A major sewage spill from Wellington’s Moa Point treatment plant has shut parts of the city’s south coast after a failure sent about 70 million litres of untreated sewage into the sea each day. A rāhui remains in place at spots including Ōwhiro Bay and Island Bay, and people are still being told to stay out of the water.
Water samples taken on Friday showed a big drop in bacteria, but the ban has not been lifted. Wellington Water says it has finished work on a larger air vent for the outfall pipe, which should improve flow and reduce spills during bad weather.
The closures are hurting local businesses, including Dive Wellington in Island Bay. Owner Dave Drane says his business is down about $25,000 compared with February last year because divers cannot use the Taputeranga Marine Reserve, their main attraction.
Drane wants a more targeted rāhui so areas farther from Moa Point can reopen sooner if tests show they are safe. For now, Wellington Water is still advising people to avoid swimming, diving, and collecting or eating kaimoana along the south coast.
