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Sewage warnings after heavy rainfall

Local News Public Notice
PUBLISHED: 19 DEC 2021
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Updated 19 December:

Can I swim?:

  • The 'No Swimming' signs have been removed from our beaches but the sign at the Huatoki Stream Mouth remains. Keep up with the latest information on the Can I Swim? page on our website.

Severe weather:

  • A severe weather system with ongoing heavy rainfall has caused a number of sewage discharges around the District
  • We’ve had a month’s worth of rain in four days (129mm in Brooklands Park since December 12, more than the average monthly total of 125mm in December).
      

Pukekura Park:

  • Warnings are in place at Pukekura Park after sewage was discharged onto a couple of footpaths near the main lake overnight.
  • We have put up warning signs to keep people safe.
  • We’re closely monitoring the situation, working to clear the discharge as soon as possible and investigating exactly what caused this.
  • Pukekura Park is rightly considered the jewel in our crown so we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make sure we fix whatever caused this so it doesn’t happen again.

 

Te Henui:

  • Wastewater is also being discharged out to sea at the Te Henui Pump Station’s Eliot St outfall, more than 100m offshore.
  • The Te Henui station’s pumps are operating at 100% but the volume of wastewater and rainfall was greater than they could handle.
  • Signs warning against swimming and collecting kai are being put up between Te Henui and Waiwhakaiho.
  • New data shows there were also discharges from the pump station for short periods on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

More information:

  • We’re sorry about these issues and we’re working hard to get our network back to normal operation as soon as possible.
  • We’re in touch with iwi and hapū, Taranaki Regional Council, the Taranaki District Health Board and other recreational users.
  • We are investing $248m over 10 years to fix the district’s plumbing.

 

Caption: Warning signs have been put in place in Pukekura Park after severe weather and heavy rainfall caused a discharge overnight.

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Page last updated: 11:49am Wed 02 July 2025

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