Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other government ministers were welcomed to the Chatham Islands with a pōwhiri this morning. Photo: RNZ / Anneke Smith
The government will spend $500,000 on water tanks and filtration systems for 20 percent of Chatham Islands homes, ensuring a reliable source of safe drinking water.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty announced the move during a visit to the remote islands today.
McAnulty said the funding would provide for a 30,000-litre water tank and a filtration system for each home.
"Many households in the Chatham Islands lack easy access to drinking water and have been forced to get water to their homes in ways that are unaffordable, unsustainable, and at times unsafe," he said.
Long dry periods had also "massively impacted" residents with no connection to mains or council water supplies, he said.
"Even though this is a relatively small scale project, ensuring that a significant part of the community will have access to a clean and reliable water supply will make a big difference in the years to come."
He said the project it would save money while supporting the environment and residents' health.
The construction work would be locally led, and was set up in collaboration between the Chatham Islands Council, Chatham Islands Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust, Hokotehi Moriori Trust, and the National Emergency Management Agency.