A rāhui is in place for the Whakatāne heads after a drowning there last night.
Photo: Unsplash / Jackson Currie
People are being asked not to use or gather seafood from an area that stretches from the Whakatāne river mouth to near, but not including, West End Beach at Ōhope.
The rāhui, which will be lifted on Thursday, includes the popular Ōtarawairere Bay.
Ngāti Awa chair Joe Harawira said it was a mark of respect to the family of the person who drowned at the heads.