Lake Ngatu, south end

Lake Ngatu is one of a few remaining dune lakes in New Zealand. There is a single track that lines the lake starting at the far end of the carpark. The lake is surrounded by a Manuka forest and there are resting benches along the path. A few parking spots along and public toilets are located at the norther end.

WATER QUALITY

Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on March 4th, 2019. Swim Guide NZ updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

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MONITORING FREQUENCY

SOURCE INFORMATION

Over 40 coastal sites and more than a dozen freshwater sites are tested weekly. From February until March Northland can reduce the monitoring program to twenty coastal and three freshwater sites are tested weekly.

Results are posted on every Friday.

Freshwater sites are tested for E.coli levels. Beaches with elevated levels of bacteria are tested more regularly. Beaches with elevated levels of bacteria are tested more regularly.

RSWQP issues an AMBER alert if a single sample level of E.coli are greater than 260 units / 100 ml of water. Signs will also be posted at beaches and until water levels return to a safe level. Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around stormwater outfalls and at stream mouths.

Pulse Energy updates Swim Guide for the latest water quality information daily, Monday - Friday during the swimming season.

A beach has a GREEN current status when no single sample is greater than 260 E. coli/100 mL and has a rank of GREEN.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when a single sample is greater than 260 E. coli/100 mL and there is an AMBER or RED alert.

A beach is marked Grey in Swim Guide when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around stormwater outfalls and at stream mouths.

For more information about the Northland Swimming Water Quality Monitoring Programme, visit the Northland Regional Council’s website: www.nrc.govt.nz/swimming

You can report any pollution concerns in Northland by calling the 24/7 Environmental Hotline toll-free on 0800 504 639.

Data in Swim Guide is sourced from LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here” program.
Visit LAWA’s factsheet on recreational monitoring in NZ here. https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean/
LAWA assigns each site a grade, which is based on the last three years of monitoring data from the site.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH