A popular eastern bays beach has been flagged as unsafe for swimming due to faecal contamination. Water-quality website Safeswim has black-flagged St Heliers – meaning swimmers should not to swim there at all. The only other black-flagged beach in Auckland is Judges Bay in Parnell, which has been unfit for swimming for years. Safeswim said work was under way to fix issues at St Heliers and Judges Bay; however, it is not clear how long the areas will remain off limits for swimmers. Investigations were still under way to find out the source of wastewater pollution going into the stream around Dingle Rd that flows to the beach at St Heliers.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 21, 2025 21:29 UTC