Health warning — Unsafe recreational water quality at Peketā Beach
Canterbury
16 February 2026
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has lifted its health warning at Peketa Beach.
Latest water testing results show faecal bacteria levels at this site are now below guideline values and the health warning has been removed with the water at this site now suitable for recreational use.
Dr Annabel Begg, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says “rainfall in the area in the last week was the likely cause of the high levels of faecal bacteria.”
“This is great news for swimmers and other recreational water users who would have been avoiding the water following the high levels of contamination,” Dr Begg says.
2 February 2026
Health New Zealand has issued a health warning after high levels of faecal bacteria were found in a single sample taken from Peketā Beach.
Dr Imogen Evans, Public Health Medicine Specialist 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.
“The sites where water quality is affected are listed on Environment Canterbury’s website," she says.
For further details visit:
Canterbury region - LAWAexternal link
To contact your local National Public Health Service office visit:
National Public Health Service - Canterbury and West Coast
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