Waitangi shellfish warning ends 26 January
It is safe to swim at Haruru and Waitangi following a sewage spill that occurred on 29 December, but a recent warning to not collect shellfish from Waitangi will remain in place until Thursday 26 January 2023.
A recent warning to not collect shellfish from Waitangi will remain in place until Thursday 26 January 2023.
The council issued the warning after a raw sewage discharge from a private pump station on Thursday 29 December. Far North residents and visitors were advised not to swim at Waitangi and Haruru or to collect shellfish. While the pump was repaired by the owner, there remained a potential health risk for swimmers at Waitangi and Haruru, and to anyone consuming shellfish collected at Waitangi.
In response to the discharge, the council published warnings about potential health risks to its website and posted notices at both locations over the summer holidays. The notices remained in place at Haruru until Thursday 5 January when the risk to swimmers was lifted and notices were removed.
Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau (formerly the Northland DHB) says that shellfish can be affected by sewage for up to 28 days. Therefore, it advises that shellfish should not be collected from Waitangi until after Thursday 26 January. Warning notices will remain in place at Waitangi until then.