Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:15881] 
9.  
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Is he aware of any other groups of New Zealanders suffering health effects from dioxin exposure similar to the exposure that the Health Committee recognises was experienced by Vietnam veterans; if so what action is he taking? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 I am not aware of any groups of New Zealanders suffering health effects from dioxin exposure similar to the exposure that the Health Committee recognises was experienced by Vietnam veterans. New Zealand research is presently under way to investigate any health effects from different types of exposure in industrial workers. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that people who lived near to the Dow factory in New Plymouth in the late 1960s and early 1970s were exposed to a similarly toxic environment to that which the Vietnam veterans were exposed to and therefore deserve the same free medical treatment and services for dioxin-related illnesses as Vietnam veterans receive; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Indications from an interim result from a study currently being conducted around Paritutu are that people may have been exposed to higher levels of dioxin emissions from the plant and that half those people have higher than usual levels of dioxin in their blood but until we have the conclusion of that study we cannot reach any definite and definitive results. 
Dianne Yates 
: What is the Government doing generally about dioxins and other organochlorines? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: This Government recently ratified the Stockholm convention which commits us to reducing and eliminating organochlorines. We have agreed to fund new research into the heath of former timber workers who were exposed to pentachlorophenol and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research is completing its study into dioxin exposure at Paritutu. Those are just some examples of this Government’s comprehensive and active approach to reducing both the exposure to and the potential health effects from dioxins and other organochlorines. 
Pita Paraone 
: Is the Minister aware of the ill health and the trauma that many of our soldiers and their families go through as a result of their service in Vietnam and having been subjected to Agent Orange and if he is aware of that will he start with an apology resume a special committee set up to address their plight and end with meaningful compensation; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I and this Government are very aware of the claims made over 30 years around that issue. The report released today clearly identifies and accepts that New Zealand veterans were exposed in Vietnam to pentachlorophenol and to Agent Orange. The health effects from that have yet to be fully clarified. This Government will be making every effort to respond comprehensively and in a caring way to this report as tabled. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree with Professor Al Rowland who is carrying out a genetic study of nuclear test veterans that there is a wealth of evidence that proves genetic damage from dioxins and will he therefore support a genetic study of Vietnam veterans and residents who lived near Paritutu at the peak of exposure to see whether they or their offspring have suffered any long-term damage as a result of their exposure to dioxin? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: While not necessarily accepting the claims of that person this Government will look very carefully at all the issues raised in this report. The issue of Paritutu is separate from that of the Vietnam veterans. This Government has shown consistently since coming into power in 1999 that there are issues around organochlorines in this country and we have made every effort to work through those very carefully. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does he acknowledge that sawmill workers at Whakatane who worked daily with pentachlorophenol containing dioxin suffer high rates of cancer skin diseases blood disorders depression and early deaths and that their wives have had twice the national rate of miscarriages and that their children have higher than usual rates of hearing sight and birth defects and learning problems and does he accept that that is an occupational illness? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I do not accept the assertions made by the member. However the Government is aware of the concerns raised over many years by those workers at Whakatane. That is why I as Minister went to Whakatane and met with them and that is why we have funded research paid for by the Occupational Safety and Health Service to examine the potential health effects of exposure to pentachlorophenol. We have directed the Bay of Plenty District Health Board to work with the former workers and like every New Zealander anyone who has health problems has access to the public health system and to the health care that he or she needs. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: What is the Minister doing to follow up his promise to the Whakatane sawmill workers reported in April to support a free mobile clinic to help sawmill workers and their families with illnesses that could be related to dioxin exposure and can he guarantee that they will not have to wait as long as the Vietnam veterans for recognition and help given that their exposure predates even Vietnam? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We are working actively on that issue. There was some debate with those people about the effectiveness of a mobile clinic. The Ministry of Health is working as we speak to implement a mobile health clinic for those people so that they have access to health care and checks. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does the Government acknowledge any responsibility for the fact that those workers were required to immerse their hands frequently in pentachlorophenol to breathe the fumes and to wear contaminated clothing that was taken home and washed with the family laundry were not advised to wear protective clothing and were repeatedly told that pentachlorophenol was safe by the Government’s Forest Service which promoted the use of pentachlorophenol by the industry? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Those are the very claims in terms of situations and occupational hazards that will be investigated by the research currently being undertaken.