Summer swimming starts online

Published: 23 December 2025

With summer heat setting in and people heading to Hawke’s Bay rivers and beaches, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is reminding everyone that it’s important to check water quality before diving in.

Regional Council water quality teams sample water at 37 sites from Mahia to Pōrangahau every week between November and March. The results, showing how safe the water is, are published every Wednesday afternoon on the Regional Council website, giving the community the latest information to make safe swimming choices.

Regional Council Scientist Marine & Coasts Dr Andrea Glockner says checking water quality is simple and quick.

“It’s really easy to check the results for your favourite swimming spots. All areas are colour-coded like a traffic light - green means it’s safe to swim, orange means take care, and red signals the water is unsuitable. You can also check long-term grades for each site by sliding over to the grade chart.”

Regional Council Chair Sophie Siers says knowing water quality is an essential part of summer swimming.  

“It wouldn’t be a Hawke’s Bay summer without enjoying our stunning rivers and beaches. But water quality can change and knowing the latest information matters. Our teams provide weekly monitoring, ensuring the community has reliable results, but it’s up to each of us to check them and make informed choices about where to swim. Taking just a minute to check the water online means you can enjoy your swim knowing you’re in a safe spot.”

Regional Council also shares water quality data with Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA), New Zealand’s leading environmental platform. LAWA provides more detailed information on water quality, national weather, swimming facilities, and directions to locations, perfect if you’re planning a swim beyond Hawke’s Bay.

Regional Council also recommends waiting two to three days after heavy or prolonged rain before swimming, to ensure the water is at its best.

Weekly testing stops in March, but the Regional Council also produces long-term grades for each site, which remain live on LAWA until the following spring/summer.

Jump online and visit hbrc.govt.nz and search #swim to see where it’s safe to take the plunge.

Or check out LAWA’s ‘Can I Swim Here?’ page.

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