Hawke's Bay residents are being warned not to collect shellfish for the next three weeks because of possible contamination with sewage during last week's flood event.
During flooding in Napier (pictured), the city council had to release sewage into the Purimu stormwater stream when the wastewater and stormwater systems were overwhelmed. Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley
The sheer volume of rain during last Monday's storm overwhelmed the city's wastewater and stormwater systems, forcing Napier City Council to release sewage into the Purimu stormwater stream, which flows out to sea through the Ahuriri Estuary.
Hawke's Bay Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones said as a result, the coastline could be contaminated.
Shellfish should not be harvested along the coastline between Te Awanga and Tangoio's Flat Rock, including from the Ahuriri Estuary and Pania Reef in Napier.
"Eating raw or undercooked shellfish could make people very sick as there is a risk of bacteria and bugs being present in the shellfish," Jones said.
Shellfish such as mussels, oysters, cockles, and pipi were all filter feeders, meaning they constantly filtered seawater.
"If sewage is present, shellfish will ingest and hold onto the bugs meaning people could get sick."
Other marine species including fish, crayfish, kina and pāua were considered unaffected because they were not filter feeders, and could continue to be harvested, he said.
Just because waters around the coastline were beginning to clear did not mean it was safe to harvest shellfish, a DHB spokesperson said.
The warning, in place until 7 December, allowed 28 days from the flood event for any sewage contamination to be rectified.
Anyone who may have consumed uncooked shellfish from the above areas and are feeling unwell should contact their doctor immediately or phone Healthline on 0800 611 116.