Oyster Farmers Face Ruin Over Sewage Spills

Government intervention sought after Watercare ‘failure’

Oyster farmers north of **Auckland** are demanding government intervention, reaching a breaking point after years of sewage overflows contaminated their crops. Facing potential business closures, these marine farmers are locked in a seven-year battle with **Watercare** over pollution in the **Mahurangi Harbour**.

Minister Blasts Watercare’s Negligence

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries **Shane Jones** didn’t mince words, asserting that **Watercare** has “failed in their statutory duty of care to the Mahurangi oyster farmers.”

**Jones** further stated, “They are solely responsible for the collapse of the infrastructure that has ruined the businesses of the Mahurangi oyster farmers.” He expressed astonishment that the organization had not offered compensation to the affected farmers.

He is currently exploring governmental options to influence **Watercare**, emphasizing the disparity between the council’s reliance on central government support and the agency’s detrimental impact on local marine farmers. Wastewater contamination can lead to serious health risks, including Norovirus and Hepatitis A (EPA, 2024).

According to **Jones**, “Watercare is a well-heeled organization, they’re not short of capital. What they’re short of, though, is corporate responsibility and obviously, don’t place any importance on the maintenance of a social licence to continue to operate.”

Moreover, **Jones** added, “Their organization should be renamed Zero Care. But more importantly, this is a comment on their culture,” accusing the agency of delaying necessary fixes to the piping system despite long-standing knowledge of its weaknesses.

Oyster Farmers Desperate for Solutions

The oyster farmers report that an upgrade initially slated for 2021 never materialized. In response, **Watercare** claims to have expedited repairs to the wastewater overflow. Chief Executive **Jamie Sinclair** stated they are constructing a new wastewater treatment plant and pump station, while a temporary fix is due in September.

**Sinclair** told Morning Report: “The first part is expediting what I’d call an interim solution, which is an over-pumping solution, which will be in place by the end of August, which will reduce those overflows by about 50%.”

However, **Sinclair** acknowledged that overflows will continue until the completion of the final solution, now expected by the end of 2026, moved forward from a prior timeline of 2028. He expressed sympathy for the impacted farmers but declined to comment on potential lawsuits against **Watercare**.

**Watercare** says they have invested in the community for six years, allocating approximately $450 million towards resolving the overflows at that specific site. The problems began in 2018, when the farmers first raised concerns with **Watercare**.

Health and Financial Impacts

As filter feeders, oysters cleanse harbor pollution, but this puts consumers at risk of food poisoning. **Mahurangi Oysters** farmer **Jim Aitken** has highlighted health risks associated with working in the contaminated farms. According to **Aitken**, workers are “cleaning up their mess and we’re not receiving any support for literally working in human waste.”

**Lynette Dunn**, of **Orata Marine Oysters**, revealed she hasn’t sold locally grown oysters since **Christmas**, forcing her to seek financial aid. **Dunn** is urging Members of Parliament to rescue the $8 million oyster industry, asserting that “They need to start hammering the Prime Minister **Christopher Luxon**, telling him we need some action. The Government’s the only person, or the only identity that’s going to take Watercare on.”

Having run her family business for three decades, **Dunn** says this situation is the most challenging they have faced. Nightly, she worries about sewage entering the harbor, especially with closures now triggered by minimal rainfall or even no rain at all.