Kiwis are being warned not to eat shellfish from the Kawhia region of Waikato after paralytic toxins were detected in the area.
In severe cases, eating the toxin could be fatal.
Symptoms after consuming the toxin usually set in within 10 minutes to three hours. These can include numbness and tingling around the mouth, face, hands and feet; difficulty swallowing or breathing; dizziness and headache; nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea; paralysis and respiratory failure.
"Routine tests on mussels from Kawhia wharf have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit," NZ Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said. "Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin.
"We are monitoring an Alexandrium pacificum bloom off this region that has been around for the past month... Generally, the more algae there are in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get."
A broad area of the North Island's west coast is affected.
"The warning extends from Papanui Point, just south of Raglan, to Tirua Point, south of Marokopa. The warning also includes Kawhia and Aotea harbours," Arbuckle said.
"Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick.
"Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat's eyes), Cook's turban and kina (sea urchin)."
Nobody has reported being ill as a result of the toxin so far, New Zealand Food Safety said.
Finfish from the region are not affected.
"We are monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation," Arbuckle said.
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