The Mayor of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, publicly swam in the ocean to reassure residents after a wastewater treatment plant failure released millions of litres of raw sewage into the sea.

• Over millions of litres of raw sewage have contaminated the waters off Wellington's south coast since February 4.
• Mayor Andrew Little took the dive to signal improved safety, though he cautioned a risk remains.
• A recent storm exacerbated the issue, spraying faecal matter and leaving a "slimy grime" on coastal homes.