'Good chance of getting sick' if you swim

Tests carried out on some of the country's most popular swimming spots show many are unsafe.

The Environment Ministry has just published nationwide results of monitoring carried out nationally by councils at swimming spots in rivers, lakes, lagoons and estuaries.

They show that last summer only 57 per cent were safe for swimming most of the time.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the results painted a depressing picture. "These are the spots where New Zealand families have swum, fished and messed about in boats for generations. But these days, you run a pretty good chance of getting sick if you swim at many of our favourite spots."

The tests were carried out by councils at 206 freshwater sites and measured for E.Coli, an indicator of faecal or human bacteria.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Nick Smith directed questions about what was being done to improve water quality at popular swimming spots and when New Zealanders were likely to see improvements to the ministry.

Environment Ministry spokesman Mark Sowden said it was looking at ways to improve management and governance of freshwater. "The ministry is serious about everything to do with freshwater in New Zealand."

Taranaki's popular surfing and holiday destination Oakura Beach failed to meet recreational safety guidelines every time it was tested.

Other bad spots include the Kaiapoi river north of Christchurch and Piha lagoon west of Auckland.

Dr Norman said it was also disappointing to see the worst spot in the Wellington region was the Ruamahanga River at Kokotau, near Carterton. Both agricultural and urban contamination contributed to poor quality water, where Masterton District Council can discharge into the river from its sewage plant.

The ministry said the percentage of sites safe for swimming had fluctuated between 40 and 60 per cent in the past seven years.

However, Dr Norman said nothing was being done that would result in changes or improvements to freshwater quality. A national inquiry proposed sweeping changes to help clean up New Zealand's freshwater two years ago and a draft policy statement designed to guide regional councils had not been implemented.

The statement has been with Dr Smith since January, but he's waiting to hear from the Land and Water Forum.

The forum comprises industry, environmental and recreational groups interested in freshwater and land management, but Dr Norman said action was needed now.

- © Fairfax NZ News