Information on the water quality of 350 beaches around New Zealand is now accessible on-line, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

It comes as part of an initiative between regional councils, Cawthron Institute, Ministry for the Environment and the Tindall Foundation.

The LAWA website gives beach goers access to water quality information for 350 beaches across New Zealand. Photo: File

'I want the millions of New Zealanders who go to the beach to swim, surf and play to have access to good information on water quality,” says Dr Smith. 'It enables people to stay healthy and raises awareness of the importance of improving our water quality.”

The website LAWA, which stands for Land, Air, Water Aoteroa, is a national monitoring website that was launched in March of this year.

It started with monitoring data of over 1100 river sites around New Zealand and is today being extended to coastal waters.

'New Zealand beaches generally have good water quality for swimming with 64% having low or very low risk, 22% an acceptable standard and 14% having high risk.

'LAWA will provide weekly beach monitoring data and seasonal indictors.”

'This initiative is part of the Government's proWater quality gramme of improving information on the quality of our environment."

Dr Smith says next year they will be passing a new Environmental Reporting Act through Parliament to expand the quality and quantity of data.

This work is about giving integrity to New Zealand's clean green brand and highlighting areas where communities need to do better in managing water quality, says Dr Smith.

To view the Land Air Water Aotearoa website visit www.lawa.org.nz