Video footage has emerged of a mystery bloom of yellow near the shores of the Blue Lake. Video/Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park
Tikitapu (Blue Lake) took on a new identity overnight as pollen from redwood pines turned the water lapping at the beach edge a brilliant yellow.
Radiata pine forests in New Zealand produce large clouds of pollen every spring.
With the redwood forest as a backdrop to Rotorua, it's inevitable the pollen will be seen in our region.
Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park onsite managers Kelsi Harker and Pat Hira were all set to call Environment Bay of Plenty after their first glimpse of the water this morning, convinced someone had dumped hundreds of litres of yellow paint in the lake.
But further investigation revealed a mass of pollen was responsible.
She described the pollen as very, very thick on the water and said it did look like thick yellow paint.
Photo/Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park
"I'd say the pines dumped the pollen last night and, because of the way the wind is blowing, it came straight to the beach in front of the park.
"During the pollen season you'd normally see patches of yellow on the lake, not the entire pollen dump condensed in one spot. You'd be forgiven for thinking it was sulphur."
Mrs Murray said she hadn't seen anyone approaching the lake for closer inspection and the pollen was slowly dissipating.
"It doesn't look as thick now as it did first thing this morning."
She said the pollen had not caused any problems for people at the park.
"Kelsi is normally quite sensitive to pollen but this hasn't appeared to have caused her any concern."
On the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page readers from as far afield as Okere Falls, Ngongotaha, Kawerau and Whakatane reported large amounts of pollen, many saying their cars were covered in it this morning.
Dr Jim Miller, Toi Te Ora Medial Officer of Health, said pine pollen was more common at this time of the year.
"Although few people tend to be allergic to pine pollen, some individuals may be sensitive to this type of pollen and may need to take care."
While some on Facebook were worried about hay fever and asthma, staff from Pharmacy 44 said they had not had an increase in people seeking medication for any pollen-related symptoms.
Scion, a Crown research institute in Rotorua, produces a pamphlet providing details of pollen and its effects.
Pollen is produced by plants as part of their reproductive cycle over a few weeks in late winter and early spring, and causes an allergic reaction in less than 5 per cent of people. It is more often an irritant.
Pollen facts • Why pine pollen is yellow. It contains compounds called flavonoids that can also be orange or red. Flavonoids protect the pollen from the sun's UV-B radiation and prevent deformities in seeds produced with the pollen. • Pine pollen volume. A mature Pinus radiata tree can produce between 0.5 and 0.75kg of pollen each year. At a typical 400 trees per hectare this is equivalent to up to 300kg per hectare per year. • Pine pollen spread. Wind spread pollen travels less than 700m but in windy areas it will travel further. Pollen that enters waterways can also travel long distances. • Unlikely to damage paintwork. There is no evidence that pollen will corrode paintwork on your car or house. However, it is a good idea to wash pollen off because it can gradually clump together and stick to the paint surface. • Does not damage the environment. Pine pollen is not toxic. It breaks down relatively quickly in the environment.
