Okahu Bay is a pretty beach... pretty sick

Te Hira Hawke and Richelle Kahui-McConnell at Okahu Bay.

New research shows just how sick Okahu Bay is.

Unitec student Richelle Kahui-McConnell's two-year study shows only 10 pipi and no mature cockles live there. In a healthy bay, there should be around 4500 shellfish per sq m. The best that Okahu Bay can do is 500 per sq m, says Ms Kahui-McConnell.

Te Hira Hawke, of Orakei, remembers when beds were full of kaimoana: "You never had to go far to collect enough to feed an entire tangi.''

He and his neighbours gave up 15 years ago. They were getting blotchy spots when they entered the water.

Mr Hawke thinks Okahu Bay is hard done by.

"It seems that everything gets dumped onto our beach and it turns into a bowl of everybody's run-off,'' he says.

"When the tide's in it looks stunning and healthy. As soon as it goes out you see the problem.''

Excess nutrients and metals coming through stormwater has turned sand into black sludge.

This is killing the shellfish, says Ms Kahui-McConnell.

Ngarimu Blair of Ngati Whatua o Orakei says the study is sad.

"But it has resolved our determination to get the beach back into shape.

"We hope to mobilise our community and the relevant agencies to come up with a plan to reduce contamination levels coming into the bay,'' he says.

While Ms Kahui-McConnell recognises her study is merely a snapshot, she says it used council-endorsed methods and proves Okahu Bay needs attention.