Minister of Health Tony Ryall has put on hold a subsidy scheme that aimed to improve drinking water supplies for small communities of fewer than 5000 people.
The drinking water subsidy scheme originally had $117.8 million in funding for 10 years from July 2006, although about $30 million of this has already been given to marae, community-owned suppliers and territorial authorities.

Tony says, 'It's important that we ensure the scheme is targeting communities most in need of assistance. The government is concerned that it currently runs on a first come, first served basis and does not adequately target disadvantaged communities which have the greatest need for this funding.”
'No new applications for subsidies will be taken until a review is completed, which is expected to be early next year. The programme is then expected to reopen with new criteria.”