Sabotage scare at Kaikoura reservoir

A Kaikoura reservoir had to be urgently drained yesterday and some residents warned not to drink town supply water after a contamination scare.

The Kaikoura District Council's emergency management officer, Mike Kennedy, said council engineers and contractors had discovered anti-1080 graffiti and two poison pellets next to a broken manhole cover on the Kaikoura peninsula reservoir.

Mr Kennedy said it was impossible to tell if any 1080 pesticide was in the water, but samples were taken for testing in Christchurch last night and the reservoir was drained.

A second reservoir was now supplying Kaikoura and residents were not at any risk, he said.

"It would have been all flushed out."

Kaikoura moteliers and tourist accommodation operators were caught off guard last night after first learning of the problem from a television news bulletin which said residents were warned not to drink the local water until further notice.

Kaikoura Top 10 Holiday Park duty manager Martin van Wijk said he was still debating whether he should tell guests.

"I don't want to spread panic unnecessarily."

Mr van Wijk said he could not get any useful advice from the police, and could not get through to the district council.

"I am annoyed there is not more information."

Dolphin Lodge Backpackers manager Connor Lomax said he did not have a clue what was happening.

Ian Shaw, the managing director of Food and Health Standards NZ, said he was confident the water had been safe to drink.

Mr Shaw, whose company contracted to the district council environmental health division, said it would take an "absolute heap" of 1080 to cause any harm, and filtering or boiling the water would have no effect.

It appeared the sabotage was a publicity stunt, he said.

Mr Shaw said the reservoir, on the southern edge of the township between Kaikoura and South Bay, was always fenced off and under surveillance.

Police were investigating and health authorities had been notified, but there were no reports of any illness.