This report examines the improvement of the safety of drinking water in New Zealand, lessons to be learned from the Havelock North outbreak, and changes which should be made to achieve those goals.

This report, on Stage 1 of the inquiry into the outbreak of gastroenteritis in Havelock North in August 2016, focuses on identifying what happened, what caused the outbreak, and assessing the conduct of those responsible for providing safe drinking water to Havelock North.