The Parnell sewer leak in Auckland also caused a flow-on effect of about $3 million in lost social and environment costs per day.  

A massive sinkhole opened up on St George’s Bay Road in September, spewing millions of litres of raw sewage into the Waitemata Harbour every day. 

The Institute of Economic Research says the total cost of the 50-day spillage ranges between $50 million and $166 million. 

Lead author Michael Bealing told Mike Hosking that part of it is lost recreation in the harbour.  

He says that was determined by surveys of people's activities there. 

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• Auckland sinkhole: Independent review set to find out the cause