Blue Spring closed to swimming

The Blue Spring along the popular Te Waihou Walkway track close to Putāruru is closed to swimming. The stairs have been closed off and a sign advising visitors not to swim in the spring is in place.

"The recent summer period saw significant numbers of visitors and locals visiting Te Waihou Walkway and swimming in the Blue Spring and surrounding river. This has had a negative impact on the vegetation in the riverbed and on the banks as well as the visual amenity," said Kerry Fabrie, Council's Communications Manager.

"Te Puna (the Blue Spring) is a natural taonga formed through the special and delicate merger of geology, ecology, freshwater biology and geography, over many hundreds of thousands of years," said Vanessa Eparaima, Chair of Raukawa Settlement Trust. "It is of great cultural significance to Raukawa. We need to work together to protect the Puna and environment. We encourage all visitors to take in the beauty of this area and enjoy its pristine waters, but please refrain from swimming within the Puna."

Council's intention is to reduce use of the Te Waihou Walkway from the Leslie Road end. To that end Council will also not permit mobile food traders at the Leslie Road entrance, the fence line will soon be shifted to the legal front boundary which will reduce the number of parking places and no additional temporary or permanent toilets will be installed. Visitors are encouraged to access Te Waihou Walkway from the Whites Road end on State Highway 28.

Council has been in discussions with Raukawa its community, visitors, the Department of Conservation and Waikato Regional Council. Council intends to develop a co-management plan with Raukawa and other parties for Te Waihou, working with interested parties in the community. This plan will also include the identification of alternative places for swimming.

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