Paddling, swimming, surfing and fishing ... Gisborne city’s rivers and beaches were back in business on Friday after the lifting of health warnings put in place as a result of Boxing Day rain.

A MetService spokesman told the Gisborne Herald on Friday that the Thursday rainfall pushed the city’s December rainfall total to 206.9mm. The previous record was 204mm set in 1954.

Here are the best lakes and rivers across the United States, from rivers for tubing to the best lakes for swimming. Skipping the US Travel 2025 🌴 This country's safest A spotlight on America ...

In the United States, many urban rivers are so polluted that swimming in them is illegal. But efforts to clean them are underway in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities.