People in Napier are being told to avoid all contact with water from Ahuriri Estuary, after high levels of E. coli were found in the water.

The contamination is being blamed on last week's heavy rain, and the resulting wastewater discharge.

Hawke's Bay District Health Board is warning people not to swim, or collect shellfish from the area.

It says the contaminated water poses a risk of infections in the stomach, skin, eyes and ears.