Oyster farms in Northland's Waikare Inlet are to reopen, eight years after contamination shut off one of the area's main income sources.
Commercial farms in the middle and lower reaches of the inlet were closed after people who had eaten oysters became ill with norovirus.
Farmers of New Zealand blamed the Kawakawa sewage plant but was unsuccessful in an attempt to sue the Far North District Council.
Health, fishery and environmental organisations have now deemed the water to be safe following the upgrade of sewage systems in the area.
Mike Hearn, who lost his home and 90% of his income because of the closures, hopes the area can now be brought into full production and people can be employed again.
Mr Hearn says it will take two years to reach full production, while the growers' biggest will be rebuilding the farms without an income.
Water quality will be monitored and farms will be closed in summer when boating in the Opua Basin is popular.