Tukituki at Black Bridge (Haumoana)

The  large river catchment drains the Ruataniwha Plains area in Central Hawke's Bay right down past Te Mata Peak to the coast. The catchment is largely in pastoral agriculture, horticulture and viticulture.  The river enters an estuarine environment at Haumoana.

As well as being monitored for suitability for swimming it is monitored separately for fresh water quality & ecology. However as this is a saline part of the river, interpretation of the ecological data may be affected by salt water.