An estimated two million mussel shells are covering a Waiheke Island beach after they were washed ashore by stormy seas.
Auckland Council says the shells at Onetangi Beach are more than a metre deep in places.
Waiheke Island Local Board chair Faye Storer says that while they are an inconvenience, they are not a health hazard.
However, some businesses have complained, saying the smelly shells are driving customers away.
The council is planning a major clean-up at the weekend.
