the part that was in order and in another question he was not. Mr SPEAKER: I cannot—there is no set template by which I operate. I judge everything as it occurs at the time depending on the decorum and the tone of the House. I do my best to be absolutely fair. The issue with regard to Mr Parker was not the question he raised; he just continued to argue with me. I warned him not to but he did not hear my advice."