Media Release
6 March 2026
Health Warning – Unsafe Recreational Water Quality at Ashley River | Rakahuri at SH1
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has issued a health warning after high levels of faecal bacteria were found in Ashley River | Rakahuri at SH1.
Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says “Water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens.”
Water contaminated by human or animal faecal matter may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
For further details visit:
https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/canterbury-region
To contact your local National Public Health Service office visit:
https://info.health.nz/locations/canterbury/national-public-health-service-canterbury-west-coast
To keep up to date with current health warnings visit:
https://info.health.nz/health-alerts