Sewage spills are often seen as short-term public health crises. But the ecological impacts can be lasting, especially if combined with marine heatwaves and storms.

When the plant failed on February 4, sewage backed up in the main outfall pipeline and flooded the lower floors of the facility. For two days, raw sewage was released from an outfall only five metres from shore at one of the capital city’s most popular kaimoana (seafood) gathering sites.