Pilot water project lauded

By TONY GEE

A pilot project to improve drinking water quality and supply 33 local communities and marae in Hokianga has been successful, according to a consultants' report.

The project started in 1999 when Hokianga's free healthcare and health services provider, Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust, took on a Ministry of Health contract to manage the pilot.

The report on the project was done by Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.

Health Minister Annette King said the report showed positive health gains could be made by supplying safe drinking water to small communities which were isolated, disadvantaged and predominantly Maori. It also showed rural communities could access reticulated water at a reasonable cost.

The scheme's success could be put down to the project being taken on and locally driven by the Hokianga community, with involvement by kaumatua and support from the health trust.

The scheme was highly commended in the organisation category of the Health Innovation Awards, run by the Business Excellence Foundation.