Residents of Bell Block in New Plymouth are outraged after a sewage spill left the Mangati Stream running white and killed dozens of fish and eels.
Luke Sowman,11, found dozens of dead fish and eels in the Mangati Stream at Bell Block, New Plymouth Photo: RNZ/ Robin Martin
Kim Sowman said her son Luke was distraught after going to feed eels in the stream only to discover more than 20 dead fish at the stream mouth.
The Taranaki Regional Council said it had responded to a significant discharge from a New Plymouth District Council sewage pumping station on the stream.
The district council apologised for the spill.
Puketapu hapu member Glen Skipper said it was not good enough and that sewage spills into the stream were a regular occurrence.
Signs warn people not to swim or gather seafood in the area.