Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora unit has lifted its health warning for the Hae Hae Te Moana River at Te Moana Gorge and Ōrāri River at Ōrāri Gorge.

Latest water testing results show faecal bacteria levels in the Hae Hae Te Moana River at Te Moana Gorge and Ōrāri River at Ōrāri Gorge are now below guideline values and the health warning has been removed.

The water in the Hae Hae Te Moana River at Te Moana Gorge and Ōrāri River at Ōrāri Gorge is suitable for recreational use.

“This is great news for swimmers and other recreational water users of the Hae Hae Te Moana River and the Ōrāri River who would have been avoiding the water following the high levels of contamination,” says Dr Ramon Pink, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service.

When a health warning is in place, water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens.

Water contaminated by human or animal faecal bacteria may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.

For further details visit: https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/canterbury-region

Or contact Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health on (03) 364 1777: https://www.cph.co.nz/your-health/recreational-water/

For more information about Mahinga Kai: https://www.cph.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/mahingakaifaq.pdf