Porangahau Beach

Porangahau, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ

12 miles of golden sand stretches along the South Pacific Ocean at Porangahau Beach. The name comes from the Māori language meaning night (po) retreat (rangahau). This beach is close to the mouth of the Porangahau River. Both locations are know as great places to swim, fish and play water sports.

The beach is also close to a hill named Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turi­pukakapiki­maunga­horo­nuku­pokai­whenua­kitanatahu, or Taumata by locals. It is the second longest place name in the world.

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 5th, 2018. 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:   
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Porangahau Beach is sampled weekly from January 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Scientists from Hawkes Bay Regional Council monitor 37 coastal sites, rivers and lakes from November 1- March 30. Sites are tested on a weekly basis.

Click on sites in the map below and the data will be displayed in the window. You can also phone 0800 B4Uswim for weekly results or visit the website here: http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Services/Environment/Water/Pages/rec-water-quality.aspx

Coastal sites are tested for enterococci levels. Beaches with elevated levels of bacteria are test more regularly.

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.

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of <140 enterococci/100 mL and has a rank of GREEN.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of >140 enterococci/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.

You can report pollution concerns by calling 0800 108 838 and by using our Report Pollution tool on Swim Guide.

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

Porangahau Beach

Porangahau, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ
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 5th, 2018. 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:   

12 miles of golden sand stretches along the South Pacific Ocean at Porangahau Beach. The name comes from the Māori language meaning night (po) retreat (rangahau). This beach is close to the mouth of the Porangahau River. Both locations are know as great places to swim, fish and play water sports.

The beach is also close to a hill named Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turi­pukakapiki­maunga­horo­nuku­pokai­whenua­kitanatahu, or Taumata by locals. It is the second longest place name in the world.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Porangahau Beach is sampled weekly from January 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Scientists from Hawkes Bay Regional Council monitor 37 coastal sites, rivers and lakes from November 1- March 30. Sites are tested on a weekly basis.

Click on sites in the map below and the data will be displayed in the window. You can also phone 0800 B4Uswim for weekly results or visit the website here: http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Services/Environment/Water/Pages/rec-water-quality.aspx

Coastal sites are tested for enterococci levels. Beaches with elevated levels of bacteria are test more regularly.

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.

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of <140 enterococci/100 mL and has a rank of GREEN.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of >140 enterococci/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.

You can report pollution concerns by calling 0800 108 838 and by using our Report Pollution tool on Swim Guide.

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



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