Toxic shellfish have been found along the Bay of Plenty coastline from Mount Maunganui to the Rangitaiki River, between Matata and Whakatane.
Toi Te Ora - Public Health is advising people not to collect or eat shellfish from beaches or river mouths due to the risk of toxic poisoning.
This advice results
from high levels of paralytic shellfish poison being detected from water samples taken along the 75km stretch of coast.
Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack said there were water testing sites all along the coastline with samples taken once a week.
``The one at Pukehina is particularly high and the one at the Mount is getting higher,' he said.
Maungatapu Marae spokesperson Wakata Kingi said boats went out at least once a week collecting shellfish, more often during a tangi or other special occasion and the health warning would have a major impact.
She said the warning was bad timing with the opening of the re-built Te Whetu o te Rangi Marae on Saturday and Christmas next week.
However, there was a possibility shellfish could be brought in from the Coromandel or bought from shops.
The health warning affects all bi-valve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops, catseyes and kina.
Paua, crayfish and crabs can still be taken but as always, the gut should be removed before cooking.
``We're asking people not to eat the gut and skirt of scallops, even when these shellfish come from sites where there are no biotoxin warnings,' said Mr Shoemack.
He said the poisoned shellfish were a natural phenomenon, more common in the warmer, summer months. It is impossible to predict how long the poisoning will last.
``It could be weeks, it could be months,' he said. Warning signs have been placed along the affected stretch of coast.
Mr Shoemack said this was the first poisoning affecting the Mount area. The last poisoning was in March 2007 when the area from Papamoa to Whakatane was affected.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority is responsible for monitoring both shellfish and water for toxins in shellfish. Toi Te Ora - Public Health update the public when results from the samplings confirm changes to the affected area.
Information about health warnings is available at www.nzfsa.govt.nz
