Health Minister David Clark has introduced the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Bill to Parliament.

The bill amends the Health Act 1956 and has the objective of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Part 2A (drinking water) of the Act without materially affecting any party or imposing new or additional costs.

The bill follows the Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking Water. Cabinet agreed to a range of measures to address the Inquiry’s recommendations, including some immediate amendments to Part 2A of the Act.

The amendments proposed as a result of the Inquiry will be supplemented with a small number of additional, minor improvements to Part 2A of the Act.

The bill will come into effect on the day after receiving the Royal assent.