A million dollar compensation deal with Watercare is only short-term relief for Auckland oyster farmers, who've lost income from a massive sewage spill in the Mahurangi River. 

The issue caused by a power surge at the Warkworth pump station has meant an almost month-long halt on harvesting. 

Watercare's now paid out one million dollars to Aquaculture New Zealand for distribution to 10 impacted oyster farmers. 

Matakana Oysters owner Tom Walters told Mike Hosking they’re feeling relieved, but it’s only a start. 

He says this cheque is just for the event that happened two weeks ago, and the payout would need to be much larger to fix the damage caused by the spillages that happened throughout the year due to outdated infrastructure. 

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