Each summer, Northland Regional Council test the water quality at a number of Northland’s popular coastal and freshwater swimming spots to make sure it’s safe for swimming.
Testing started on 29 November and will continue for 12 weeks through to March.
Beach water quality for week starting 17 January:
Many results this week are very high as a result of the recent heavy rain. Between 60-200mm of rain fell across most of Northland during the storm on 22-23 January.
Warning signs have been placed by District Councils at the following sites (please see all the results below):
- Kowharewa Bay
- Ohawini Bay
- One Tree Point
- Pacific Bay
- Matapouri 1st Bridge
- Matapouri 2nd Bridge
- McLeod Bay
- Pataua South footbridge
- Pataua South Frog Town
- Pataua South East Beach
- Urquharts Bay
- Whananaki East Beach
- Whananaki footbridge
- Omamari Beach
- Pahi at campground
NOTE: No additional signs placed by Far North District Council this week as most sites deemed unsafe for swimming after heavy rainfall
Status system
NRC give a three tier status system for swimming water quality. This is based by assessing the risk of contamination at a beach swimming site using levels of the indicator bacteria Enterococci. Find out more about what NRC test for
Green: safe to swim
Enterococci count less than 140/100ml
Orange: caution, potentially unsuitable to swim
Enterococci count more than 140/100ml
Red: unsafe to swim
Enterococci count more than 280/100ml
This weeks' results:
Far North
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Result |
| Ahipara, in front of campground | 109871 |
|
<10 |
| Matai Bay, in front of campground | 102326 |
|
<10 |
| Shipwreck Bay | 109870 |
|
<10 |
| Tokerau Beach at Melissa Road | 109872 |
|
53 |
| Waipapakauri | 109873 |
|
10 |
.jpg)
Green:
North East (Coopers Beach to Matauri Bay)
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status |
Result |
| Cable Bay | 105780 |
|
<10 |
| Coopers Beach | 101066 |
|
<10 |
| Matauri Bay | 102425 |
|
10 |
| Taipa | 105777 |
|
<10 |
North West (Hokianga Harbour)
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Result |
| Omapere | 102317 |
|
20 |
| Opononi | 106011 |
|
<10 |
| Rawene | 100236 |
|
178 |
South West (Kaipara District)
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Result |
| Baylys Beach | 109876 |
|
<10 |
| Glinks Gully | 100798 |
|
<10 |
| Omamari Beach | 109875 |
|
384 |
| Pahi, 150m NW jetty | 102198 |
|
254 |
| Pahi, at rocky groyne | 102579 | .jpg) Orange:Caution |
31 |
| Tinopai, below shops | 102310 |
|
10 |
| Tinopai, below Puapua Creek | 101232 |
|
10 |
.jpg)
Red:
South East (One Tree Point to Mangawhai Harbour)
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Result |
| Lang's Beach, Mid-Beach | 108318 |
|
429 |
| Mangawhai, Motorcamp foreshore | 101210 |
|
87 |
| Mangawhai Heads, Beach | 109890 |
|
<10 |
| Mangawhai Harbour, Picnic Bay | 110322 |
|
75 |
| Mangawhai Harbour, at Pontoon | 110320 |
|
178 |
| One Tree Point | 109266 |
|
238 |
| Ruakaka, River | 108314 |
|
178 |
| Ruakaka, Beach | 108315 |
|
<10 |
| Uretiti Beach | 109888 |
|
<10 |
| Waipu Cove | 108316 |
|
20 |
Bay of Islands and Oakura
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the BOI and Oakura testing sites.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Results |
| Bland Bay | 109889 |
|
<10 |
| Kerikeri, Skudders Beach | 100974 |
|
9208 |
| Oakura, North Bay | 101345 |
|
839 |
| Ohawini Bay | 105388 |
|
41 |
| Opua, foreshore | 101418 |
|
2247 |
| Paihia, Te Haumi | 101195 |
|
2909 |
| Paihia, beside toilets | 101194 |
|
1616 |
| Paihia, Waitangi Bridge | 101183 |
|
7701 |
| Russell, Mid-North | 105710 |
|
1421 |
| Teal Bay | 101331 |
|
169 |
Tutukaka
Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.
| LOCATION | Site No. | Status | Results |
| Church Bay | 105448 |
|
99 |
| Kowharewa Bay | 106444 |
|
42 |
| Matapouri, at first bridge (south bridge) | 100711 |
|
164 |
| Matapouri, at second bridge (north bridge) | 100712 |
|
111 |
| Matapouri, Beach | 110321 |
|
99 |
| Ngunguru, at Motor Camp | 100073 |
|
238 |
| Ngunguru, at Norfolk pine | 100076 |
|
53 |
| Ngunguru, at toilets | 108320 |
|
75 |
| Pacific Bay | 108313 |
|
10 |
| Sandy Bay | 109879 |
|
53 |
| Wellingtons Bay | 109880 |
|
53 |
| Whananaki, footbridge | 103147 |
|
1091 |
| Whananaki, East beach | 106938 |
|
1184 |
| Woolleys Bay | 109878 |
|
<10 |
Check before you swim
In general, water can be contaminated and unsafe for swimming if:
- there is a warning sign erected indicating water is unsafe.
- there has been heavy rain recently.
- the water looks dirty (murky).
- there are several potential sources of contamination nearby and upstream such as:
- houses on septic tanks;
- stock with access to the water; or
- a sewage treatment plant discharge.
Who to contact
NRC are responsible for routine surveillance monitoring. These results are sent to the District Councils and Northland Health, who then carry out follow-up sampling as required and warn the public of any swimming sites that may be unsafe.
For information about a specific area or a warning sign contact your local District Council or the on-duty Health Protection Officer at Northland Health.
Far North District Council
Freephone: 0800 920 029
Whangarei District Council
Phone: 09 430 4200
Kaipara District Council
Phone: 09 439 7059
Northland Health
Phone: 09 430 4100
For general information contact:
Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004
Comments