Warnings were very recently put in place for Kohimarama Beach and St Heliers Beach and several beaches in the Waitākere region are off limits.
Earlier there were over 50 beaches with a red alert on the Safeswim website.
Water quality models predict levels of faecal bacteria that exceed national guidelines for swimming.
Meanwhile Canterbury rivers were tagged with warnings several weeks ago.
On 23 December Canterbury DHB’s Community and Public Health unit issued a health warning for Waikirikiri/Selwyn River at Chamberlains Ford.
The warning follows finding moderate to high cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the Waikirikiri/Selwyn River at Chamberlains Ford.
People should avoid the area and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted.
There are also other access points along the Waikirikiri/Selwyn River at Chamberlains Ford that may have benthic cyanobacteria present.
Caution Advised
People are advised to treat every low-flowing river cautiously, check for the presence of benthic cyanobacteria and avoid contact.
A week earlier Canterbury District Health Board’s Community and Public Health unit issued a health warning for the Waiau River at Waiau Bridge.
On December 1 a warning was issued for the Waimakariri Rivers.
In mid-November the public was advised of toxic algae in the Selwyn River at Glentunnel.
On December 10 warnings were issued for the Pareora and Hurunui Rivers at state highway one.
The list goes on and in South Canterbury warnings were earlier made for the Hakataramea, Opihi and Waihao Rivers.
The water situation with polluted beaches and algae polluted rivers is disgraceful. Politicians should be ashamed. Successive governments have failed the environment and the people.