State of the Environment three-yearly reportsOranga o te taiao pūrongorongo ā-toru tau

Northern Coast has very poor lake water quality and aquatic habitats, especially the riparian zones of its monitored waterways. Two shellfish gathering sites (Maungawhio Lagoon and Te Mahia) have never been compliant with shellfish gathering guidelines, however Mahia beach has been suitable for collection since monitoring started. Although Northern Coast’s marine and Estuary/Lagoon swimming spots met HBRC’s strategic goal of being suitable for swimming 80% of the time, its freshwater swimming sites did not, being suitable for swimming only 58% of the time.

Wairoa typically has good groundwater quality, although our monitoring well has high levels of dissolved reactive phosphorus. Its lakes’ health range in quality from fair to very poor. Although ammonia and nitrates are at good levels in Wairoa’s rivers, most of the other metrics are poor. Wairoa’s estuaries are outside the New Zealand range for suspended sediment, enterococci and chlorophyl-a, and strongly outside the New Zealand range for dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Wairoa’s two freshwater swimming spots have been unsuitable for swimming 47% of the time. 

Mohaka has used minimal groundwater over the last three years – this groundwater is not derived from the Ruataniwha or Heretaunga aquifers. However, 40% of the wells HBRC monitors have exceeded DWSNZ standards for E. coli. These are not drinking water wells, but people who have private shallow drinking water wells in the area should treat their water before use. Ammonia and Nitrate are in safe levels in its river water. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) is high in both its marine and estuary sites, however all other metrics in its estuary are within range.

Esk and Central Coast wetlands are mostly in good or moderate condition, however one of its eight monitored wetlands is degraded. A high percentage of river monitoring sites are high in E. coli and dissolved reactive phosphorus, although ammonia and nitrate levels are low. Its groundwater monitoring well, likewise, shows high levels of Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and do not meet drinking water standards for Arsenic or Manganese. Nearshore water quality is mostly within range of other New Zealand sites aside from high levels of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN).

Ahuriri has the most urban cover of any of Hawke’s Bay’s catchments (12%). Groundwater is primarily used for drinking. Groundwater is showing impacts from land use, with dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in medium to high levels. Ahuriri’s estuary sites are strongly outside other New Zealand sites in almost all metrics, although dissolved oxygen is within the range of other New Zealand sites. Both Ahuriri’s marine and estuary/lagoon swimming sites have been swimmable 81-91% of the time.

Tūtaekurī’s monitored wetlands are in good and excellent condition. Groundwater wells here show medium levels of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in all three monitoring wells. Likewise Arsenic and E. coli are above DWSNZ standards in one monitoring well (these are not drinking water wells). Ammonia and Nitrate as well as dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) are in good levels in Tūtaekurī’s rivers and streams, and its rivers and streams generally have healthy fish and invertebrate habitats. Tūtaekurī’s freshwater swimming site has been suitable for swimming 85% of the time.

Ngaruroro has 9 monitored wetlands, four of which are in excellent condition, with three in good condition. Ngaruroro used between 1-9gl of groundwater per year over the last five years, mostly for irrigation. Groundwater shows medium to high levels of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). Nearshore water quality is showing a lot of issues including very high levels of chlorophyll-a, faecal coliforms and DIN, along with moderate levels of enterococci. Estuaries are high in DIN and enterococci. Despite this, freshwater swimming spots have been swimmable 91% of the time

Karamū has used between 30-46gl of water per year over the last five years; water is used for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. Groundwater monitoring wells do not meet DWSNZ standards for E. coli or Manganese (These are not drinking water wells). Many also have medium-to-high amounts of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). River water also has high levels of DRP and E.coli, and poor ecological health, as measured by Macroinvertebrate community indexes (MCI), although they have mostly good levels of ammonia and nitrates. Freshwater habitats generally have poor riparian margins. Karamū is not meeting HBRC’s strategic goal of being suitable for swimming 80% of the time, with its freshwater swimming site only swimmable 59% of the time. 

Tukituki has nine monitored wetlands, with four in good condition. Wetland conditions drop moving down the catchment, with five wetlands in moderate condition. Tukituki has used between 7-30gl of water per year over the last five years, most of which is used for irrigation. Wells in the Tukituki are showing signs of land use impacts, with two thirds showing medium to high levels of dissolved reactive phosphorous (DRP). A quarter of the wells are also not meeting DWSNZ standards for E.coli (These wells are not drinking water wells). Lake Whatumā has a trophic level index of 6.9 (very poor). Tukituki’s three freshwater swimming sites have been suitable for swimming 89% of the time in the last five years.

Southern Coast’s rivers have good levels of visual clarity, ammonia, and nitrate, although sites have high levels of E. coli. Southern Coast’s freshwater and marine swimming spots have both been suitable for swimming over 90% of the time, however, estuary/lagoon sites have only been swimmable 70% of the time. Te Awanga and Kairakau Beach have not been compliant with shellfish gathering guidelines for the last three years.

Pōrangahau is showing high levels of E. coli and poor macroinvertebrate community indexes (MCI) in its river water. Ammonia, nitrate and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) are at good levels, however. Pōrangahau’s marine swimming spot has been suitable for swimming 100% of the time over the last five years, though its estuary/lagoon site has only been suitable for swimming 79% of the time.