The public should follow LAWA’s advice on whether beaches are suitable for swimming.  

Water sampling has shown that overall, the water near the shore has been within the acceptable limits for safe swimming in dry weather conditions. Some caution is still advised. The sample sites have not included areas out in the Cook Strait near the long outfall pipe, so activities further from the short such as surfing and diving should be conducted at people’s own risk.  

Sampling has shown that 48 hours is enough time for the water quality sampling results to return to acceptable levels following a short outfall discharge. It is important to note that during rainfall and for the 48 hours after, LAWA’s standard advice is to avoid swimming, due to urban and rural runoff. The use of the short outfall is linked to heavy rain, so the same advice applies - and we’ve worked closely with LAWA to get their ‘Can I Swim Here’ website updated as quickly as possible following a short outfall discharge event. 

No. People should not collect or eat kaimoana from the affected areas (Ōwhiro Bay to Breaker Bay) at this time.

Kaimoana can become contaminated by sewage. Shellfish such as mussels and pipi carry the highest risk because they filter large amounts of water and can concentrate harmful bugs, which may remain in their tissues for several weeks. Other species such as pāua, kina, crayfish, and fish are generally lower risk but can still be contaminated while sewage discharge is ongoing.

Because sewage discharge is continuing and conditions can change, the safest approach is to avoid collecting or eating any kaimoana from affected areas as a precaution to protect health.

All public health advice is available on National Public Health's website, here.

On 25 February, the public health advice on the beaches and water on Wellington’s south coast changed. People can now go on the beaches and swim near the shore in the area from Ōwhiro Bay to Breaker Bay. The public are strongly urged to check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches and entering the water, and follow LAWA’s advice. LAWA are Land, Air, Water Aotearoa. This excludes Tarakena Bay which remains a no-go area due to its proximity to the short outfall pipe.

The best source of information for safe swimming areas is the LAWA website. Sampling does not suggest that wastewater from the short or long outfall is travelling around into the inner harbour.  

If you have been exposed to the water and develop symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, cough, rash, irritation of the ears, nose or throat, seek medical attention and inform the healthcare provider of your possible contact with sewage.  Healthline is a free over-the phone health service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. 

The risk of illness from inhaling contaminated sea spray is highest very close to where sewage is discharging, particularly when the short outfall is in use. The risk is considered very low elsewhere along the coast or further inland from the coast.

The biggest risk to health remains direct contact with contaminated water, such as swimming.

As a precaution during periods of high sea spray, people should limit the time they are exposed to sea spray close to where sewage is discharging when the short outfall is in use, keep windows closed, and wash and dry their hands after being outside. 

Essentially, it was not safe to do so. The plant was without power, and multiple floors and key areas of the plant were inundated with untreated wastewater.  The main area, the size of an  Olympic sized swimming pool, had wastewater up to three metres deep. This made it impossible to access the site without causing more issues.  

Wellington City Council own the plant and Wellington Water maintains it with operational support from Veolia.

Tarakena Bay  remains a ‘no-go’ area due to its proximity to the short outfall pipe. 

Please check LAWA.org.nz and follow their advice before coming into contact with the water between Breaker Bay and Ōwhiro Bay. This includes Lyall Bay, Houghton Bay, Island Bay and Princess Bay.  

To help reduce blockages in the network, and the amount of debris discharged through the short outfall if it is used, only flush the 3 Ps.

That's pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.
 
During heavy rain, untreated wastewater may need to be discharged via the short outfall. Avoid flushing non‑biodegradable items such as wet wipes and sanitary products - this will stop these items from being discharged along the coastline. 

Wet wipes, fats and oils being sent down the toilet or drain can cause blockages in the network too, which can lead to wastewater overflows. Wipe your oily pots and pans out with a paper towel and chuck it in the bin. 

The screens at the treatment plant are working. These screens remove items like sanitary pads and wet wipes from the wastewater, before it is discharged through the long outfall pipe. Wastewater that goes through the short outfall is not screened. 

The plant sustained serious damage, across a large area. More information on the damage can be found in the damage report, available on our website. We absolutely appreciate that every day the plant is offline makes a difference, so we’re working hard to bring the plant back into operation as quickly as possible. It’s important to be clear that this is an immense task. There are nearly 30 separate projects that form the full Moa Point recovery, taking place on a constrained site. Equipment needs to be manufactured and shipped. We’re taking every effort to move as quickly as possible, and as part of the recovery we have restarted and accelerated the major EIC project. This was already underway prior to the flooding, and we’ve had the benefit of having a lot of the equipment already in storage or being manufactured, shaving months off the recovery timeframe. 

The plant sustained serious damage, across a large area. More information on the damage can be found in the damage report, available on our website. We absolutely appreciate that every day the plant is offline makes a difference, so we’re working hard to bring the plant back into operation as quickly as possible. It’s important to be clear that this is an immense task. There are nearly 30 separate projects that form the full Moa Point recovery, taking place on a constrained site. Equipment needs to be manufactured and shipped. We’re taking every effort to move as quickly as possible, and as part of the recovery we have restarted and accelerated the major EIC project. This was already underway prior to the flooding, and we’ve had the benefit of having a lot of the equipment already in storage or being manufactured, shaving months off the recovery timeframe.  

There are two parts to the solution. To prevent a future flooding event, we are installing controls to automatically lock the inlet pumps (which control the flow of wastewater into the plant) if there is a risk of flooding detected in the UV outlet. We are also addressing the issue revealed by the hydraulic report. The report found that air can become trapped in the wastewater bypass pipeline, particularly when there is a high flow of wastewater passing through the plant. It is possible that trapped air could disrupt the flow of wastewater, pushing the wastewater backwards and flooding the plant. This risk is being actively and carefully managed until the bypass project is complete by limiting the amount of flow pumped to the plant. At this stage, we expect work on the bypass to be completed by late 2027. 

As of 1 July 2026, as per legislation, Wellington Water will amalgamate with a new water entity, Tiaki Wai. Tiaki Wai is the new organisation that will deliver drinking water, wastewater and reticulated stormwater services across the metropolitan Wellington area from 1 July 2026. More information can be found on their website.

The public should follow LAWA’s advice on whether beaches are suitable for swimming.  

Water sampling has shown that overall, the water near the shore has been within the acceptable limits for safe swimming in dry weather conditions. Some caution is still advised. The sample sites have not included areas out in the Cook Strait near the long outfall pipe, so activities further from the short such as surfing and diving should be conducted at people’s own risk.  

Sampling has shown that 48 hours is enough time for the water quality sampling results to return to acceptable levels following a short outfall discharge. It is important to note that during rainfall and for the 48 hours after, LAWA’s standard advice is to avoid swimming, due to urban and rural runoff. The use of the short outfall is linked to heavy rain, so the same advice applies - and we’ve worked closely with LAWA to get their ‘Can I Swim Here’ website updated as quickly as possible following a short outfall discharge event. 

Only contractors from Wellington Water and Wellington City Council with the relevant health and safety clearance are undertaking this work.

The best source of information for safe swimming areas is the LAWA website. Sampling does not suggest that wastewater from the short or long outfall is travelling around into the inner harbour.