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A dead horse on the seafront at Whakatane has caused a bit of a stink but the local council says it's not that uncommon.
The horse washed up on to rocks at Whakatane Heads on Tuesday, Rotorua's Daily Post newspaper reported.
Badly decomposed, it was not possible to determine how the animal died and the regional council Environment Bay of Plenty took it to the town's landfill.
Council pollution hotline manager Steve Pickles told the newspaper it was fairly common to see dead livestock floating down the Whakatane River.
"When we have big storms we can have half a dozen bodies of dead livestock washed up around the region, either on beaches or the edge of the river."
Mr Pickles said the Whakatane River was tidal, meaning few contaminants would be left in the river.
"The odour is the worst part of it. Any bacteria around where it lay would dissipate. I doubt it is a health hazard as long as it is disposed of quickly."
- NZPA
