Toxic foam: Ohakea locals demand blood tests

Ohakea farmer Andy Russell who owns land contaminated by toxic firefighting foam is shocked the government is telling people not to get blood tests. Locals near the defence base where the foam has been used are pleading for easier access to blood tests but Andy Russell says instead they are facing hour-long interviews by a doctor pushing the official line. This comes as the the country's biggest environmental investigation spreads outwards including to Auckland, from its initial focus on NZ Defence Force bases like Ohakea. The Health Ministry put out a statement on Thursday about free blood tests for contaminants that are part of a group of harmful chemicals called PFAS. Mr Russell spoke to RNZ reporter Phil Pennington.