More animal carcasses have been found in Tauranga's Wairoa River this week, following illegal dumping along the riverbank last month.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has removed three deer carcasses dumped upstream from popular whitebaiting areas.
About two and a half tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish, which included sheep carcasses, tyres, batteries, engines, computers and car parts, was recovered from the river in mid-August.
Regional Council Pollution Prevention Team Leader Annabelle Ellis said the deer may have been taken for meat, as the carcasses were butchered.
"The people dumping rubbish and animal carcasses have no regard for the people who use the river as a food source.