Stewart BarbaraBARBARA STEWART (NZ First): I am pleased to take a call on behalf of New Zealand First in this urgent debate. This is a very serious situation that the people of Havelock North find themselves in. In fact it is actually a disgrace. We rely on drinking water. We rely on the water to be pure and to not make people sick and it is devastating for all of those people affected in the Hawke's Bay. So our sympathies and our support go to those many people who are affected. We know that there are about 2000 people who are ill 125 confirmed and unconfirmed cases of campylobacter and 22 people hospitalised. Two elderly people have been admitted to intensive care and there is talk that one person has already died due to this very issue. It is such a shame that the response was so slow for a disaster such as this which usually never ever happens in New Zealand. If we were a Third World country we would accept this but in New Zealand—no it is totally unacceptable. We know that schools have closed day cares have been forced to close and many people are away from work so the cost to the people of the Hawke's Bay is huge—absolutely huge. The fact that doorknocking started only today really makes one wonder how good the emergency response teams are. We wonder whether or not they should have started as soon as the outbreak was confirmed. Why has the Government not taken the initiative and led the response with the mayor? I thought it was absolutely chronic when I heard the Hon Sam Lotu-Iiga say this issue is not about politics and that the Opposition should have asked questions today in question time. But it was quite noticeable that the Government should have asked the questions too. Why did it not take a lead on the issue? When we look at this aquifer that is contaminated which is 20 metres below the surface one wonders how this has ever been allowed to occur because there have been three positive tests for the aquifer that is currently contaminated. I would have thought that that was a big enough signal to the council and to the Ministry of Health that here was an aquifer that needed regular testing and testing on a regular basis not just to be ignored until the next outbreak occurred. There have been problems so why is this particular testing not being carried out and why is regular monitoring not actually being carried out? This reaction is far too slow. The ministry has been daydreaming its way through this particular issue. The district health board knew on Thursday that a tanker-load of water from one of the bores supplying the town had actually tested positive for faecal matter. The community should have been warned right at that time. It is unfortunate and devastating for the community that it was not warned about this gastro outbreak until Friday evening yet the district health board had known since last Thursday. And what do we hear? The district health board hoped to have a household survey in place only by this evening to get some idea of how many households are affected. I would have thought that even if one household had been affected or one street had been affected the ministry would get straight into gear and do its duty to the people of Havelock North. When we look at it the Government is basically failing in its duty to protect the waterways of New Zealand. The national bottom-line for water quality has not changed but remains at water suitable for wading or boating". Obviously this is not a high enough standard when this is the result. I was interested to hear Prime Minister Key say on Monday that it was highly likely that the Ministry of Health would hold an inquiry into the outbreak. I would have thought with the number of people who have been affected that it is absolutely essential that there is some inquiry into the outbreak. There needs to be a thorough investigation of all aquifers right throughout the country to prevent this happening again. The cost is too high when an outbreak such as this occurs here in New Zealand. So when is the water testing actually going to be monitored on a regular basis? The standards are not high enough testing needs to be regular and we will be waiting to see this actually happening. Thank you."