NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND OUR INDUSTRY.
Tapware one of main causes of East Otago lead spikes Residents of Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village were advised by Dunedin City Council in late July that they are finally safe to use their water again after a five-month ‘do not drink’ notice—as long as they follow Ministry of Health advice on flushing taps. The announcement followed the release of the Council’s investigative report into the cause of lead spikes in water samples tested between July 2020 and January 2021. Investigations focused on the raw water reservoir and also on the Waikouaiti Golf Club and Karitane Bowling Club, where five samples had been found to be above acceptable lead limits—with one almost 40 times over. The report concluded that the likely cause was lead from pipes and fittings in private properties,
and not from the river or water supply network. This is grist to the mill for Master Plumbers, which has long been telling the Government to stop ignoring compelling evidence that the health of New Zealanders is at risk as there is no mandatory independent verification of drinking water products sold in New Zealand, making it possible for consumers to buy taps containing dangerously high levels of lead. “The Australian Federal Government has recently announced they will be reducing the permissible concentration of lead in plumbing products in contact with drinking water from 4.5% to 0.25%,” says CEO Greg Wallace. “New Zealand should be doing the same. It really is a no-brainer.” We’ll have more on this topic in the next edition.
NEW EMPLOYER ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR HIRING MIGRANTS From 1 November, employers will have to be accredited to hire migrant workers on a new Accredited Employer Work Visa. The aim is to simplify the visa application process by replacing six different visas, including the Essential Skills Work Visa, and Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa, with a single visa process. Employers will be able to apply for accreditation from late September. They will need to show they: are a genuine business, registered with IR and holding a NZ Business Number (NZBN) have no recent history of non-compliance with immigration and employment laws will minimise exploitation risks by: • completing employment modules • providing migrant workers with advice on their rights • paying all recruitment costs inside and outside NZ.
10
nzplumber
More information is available at www.immigration.govt.nz
