North Auckland oyster farmers believe a million dollar payout from Watercare isn't enough to cover their reputational loss. 

A power surge at the Warkworth pump station caused a massive sewage spill in the Mahurangi River, meaning an almost month-long halt to harvesting. 

Watercare's payout to Aquaculture New Zealand will be distributed across 10 impacted oyster farmers. 

Mahurangi Oyster Farmers' Association Chair Lynette Dunn told Ryan Bridge you can't put a price on not being able to harvest good quality oysters. 

She says stories about the wastewater issues mean all oyster farmers in the area have had their reputations damaged. 

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