Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:645;Page:14173] 
9.  
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What financial commitment will the Government make to local and regional authorities to clean up sites contaminated by asbestos including the site of the former freezing works and hospital in Patea? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 Although as the member is aware it is primarily the responsibility of the regional council the Government has already committed about 60 percent of the funding required to investigate contaminants on the Patea site—just over $64000. I have also indicated that the Government is open to sharing the costs of the glue or rubber sealant that will almost certainly be the interim solution for the Patea site. We will need the results of the investigation and accurate cost estimates for Patea to ascertain where this site fits vis-à-vis other sites that are contaminated around New Zealand before final decisions can be made about the level and timing of funding from the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: What progress if any has been made on establishing a register of all affected Patea residents in order to ensure that appropriate monitoring and health surveillance reports can be established for the future? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The first step is to establish what was spread around the town at the time. To date the reports of testing show that both in the dust in the houses and in the air asbestos has not been found. We have to be very careful about panicking people who live in the town by suggesting that they have been contaminated when in fact it could well be that we have been exceptionally lucky and asbestos was not spread around. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: Why was the owner Noel McColl not made to clean up the freezing works site’s rubble and soil which were affected by asbestos and pentachlorophenol contamination when the site has long been recognised as being potentially hazardous to public health for the past 27 years; and will we wait for another fire at the hospital site before we see any action? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The first part of the question should be addressed to the responsible authority which is the regional council. I thank both Jill Pettis and the much reduced member Chester Borrows for their support of the people of Patea and for their communications with my office on the subject. 
Hon Tariana Turia 
: What is the Minister’s response to local claims that district authorities have failed in their responsibility to restore a cleaner safer environment have minimised the seriousness of the situation and could be accused of negligence in allowing the residents to return home before formal tests were carried out by hygienists? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: There will always be debate around the timing of these issues but when a series of tests from the dust on the houses not only in Patea but in a community that is downwind does not show asbestos then I think it would be stretching it a bit to criticise the authorities for letting people return to their homes. 
Question time interrupted.