Due to the current water quality both Snells Beach and Mangawhai Estuary are deems not safe to swim at due to high risk of contamination.

Safeswim water quality models predict that levels of Faecal Indicator Bacteria breach national guidelines for swimming, based on guidance published by the Ministry of Health and Ministry for the Environment.

Should I swim today?

According to the Safeswim website: water quality forecasts take account of rainfall, wind, tide, sunlight and beach type. They are built using high-frequency targeted sampling on top of historical monitoring results, and are underpinned by the best available meteorological data, including readings from rain radar and an extensive network of rain gauges. Safeswim's forecasts are automatically overridden if sensors detect unpredicted events – like a wastewater overflow in dry weather – that are likely to cause a public health risk.

If you would like to see a video on how contaminants move through the ocean.

Mangawhai Estuary - is projected to be safe to get back in the back from Tuesday 2nd January from 7pm onwards.

Snells Beach - is projected to be safe from today Sunday 31st Dec from 9pm.

Piroa Falls and Ruakaka River are also currently unsafe to swim at.

Other beaches on the east coast that are monitored have been deemed safe, these include Waiwera, Algies Bay, Tawharanui, Omaha, Goat Island, Mangawhai Heads, Langs and Waipu.

For updated information head to their website