One Northland beach and four freshwater spots are being declared unsafe to swim by the region's top environment watchdog.
The first weekly test results of popular swimming spots conducted by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) has singled out Wellingtons' Bay (in front of the northern carpark), Hatea River above the
Whangarei Falls, Tirohanga Stream, Kerikeri River (at Stone Store) and Victoria River (at DoC reserve crossing) as unsafe to swim.
Results of all 48 coastal and 11 freshwater sites were put on the council's website last Friday after the summer tests began on November 26. They run until the end of March.
The samples will be given colour-coded grading: green for safe to swim; amber for elevated bacteria levels; red for unsafe for swimming.
The results will also be forwarded weekly to all three district councils, the Northland District Health Board and other interested parties to take action.
