Shellfish biotoxin alert for Hawke’s Bay
New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from Hawke Bay.
What you need to know:
- Hawke Bay locals are advised by New Zealand Food Safety not to collect/consume shellfish gathered from Hawke Bay due to the presence of toxins.
- Routine tests on mussels from Pania Reef in Napier have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit.
- The warning extends from Cape Kidnappers, north to Mohaka River.
- Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxins.
- Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
- Products sold in supermarkets and shops will not be of risk.
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:
numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
difficulty swallowing or breathing
dizziness and headache
nausea and vomiting
diarrhoea
paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death.
If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued:
- Phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately.
- Contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.7% Second half of November
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43.6% 1st December
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17.4% A week before Christmas
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33.2% Whenever you wish
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
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