Hastings council's water supply manager resigns

Former Hastings District Council water supply manager Dylan Stuijt. PHOTO / File

Hastings District Council water supply manager Dylan Stuijt has resigned, but the council is not prepared to say whether the move was prompted by last year's Havelock North water crisis.

Mr Stuijt had been a water supply manager at the council since 2005 and left his position at the council last month, a council spokesperson said.

Hastings acting mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said she could not comment on whether Mr Stuijt had been asked to leave as a result of the government inquiry into the gastro outbreak, which released its findings on the first stage in May this year.

"I have no idea of any staff matters - that's not our role as governance - we only employ one person and that's the chief executive."

Other staffing matters were handled by human resources and the chief executive, she said.

When asked if chief executive Ross McLeod could comment, a council spokesperson said this would be inappropriate as Mr Stuijt had resigned.

In its report on Stage 1 of the inquiry, the panel found there were multiple failings on the part of several agencies charged with supplying drinking water to adhere to the high levels of care and diligence necessary to protect public health and to avoid outbreaks of serious illness.

The failings, most notably by the district council and regional council, did not directly cause the outbreak, although a different outcome may have occurred in their absence, the report said.

This included the Hastings District Council, whose failings the inquiry found applied especially to its mid-level managers who delegated tasks but did not adequately supervise or ensure their implementation.

During the first stage of the hearings conducted in December last year, Mr Stuijt was described as a "fourth-tier" manager and was questioned extensively, along with other members and managers of the water services team over several days.

This questioning highlighted gaps in processes and communication through all tiers of the management structure.

After the Stage 1 report was released Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule instructed Mr McLeod to consider what action to take against middle management staff criticised by the inquiry.

At the time, however, Taxpayers Union executive director Jordan Williams and Labour MP and water spokesman David Parker raised concerns about such finger-pointing.

"The council's spin that some nameless third-tier staff member may, one day, if circumstances allow, be held to account and lose his or her job, is nonsense.

"Failure of the council's underlying duty of care to the public - safe drinking water - must surely lie at the feet of the council's chief executive," Mr Williams said.

Labour MP and water spokesman David Parker echoed these comments.

"The inquiry found there were systemic problems with water management at the district council for years. How can you put that entirely on middle managers rather than take responsibility at the top?" he asked.

Both Mr McLeod and Mr Yule were called on to resign, but both said this was not necessary as no one entity was found at fault, and Mr Yule said he wanted to remain in his position to make things right over the situation.

In light of Mr Stuijt's resignation, the council spokesperson said the water supply team was being expanded so his position, or a similar one, would be replaced.

Hawke's Bay Today tried but was unable to reach Mr Stuijt for comment.