3 Sep 2016

Hikoi on water contamination crisis

12:56 pm on 3 September 2016

Residents of Havelock North are holding a hikoi this morning to voice their frustration at the town's water crisis.

The Walk for Water march to Hastings CBD included two horses and about 200 people.

The Walk for Water march to Hastings CBD included two horses and about 200 people. Photo: RNZ / Eric Frykberg

It's nearly three weeks since the discovery of the campylobacter contamination, which caused an estimated 5200 people to get sick.

About 200 participants of the event, Walk for Water, gathered at Havelock North village to march to Hastings CBD.

Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP for Labour Meka Whaitiri was at the march and said people were angry and wanted answers.

"Who would have thought in 2016 in a place like Hawke's Bay, that by turning on your sink taps you're going to get sick," she said.

"So there are some angry people in this protest.

"We've also got this disquiet around changing our current leadership be it at our council level or be it at regional or district council in terms of how this has possibly happened."

Ms Whaitiri said Hawkes Bay Regional Council chair Fenton Wilson had not fronted any of the public meetings and needed to be held to account.

The hikoi's organisers said they wanted to highlight their concern over chlorinating their water supply and bring the community together.

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