MDHB News

Public Health: Environmental Health

MidCentral Health’s Public Health Service acts to protect peoples health and wellbeing from environmental hazards and risks. Working with the public and other agencies it promotes health and provides information about, identifies, assesses and monitors environmental risks and issues. It also plans for, responds to and assists in the management of hazards and emergencies where public health is at risk.

These activities are carried out in both MidCentral’s region (Palmerston North, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Tararua) and the Good Health Wanganui region.

A group of people at the beach with Whitebait fishing nets in the water

Who carries out Environmental Health Activities?

Health Protection Officers (HPOs)are employees of the Public Health Service who are designated by the Ministry of Health under the Health Act 1956. This means that under various pieces of legislation they have certain powers and responsibilities to protect the health of the community.

What do Health Protection Officers do in Environmental Health?

Air Quality: While the major responsibilities in this area lie with the City, District and Regional councils Health Protection Officers provide independent technical and professional advice regarding consent applications and potential local health nuisances.
Biosecurity: Respond to incursions of exotic organisms (e.g. mosquitoes, spiders) where they represent a risk to public health.
Burials, Cremations, Cemeteries: Process licences for disinterments and supervise the procedure to ensure due regard for dignity and public health. Process applications for the closure of cemeteries and for burial in special places (ie not in cemeteries) and advise on the movement of bodies between countries. Involved in the approval process for new crematoria.
Contaminated Land Sites: Provide technical and professional advice on contaminated sites in relation to health risks, restrictions on usage and corrective requirements.
Drinking Water Supplies: Audit water suppliers' own monitoring of water quality and safety and promote improvement. Grade community water supplies and work with water suppliers to manage risks to health. Provide advice to the public on water supplies.
Early Childhood Centres: Regularly inspect Early Childhood Centres under the Education Early Childhood Centres Regulations as well as respond to complaints and enquiries. Premises are inspected regarding a range of factors including: drinking water, sewage disposal, food safety, building standards, playground safety and accident hazards. Reports are provided to the Ministry of Education.
Environmental Noise: Provide technical advice to local councils regarding existing or potential environmental noise issues. Make submissions on resource consents where noise has the potential to adversely affect public health.
Hazardous Substances: A member of the Hazardous Substances Technical Liaison Committee and provide advice in the event of a chemical spill where there is a risk to public health
Asbestos: Provide advice to householders on asbestos and its safe removal including testing samples of suspect material from householders.
Lead paint: We provide advice and information on the risks surrounding lead-based paints. To ensure people use appropriate precautions relating to lead-based paint a testing service is provided at the Public Health Unit which is free to the public in the MidCentral DHB only. Samples can be delivered or posted to Public Health. Sampling instructions for lead and asbestos are available.
Ministry of Health pamphlets on Lead and Asbestos issues.
Ministry of Health pamphlets on Lead and Asbestos issues are available from Public Health as well as online.
Management of lead-based paint
Lead and lead poisoning
All about asbestos
Removing asbestos from the home
Recreational Water Quality: Provide advice to the public and district and regional councils on health risks and appropriate standards and control measures for swimming pools and natural water bodies used for recreational purposes.
Resource Management: Provide technical and professional advice in submissions on those resource consents which have the potential to affect public health. Make submissions on district and regional plans and policies in respect of public health issues.
Sewage treatment and Disposal: Provide advice to the public and local authorities on safe sewage disposal.
Shellfish Water Quality: Monitor shellfish for marine biotoxins and take appropriate steps to close beaches and notify the public if levels become hazardous to health. We also provide advice on the bacteriological quality of shellfish and their environmental water.
Waste Management: Provide advice to local authorities on waste management to ensure the protection of public health.

For further information on Environmental Health:

Ministry of Health, New Zealandwebsite is a useful first point for much health information concerning New Zealanders.
Ministry for the Environment New Zealand site contains a wide range of information regarding environmental issues many of which have impacts on health.
Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand (ERMA) is a quasi-judicial body that aims to meet the purpose of the HSNO Act in a way that enables New Zealanders to safely benefit from the use of New Organisms and Hazardous Substances.
Environmental Scientific Research(ESR) is a Crown Research Institute whose work centres around safe environments for people. They do analysis and research work in a range of areas including Environmental Health, Toxicology, Water Management and Food Safety.
Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour is responsible for workplace standards and occupational health and safety legislation.
NZ Water and Waste Association(NZWWA) is a professional association for those individuals and organisations involved in the water and waste industries. They have activities in the areas of research, training, marketing, policy and advocacy.
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) this Crown Research Institute's mission is to provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of New Zealand's atmospheric, marine and freshwater systems and associated resources. They do research and consultancy on Atmosphere & Climate; Freshwater and Coastal/Marine Environments; Fisheries, and Aquaculture & Fisheries Enhancement.
Pleural Mesothelioma website for information regarding Pleural Mesothelioma cancer.

Local Authorities in our area:

Local Authorities and Health Protection Officers both have responsibilities and activities in respect of some environmental health issues. They often work closely together but in general the local authorities are the first point of contact for nuisances – conditions that are injurious to health or harmful. (eg septic tank overflows).
For information about the regulatory categories (and in some cases advice as to the requirements and the ability to download appropriate application forms) see your own local authority’s site. These sites are all laid out differently and have varying degrees of detail but many have the relevant topics covered under a heading leading you to Council Services.

For information about the regulatory categories (and in some cases advice as to the requirements and the ability to download an application) see your own local authority’s site. These sites are all laid out differently and have varying degrees of detail but many have the relevant topics covered under a heading leading you to Council Services.

Palmerston North City Council
Manawatu District Council
Horowhenua District Council
Tararua District Council
Wanganui District Council
Ruapehu District Council
Rangitikei District Council

Links to other Public Health Service sites:

You may wish to find the Public Health Service in your region or look for more details on topics of interest. This Ministry of Health page: District Health Boards List has links to all the DHBs and links to their Public Health function or provider can be found on these individual pages. Below are examples of major New Zealand Public Health sites.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Waikato DHB Environmental Health
(Wellington) Regional Public Health
(Canterbury) Community & Public Health
Public Health South

Disclaimer:

MidCentral District Health Board is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing shall not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over availability of the linked pages. Links to external sites will open in a new window.

Contact us and view maps:

MidCentral Health Region Contact Details

Phone (06) 350 9110; Fax (06) 350 9111;
Office Hours: 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

In Emergencies call (06) 350 9110 and the on-call Health Protection Officer will be paged.

Wanganui Region Public Health Contact Details:

Phone (06) 348 1775; Fax (06) 348 1783;
Office Hours: 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

In Emergencies call (06) 348 1234 and the on-call Health Protection Officer will be paged.