West Auckland's Whau River has been contaminated, but it's a mystery exactly what the white substance that caused it is.
Aucklander Mark Ash was working on his boat at Span Farm DIY Slip Yard in Glendene on Monday morning when he noticed the water that flows into the Waitematā Harbour was "severely" contaminated.
"Where I was standing, I could see half a kilometre each way up and down the creek, and the whole thing was whited out," he told Newshub.
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He suggested the discolouration might have been caused by white paint, because it didn't dilute quickly.
"I at first thought that it was milk, but then as I watched it running out I could see there was a heavy pigment trace," he said, noting that milk would dilute "almost immediately".
Mr Ash said he contacted Auckland Council about the water contamination, and an Auckland Council Pollution Response team was seen arriving at the scene.
Newshub has contacted Auckland Council for comment.
"The issue now is that the tide has turned, so it's all been swept back up the creek," said Mr Ash, explaining that the area of water he saw no longer appears as white since the tide came in and because it has diluted.
Mr Ash speculates the contamination could have come from industrial area at the bottom of Great North Rd.
The Whau River flows from New Lynn past Kelston, Glendene and down to Te Atatu South.
Newshub.
