In the past 24 hours reports of six people suffering from toxic shellfish poisoning have been received by the Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health.
Each person affected had eaten shellfish collected from the coastline which has a current health warning.
Dr Jim Miller, Medical Officer of Health, would like to remind the public that this health warning due to shellfish toxins along part of Bay of Plenty coastline is still in place.
"I've had reports that people have been continuing to eat shellfish and have felt unwell after doing so. The toxins can make people very ill and I strongly advise not collecting or consuming shellfish from any part of the affected area," Dr Miller said.
"These are the first cases we have had reported since the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) outbreak in the Bay of Plenty in late 2012. The PSP toxin levels in shellfish from this area are rising and I urge people to heed the warning and make sure that their visitors and friends are aware."