WAIKATO RIVER
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: Fisheries Management
Forum Description: Anything to do with fisheries management here please
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=117869
Printed Date: 31 Jan 2026 at 5:22am
Topic: WAIKATO RIVER
Posted By: Lethal
Subject: WAIKATO RIVER
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 8:38pm
PART-TREATED RECONSTITUTED SEWERAGE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER? The above picture is a real image of untreated sewerage in NZ's Waikato/Hamilton Treatment Plant, as it begins its treatment process --- before being treated and later discharged BACK INTO the Waikato River. This same Waikato River (downstream of Hamilton) is now the source of about 20% (and soon to become 50%)of Auckland Region's processed/treated drinking tap water!!! About 17 other cities and towns and villages also put their treated sewerage back into the Waikato River - most before Hamilton's own drinking water intake. Watching the videos on this web site presented by Dr Theo Colburn (see HERE) can educate one about dangers inherent in consuming reconstituted sewerage (no matter how compete or sophisticated the treatment plant or process). Some pollutants simply CANNOT be removed --- and these include hormonal substances that can then disrupt our bodies delicate endocrine systems, with some catastrophic consequences. Another way, in some literature, of more politely describing the above treated and untreated sewerage making up a part of the Waikato River, suggests: "Slightly-modified human wastes are pumped into the river downriver of several towns. The Pukete 2 project, which started in 2002, will upgrade the Waikato treatment waste water plant in a series of stages costing $24 million." Another question left unanswered is what is the level of treatment of sewerage for Cambridge City; and for the multitude of smaller towns along the Waikato River and its many tributories, like the Waipa River (which has the towns of Otorohanga, Pirongia and Whatawhata along its river banks)? Later within this page we report concerns Ngati Maniapoto has with the Waipa River; about its health. The above sewerage picture might help viewers understand, in real terms, what others are trying to process and sterilise and dilute; for reconstitution back into the wider Auckland Region's tap water. Drinking water coming from a seriously polluted river, forms a part of the present day demands of Auckland consumers. Only when consumers change demands, might the source change. By example, Aucklanders could demand that all tap water for drinking and water for drink/food input and for human washing, came from the water dams surrounding Auckland city...and that the Waikato River was used only for other purposes. This would require a dual tap system installed in each home - which might be a consumer cost to ensure reconstituted sewerage was not drunk or used in food/drink manufacturing? Of course, in Hamilton this option might not be possible, due to 100% of Hamilton City's water coming, these days, from the Waikato River. If Aucklanders and Hamiltonians are each fine about them and their babies and children drinking reconstituted ****, then those in authority and the businesses will by all means feed it to them. Such is the system we have created around us all; in this time of human evolution, with many decisions based on consumerism and commercialism. Perhaps many in Auckland and Hamiton Cities do NOT realise they may be drinking treated sewerage/****/urine/hormones/antibiotics/used condoms/legal prescrition drugs and residue of illegal drugs/with perhaps some viruses and protozoa and other toilet wastes of those people living in Hamilton City and Huntly and other cities bordering on the Waikato River. Or are all such unthinkable human excrement by-products satisfactorily or nearly satisfactorily deleted in the waste water processing and sewerage treatment? One man recently stated to our team at the Celevdon markets, that he was ok with Auckland tap water and he fully knew and understood it included reconstituted sewerage---and he closed by saying to us it fulfilled his daily need for fiber! But one can ask---while one may seek fiber- should it not be natures fresh fiber--and not someone else's used product, being reconstituted fiber (and perhaps many other waste by-products) from another persons pooh and urine? Is this REALLY what you agree to drink, and provide for your kids and/or growing foetus? Are drinks or foods made using treated Waikato River water the sort of drink and food you seek to consume? Why can organic branded products be permitted to use water which is compromised and far from organic? The NZ Green Party's senior person Russel Norman has recorded his willingness to drink reconstituted sewerage as a part of the NZ Govt propaganda campaign to try to convince all Aucklanders' to drink it - don't be fooled by any politician making such claims - no matter what party he/she pretends to support! You can read Mr Norman's words about the Waikato River (and the human and cow and other animal **** it includes) on his blog here: https://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/04/29/aucklanders-you-know-youre-drinking-the-waikato-river/" rel="nofollow - https://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/04/29/aucklanders-you-know-youre-drinking-the-waikato-river/ SO HOW BAD IS THE WATER AT THE END OF THE WAIKATO RIVER? THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE MOUTH OF THE WAIKATO TAKEN RECENTLY FROM A PLANE.  REALLY BAD IS THE ANSWER. IT HAS MASSES OF SEDIMENT, LOTS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS THAT FEEDS ALGAL BLOOMS AND HEAPS OF FAECES AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH FAECES SUCH AS BACTERIA AND VIRUSES. THERE ARE ALSO A FAIR BIT OF HEAVY METALS, SOME NATURAL AND SOME ADDED BY CONTACT’S GEOTHERMAL PLANT (THEY ARE ONE OF THE FEW GEOTHERMAL PLANTS THAT DOESN’T RE-INJECT) AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. SOME WAY UPSTREAM OF THE RIVER MOUTH, BY EXAMPLE NEAR AUCKLAND’S WATER INTAKE (40 KMS UPSTREAM), THE LEVEL OF FAECES REGULARLY CAUSE BREACHES OF NZ'S SWIMMING WATER STANDARDS. THE FAECES OR RESIDUAL FAECES REMAINS ARE LARGELY ANIMAL OR HUMAN IN ORIGIN. IN HAMILTON SOME SAY “FLUSH TWICE, AUCKLAND NEEDS THE WATER”. AND IT’S TRUE THAT HAMILTON’S TREATED SEWERAGE GOES INTO THE WAIKATO. BUT SO DOES THE TREATED OR UNTREATED SEWERAGE FROM MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG THE WAIKATO AND ALL IT'S TRIBUTARIES (LIKE POLLUTED WAIPA RIVER) It is widely known that near the Tuakau intake pipes/plant for Auckland's drinking water the Waikato River water quality, based on another criteria of water clarity-turbidity, is BELOW recreational/swimming standards. Refer to this Waikato Regional Council chart outlining this fact: 
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Replies:
Posted By: mowerman
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 8:58pm
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That looks yummy..Glad I have 53,000 litres of rain water which I purify and filter (u/ v sanitised including PH balance at 7).never use town water ,its not safe,chlorine is a big nasty .. Personally I stopped drinking any water from the tap the day they put the pipe line in .. Hamilton's treatment removes 80% of this arsenic, which takes it below allowable levels, but you are still drinking small amounts of arsenic over very many years. Other things the Council checks regularly are: antimony, lead, arsenic, boron, fluoride. Plus heavy metals they cant remove all of them .. Please all Hamilton people ..flush your toilets 3 times ,we need the water
------------- The People Protest Actions Speak Louder Than Words |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:29am
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THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE MOUTH OF THE WAIKATO TAKEN RECENTLY FROM A PLANE. Pollution or just a lot of rain? latter is far more likely thu. Lot guys on the forums here white bait, fish, duck shoot, recreational boating water ski etc, and live near by. |
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:47am
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Never seen the water that color below tuakau.would almost go as far as photo chopped.even in height of summer when river low at mercer it is clear.not crystal but clear
------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: slayliner
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 9:18am
| Yes that photo was taken after a lot of rain that's why I only fish it after a week of no rain |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 9:23am
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u dont fish because of the colour or that the amount of weed and debris coming down ....? |
Posted By: mowerman
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 9:36am
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Regardless. .this River is a sewer from the Huka Falls.human and animal waste being recycled for auckland ------------- The People Protest Actions Speak Louder Than Words |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 10:55am
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Akld doesn't HAVE sufficient water capacity from its dams , that's why they have been forced to take it from the Waikato, remember a few years back in the drought? Where everyone was told to put a brick in their cistern to save water? As for the suggestion of two water feeds to every house, hey, fine by me if aucklanders want to pay for that, typical pie in the sky stupid green suggestion, ripping up every water line in the whole akld area from quay street to the newest subdivision, he'll, it'd only cost twice the proposed spend for that new rail loop thing. Rates? Try doubling them, thank your local Green Party. Is the water crystal clear, mountain Spring clear? No. Is it acceptable under international standards, well, yes. But hey, don't let that spoil a good argument. Am I glad matamata has nice clean water. Yup, pretty much 😊 Also I would point out that by selective use of pictures yet again, this Green Party press release is again telling lies, the Waikato does NOT look like that unless in flood state, but then all rivers do, but such a picture, to those lacking any cynical filters, proves the point, shock horror. It is lying by selective use of pictures that really pees me off, it is so very common for protest type posts. For example, FADs are bad, as they catch whale sharks, see, a photo PROVES it! Except off course, that is a lie, FADs have absolutely zero attraction for whale sharks. Or turtles. Recently a lot of anti commercial fishing posts, especially on fb, have done exactly the same, using selected, old photos of bad things as proof that these are current issues, when they are not. It gives the whole argument to a lie, is easily discreditable all because it seems like such an easy hit job. If Comms wanted to do the same thing to rec fishoes, they could show old pics from thirty years back of guys with trailer loads of recreationaly caught fish, and point those same accusations of wanton waste at US, but funnily enough, they don't. You know why? Because that gives them greater credibility when dealing with politicians, senior bureaucrats etc , whereas the recreational voice gets dismissed as inane teenage level b.s. Sorry, but this use of inappropriate, inaccurate and misleading (lying) pictures really, REALLY annoys me. You can tell can't ya, sorry. ------------- It is only my overwhelming natural humility that mars my perfection. Captain Asparagus, Superhero, Adventurer. |
Posted By: KikBac
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 11:29am
CA for PM 
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Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 12:01pm
 CA. ------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: Barrie
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 12:45pm
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this is also why the alliance of the greens and Labour is a problem for Labour. The green party has a tendency to always find the very worst and dramatise it all indicating that its the norm |
Posted By: Potty
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 1:17pm
 Check the dates on that graph, a significant number of waterways on dairy farms have been fenced since 2009. Great post Lethal, it's not just dairy farmers creating the problem.------------- Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash. http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: mowerman
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 1:28pm
Farming changes needed to restore Waikato River12:11 pm on 23 March 2016
------------- The People Protest Actions Speak Louder Than Words |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:14am
your funny as CA, as i look out my window over the front deck the river is roaring and its 1mts higher than normal plus dirty brown, so if i show you a photo of the the river outside my window looking like this, your climb all over because it was taken during winter |
Capt Asparagus wrote:Posted By: mowerman
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:46am
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If anything they should extend the pipe to south of hamilton .and at least 2 pipes .That would improve the quality of sewage animal and decaying human body leaching . As for the protest over what has happened. .past or present..it is all relevant. Nothing has changed ... Change is going to happen. Only by Unite and become proactive will anything change. Leave it be and they continue to do what they want... Keep us in the dark..those days are over ------------- The People Protest Actions Speak Louder Than Words |
Posted By: kaimaikid
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 10:01am
Yup agree strongly that the Waikato River and many other rivers need a major clean up BUT can't help feeling proud to take a dump in Hamilton now 
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Posted By: Millsy
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 10:20am
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The Manukau Harbor also cops it. Guess where all those billions of tons of fresh water end up (either shat in or other waste), back into the Manukau Harbor. How is billions of tons of fresh water pumped into a saltwater environment a good thing? I know that those river mullet dont fetch the same price as the harbor caught mullet at auction because they taste poor (like mud apparently). I don't think the photo is photo-shopped, you see a lot more from the air. Check out some of the aerial photo's from the outflow at Puketutu Island [in the Manukau].
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Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 10:51am
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I don't think it's photo shopped either Millsy but it certainly looks like the shot was taken after heavy rain. It certainly isn't always like that. Billions of litres of fresh water naturally go into the harbour but that doesn't make deforestation and pollution right. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 11:01am
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WOW makes my tank water taste better every day! Can't quite understand why new housing builds aren't required to install water tanks even if only for grey water usage. Water is rapidly becoming a crucial life commodity yet we don't seem to have a firm plan in place to maximise it's availability, instead numerous sectors just consuming at an unsustainable rate. ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 11:38am
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No lethal, but if you post a icture of the river in flood, and then by expansion imply that it is like this all the time, or that this is a result of a sudden downgrading of the environment or something, well then yeah, that is at best deceptive. I could go to the whitianga estuary 90% of the time thru winter (or summer), stand on the wharf and the water will be clean,...well, cleanish, obviously. But to take a picture after heavy rain when it is like milo, and say "Look! This is the water in the whitianga estuary! This is terrible! This needs fixing!" would be dishonest I think. And impossible to fix too, well, without say two days of fine weather. As I have said many times now, I agree that things are not all well (with many things), but we do ourselves a disservice when we try to use selectively inaccurate or misleading pictures to bolster our arguments. ------------- It is only my overwhelming natural humility that mars my perfection. Captain Asparagus, Superhero, Adventurer. |