A tanker has been stationed near Kāeo's main road so locals can fill containers with drinking water. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Kāeo's long-running water crisis is continuing to deepen - with the Far North town now in its 17th day without running water and a tanker now stationed next to the main street.
The town has been subject to a boil-water notice for more than 10 years, and late last month the national water services regulator Taumata Arowai took the rare step of ordering the Far North District Council to intervene in the private water supply.
In August, RNZ revealed the water supply's owner had been trespassed from the water treatment plant amid claims of unpaid rent, and could access it only under police escort.
Residents told RNZ the supply stopped on 18 October and had not resumed.
Last week Friday the council said the water supply was, to its knowledge, still working.
That evening, however, the council arranged for a water tanker to be stationed on School Gully Road, opposite the town's Four Square, so residents could fill up containers.
Driver Pouri Thomas, of Zap Water, said the tanker had been in place until 9pm on Friday and from 7am to 7pm during the weekend.
It would be available until 7pm on Monday evening but it was unclear what arrangements were in place for the rest of the week.
"Sunday was pretty busy. I've done a few tanks, and everybody's been rocking up with their bottles and containers, I'm just helping as many people as I can," Thomas said.
"If they come down I just ask then if they're on town supply, and if they've got any water in their tanks or they need a top-up of their tanks at home. If they do I just go and fill them up."
Thomas said townsfolk had appreciated the help.
"For us it's just great to help people getting water. But I think it's been going on too long, they just need to sort something out, so people can just get on and not have to worry about water."
Taumata Arowai head of operations Steve Taylor thanked the council for arranging the tanker for immediate community use.
"The authority is planning to meet as soon as possible with Far North District Council and the Kāeo drinking water supplier, Wai Care Environmental Consultants, to discuss the immediate needs for Kāeo and ways to fast-track a long-term solution for the community," he said.
The council has been contacted for comment.
Wai Care supplies fewer than 30 homes, businesses and community facilities such as Whangaroa Community Hall along State Highway 10, Kāeo's main street.
Many businesses have already arranged alternative water supplies or installed rainwater tanks due to water quality issues and past shut-downs.
The council recently installed a water tank at the town's public toilets to ensure hygiene is maintained.
The council sold Kāeo's water scheme to Doubtless Bay Water in 2000. That company then on-sold it, at a nominal cost, to Wai Care in 2008.
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