Why New Zealand's beaches are turning red - Spyridia filamentosa

Local divers and surfers have also reported seeing the seaweed deep beneath the water. Photo / Supplied

Algae believed to be Spyridia filamentosa are responsible for a thick red layer of goop that has formed on some of New Zealand's most popular summer beaches.

A number of beaches in Northland have been affected, including Waipu Cove, Langs Beach, Oakura and Te Haumi.

Langs Beach resident Colin Harvey said the algae were so thick at one end of the beach, at least two tractors had gotten stuck in the red sludge.

"They try and manoeuvre around it and it just sucks them in. It's incredible, it just turns the sand to glug."

Red seaweed at Matarangi beach in the Coromandel. Photo / Amber Smart

Mr Harvey said that at Langs Beach, the algal sludge had been accumulating on the shore for about a week.

"It came and it was a big patch; it would have been three or four acres of red bloom stuff growing in the water," he said.

Northland Regional Council spokesman Colin Dall said nuisance quantities of micro algae and seaweed were common in New Zealand and the algae in Northland were not believed to be dangerous to people or animals, although he did concede the smelly odour they created made the beach less enjoyable to be at.

"The red seaweed currently affecting the beach is believed to be Spyridia filamentosa,"said Mr Dall.

"This is second occasion that large quantities of seaweed have washed up onto Waipu Cove beach since late November."

The council had also received reports of build-ups of seaweed on Oakura and Te Haumi beaches, he said.

Local divers and surfers have also reported seeing the seaweed deep beneath the water. Photo / Supplied

He said Northland Regional Council was trying to obtain resource consent to help manage the recurring problem.

"Given recent events at Waipu Cove and because some other beaches in Northland have been affected by nuisance build-ups of seaweed in the past, the council is looking into obtaining a resource consent to manage the removal of build-ups of seaweed from beaches where those build-ups are causing a nuisance."

Windy weather and a southerly drift in the bay were likely causes for the algae's build-up at Waipu cove, Mr Dall said.

Langs Beach. Photo / Colin Harvey

"The stormy weather over New Year may have contributed to the recent bloom of the seaweed in Bream Bay by up-welling nutrients that the seaweed use to grow."

He added the strong El Nino weather pattern New Zealand was experiencing could be a contributing factor.