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Swimming-water quality Updated: 12 Dec 2011

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Where are Auckland gradings? Posted by: Karepiro 18 Jan 2011 6:34pm

Why are there no gradings for any beaches in the Auckland area? For example all the regional park beaches, city beaches etc.

Reply 1: Posted by: Consumer Staff 21 Jan 2011 10:28am

Hi Karepiro,

Not all councils are using the grading system. In the Auckland region, only sites in Manukau city currently have a grade. These sites were graded by the former Manukau City Council.

Kind regards,

Jessica Wilson
Research writer

Where is smiths ford in nelson? Posted by: Hamish Milmine 26 Dec 2010 11:19am

Where is smiths ford in nelson. We can't seem to find it on google maps!

Coromandel note Posted by: Consumer Staff 21 Dec 2010 3:47pm

Hi Elaine, Mike and Pete

Swimming water quality in Thames-Coromandel has been monitored in past summers by the Waikato Regional Council.

For coastal sites, results for the 2007/08 summer can be found on the council's website at http://www.ew.govt.nz/Environmental-information/Our-coast/Coastal-water-quality/Coastal-water-quality-for-swimming/Coromandel-Peninsula-coastal-water-quality-monitoring-map/

For freshwater sites, results can be found at
http://www.ew.govt.nz/Environmental-information/Rivers-lakes-and-wetlands/healthyrivers/Our-other-rivers/Water-quality-monitoring-map/

Kind regards,

Jessica Wilson
Research writer

Hmmm... no Coromandel? Posted by: Mike... 15 Dec 2010 8:50pm

I'm also interested in the fact that there's no Coromandel report. Maybe the council don't want the results published? Living in Whangamata, there's been plenty of early morning fishing trips where the fecal looking scum emptying out of the harbour, makes you wonder just how good our effluent systems really are. There's been lots of recent money spent on their upgrade - lets hope it's finally going to work properly.

Come on TCDC - where's the test results??

Thames Coromandel District Council Posted by: Elaine Newton 15 Dec 2010 1:24pm

Very interested to note that no testing is carried out here - given the huge number of people who holiday in this area, one might think it should be a priority. However, testing would reveal the huge problem that exists in the Firth of Thames, with the Waihou being described as the dirtiest rivers in NZ, and emptying into the Firth. I will be writing to TCDC asking them to start monitoring and publishing the results.

Well done Posted by: David Ray 15 Dec 2010 10:59am

I have done quite a lot of work in this area and your report is excellent. One of the key take home messages is take care around small streams leading on to beaches - the problem being of course that these are great safe swimming spots for small children...

Star Ratings Posted by: Robert Thompson 15 Dec 2010 9:32am

I assume the star ratings are read with the greater the number of stars the better the water quality. Is this correct?

Northland no longer grades? Posted by: Steve Worthington 15 Dec 2010 8:36am

Oh dear - it looks like Northland Regional Council has put the poor water quality in the too hard basket and no longer grades the water?
This is a very important issue for such a popular summer destination and for us who live here year round!
I plan to take this up with my local councillor as many of the spots were sub-standard when last tested. Thanks Consumer for another enlightening piece of research.