2010-2011 results

Coastal sites

The level of compliance for coastal sites was lower in 2010-2011 compared to 2009-2010. This was largely due to three major rainfall events during the summer, which increased the amount of contamination entering freshwater systems – and ultimately the coast – accounting for 44 percent of coastal non-compliance.

When compared to guidelines, 22 coastal sites met the safe criteria for swimming 100 percent of the time in 2010-2011. A further 21 met the safe criteria on all but one occasion and 16 were safe on all but two sampling occasions. Only two sites – Ōpua foreshore and Kerikeri Inlet at Skudders Beach – did not meet the safe criteria on more than two occasions during the season.

Percent of time coastal sites were safe for swimming 2010-2011.

Freshwater sites

Overall, fewer freshwater sites met the safe criteria for swimming 100 percent of the time in 2010-2011 compared to 2009-2010. This was also largely due to three major rainfall events which accounted for 35 percent of the non-compliance results due to increased rainfall-runoff entering freshwater systems.

In 2010-2011, four freshwater sites met the safe criteria for swimming 100 percent of the time. Two sites met the safe criteria on all but one sampling occasion and nine met the safe criteria on all but two sampling occasions. Nine freshwater sites did not meet the safe criteria on more than two occasions during the season. These sites were Mangakāhia River, Ocean Beach Stream, Otaua Stream, Kerikeri River, Whāngārei Falls, Kapiro Stream, Ōtamure Bay Stream, Coopers Beach Stream and Langs Beach Stream.

Percent of time freshwater sites were safe for swimming 2010-2011.