Aucklanders heading to the beach this summer will have access to more real-time information than ever before, with Auckland Council’s Safeswim programme adding 16 new sites across the region.
The expansion lifts the total number of beaches, lagoons, streams and lakes with water quality information on Safeswim to 163 sites, stretching from Aotea Great Barrier through the Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke, across the east and west coasts and down to Franklin.
Safeswim provides real-time forecasts on water quality, updated every 15 minutes, as well as a wide range of beach safety information. Last summer, Auckland beaches were suitable for swimming 84.5 per cent of the time, and Safeswim achieved 93 per cent accuracy, its highest performance to date.
The website and app show:
water quality conditions and alerts, including wastewater overflow alerts
lifeguard patrol times at Surf Life Saving New Zealand patrolled beaches
hazard warnings, including rip currents, dangerous waves, jellyfish, or shark sightings
beach conditions, including tides, weather, and water temperature
This comprehensive information is to help people make informed choices before entering the water.
New water quality sites for the 2025/26 season include Campbells Bay on the North Shore, Enclosure Bay on Waiheke, Wattle Bay on the Āwhitu Peninsula, Karekare Falls in the Waitākere Ranges, Medlands Beach North and South on Aotea Great Barrier, Brook Beach and Te Toro in Franklin, Lake Rototoa and Maukatia Bay in Rodney, and Sullivans Bay at Mahurangi Regional Park. All have undergone multi-year sampling to meet international performance standards.
Two previously patrolled-only sites - Te Arai Point (Rodney) and Karioitahi Beach (Franklin) - will now show water quality information after monitoring confirmed consistently very good conditions.
Long-term public health warnings are in place for Awana Stream on Aotea Great Barrier and Jenkins Bay near Titirangi, where sampling shows persistent contamination. Investigations into the sources of contamination are under way.
Auckland Council Principal Safeswim Holly Foreman says the addition of new beaches means Aucklanders can now check even more of their favourite swimming spots on Safeswim.
“Safeswim gives people trustworthy, up-to-date information so they can enjoy the water with confidence,” she says.
“Water quality and conditions can change quickly, and those shifts aren’t always visible from the shore. Checking Safeswim before you head out is the best way to stay informed throughout summer.”
Find the latest information at www.safeswim.org.nz or download the Safeswim app.
