A Government inquiry into the Havelock North gastro outbreak will consider improvements to water supply management across New Zealand.
Attorney General Christopher Finlayson has released the draft terms of reference for the inquiry into an outbreak of campylobacter bacteria in Havelock North's water supply.
"The inquiry will look into how the Havelock North water supply became contaminated, how this was subsequently addressed and how local and central government agencies responded to the public health threat that occurred as a result of the contamination.
"The terms of reference are very wide and will include any lessons and improvements that can be made in the management of the water supply network in Havelock North and, more broadly, across New Zealand."
Who will lead the inquiry will be decided by Cabinet in the coming weeks. They will report to Finlayson in his role as Attorney General.
"It is important that New Zealanders have confidence in the quality of our drinking water, and the independent inquiry will ensure we have a clear understanding of what happened in Havelock North," Finlayson said.
Some scientists and the Green Party have called for the inquiry to examine the effect of farming on water quality, saying E. coli and campylobacter bacteria have been reported in other water supplies including Patea, Hanmer Springs and Christchurch.
It has been estimated that more than 4100 people in Havelock North have become ill from the town's contaminated water supply, with more than 520 probable or confirmed campylobacter cases.
Pensioner Jean Sparksman, who died on August 13, had contracted campylobacter. A post-mortem examination revealed she also had other significant underlying health issues.
Coroner Peter Ryan has opened an investigation into her death to ascertain, as far as possible, whether the campylobacter infection contributed to her death.
This morning Prime Minister John Key said people who might label the Government inquiry as toothless were wrong.
"Certainly someone has died. Whether they have died as a result of campylobacter is a very, very different issue. But someone has died," Key told Radio New Zealand.
"So you cannot 100 per cent rule out civil or criminal charges. These things can be quite serious. I'm not saying it would do, or that is the cause. I'm just saying we have to look at everything."
Key said it was unlikely the Government would pay compensation to any of the residents who fell sick.
The Ministry of Education says all Havelock North's schools and early childhood centres are expected to be back open today.
At the weekend, the Hawke's Bay DHB said interim results from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research suggests contamination from cattle and other four-legged farm animals may have been in the water.
Medical authorities noted that there was a marked decrease in the number of patients presenting with gastro bug symptoms.
Test results from the Hastings water supply came back clear yesterday afternoon after earlier results showed an anomaly, put down to sampling irregularities.
The Council said the results mean the Hastings supply, which also provides water to Flaxmere and Bridge Pa, can continue to be considered safe to drink, however it will continue to chlorinate the supply in the short term.
- By Nicholas Jones of the New Zealand Herald
