A wastewater discharge has been identified this morning, flowing into the Orini Canal. Our Three Waters team and local contractor Draintech have identified the fault and isolated the overflow.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are also on-site collecting water samples from the Orini Canal and Whakatāne River and both upstream and downstream of the overflow.

Please avoid swimming or gathering kaimoana from the awa - from the skate park to the Whakatāne Heads - until we let you know water quality results confirm it's safe.

Tēnā koutou i ngākaunui mai / Thanks for your cooperation.