What lies beneath
On the best of days Wellington Harbour may look pristine, but delve beneath the surface and it's not as unspoiled as we would like it to be.
Greater Wellington's new study of the harbour's seabed sediments highlights how urban stormwater carries significant concentrations of contaminants, such as heavy metals, oil byproducts and pesticides, into the harbour.
In the more sheltered inner Lambton Basin and Evans Bay, contaminant levels exceed national sediment quality guidelines.
Greater Wellington Regulatory Committee Chair Sally Baber says although the contaminated sediment poses little risk to people, it does affect sea-floor marine life.
"This study is a timely reminder of the need to protect the harbour from further contamination. Runoff from roofs and roads, and chemicals such as paint or oil, are entering the harbour. We all need to be really careful about what we allow to flow down our stormwater drains and gutters."