Please note our Whitianga office will be closed to the public on Tuesday, 16 September and Wednesday, 17 September 2025. You can still contact our staff on freephone 0800 800 401 or via an online form.

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  1. Environment »
  2. Water

Can I Swim Here?

Land, Air, Water Aotearoa is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of recreational water quality information for New Zealand. Find the best places to swim this summer for over 740 beach, river and lake sites throughout Aotearoa. Results are updated throughout the day, so you can see the latest water quality information to decide where to swim.

Can I Swim Here?

River level and rainfall readings

Waikato Regional Council’s automated recorder sites constantly check on river levels and rainfall around the region. The information is sent electronically to our Hamilton office, and the information on this website is updated every 3 hours.

See the latest readings

What we do and in the community

Water means something to everyone. Find out more about what we’re doing to improve water quality, and the awesome mahi that local volunteers and businesses are doing to protect what’s important to them.

Water quality

See water quality monitoring data for the Waikato region on the LAWA website.

Rivers

Find out about the rivers and streams that give the Waikato region much of its distinctive character.

Lakes

The Waikato region has more than 100 lakes, ranging from small ponds to the largest lake in New Zealand, Taupō-nui-a-Tia (Lake Taupō).

Wetlands

Learn about the wetlands we have in the Waikato and the biodiversity they support.

Groundwater

Groundwater makes up about 90 percent of our region’s freshwater resource, and is used for drinking, industry, agriculture and horticulture.

Algal blooms

Algae can flourish in our waterways during hot and fine conditions. Most algae are harmless, but high levels of some species may be toxic and blooms may result in health warnings being issued.

Water allocation

Find out about authorised water allocation and the resource consenting process.

Stormwater

Find out more about how we manage stormwater in the Waikato.

Water enquiries

Want to know who to talk to about a water-related issue? Waikato Regional Council is responsible for some but not all water-related issues. It's possible that your local city or district council are the people to talk to. Find out a little bit more about the wonderful water-related things we don't do.

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