13 Oct 2013

Minister orders review into fuel tank standards in national parks

5:04 pm on 13 October 2013

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has ordered a review into the standards around fuel tanks in national parks, in the wake of a major diesel spill near Raetihi a fortnight ago.

The small North Island town's water supply was shut off after it was contaminated by thousands of litres of diesel leaking from a tank at the base of the Turoa ski field in the Tongariro National Park.

Dr Smith says the spill was unacceptable and something needs to be done to prevent something similar happening on conservation land again.

He says the Department of Conservation's review will look at the standards for fuel storage and their inspection regimes and could result in changes in how fuel is stored on conservation land.