Australian Instagram model is slammed over photos of her ‘illegally swimming in a pristine natural spring’ – but she claims she was actually 120km away at a different ‘secret spot’
- Instagram model Cleo Codrington was accused of swimming in a scared spring
- She sparked outrage over images taken while travelling around New Zealand
- People thought she had taken a dip in Blue Springs, where swimming in banned
An Instagram model has faced fierce backlash after posting an image where she appears to be posing in a sacred spring where swimming is banned.
Australian couple Cleo Codrington and Mitch Cox have posted multiple images of iconic tourist spots while travelling around New Zealand this month.
However, their recent series of pictures featuring Ms Codrington wading through crystal clear waters surrounded by lush greenery have landed the pair in hot water.
Australian couple, Cleo Codrington (pictured) and Mitch Cox, have posted multiple images of iconic tourist spots while travelling around New Zealand
This is the image that sparked controversy as Cleo Codrington (pictured) appears to be posing in New Zealand’s Blue Springs, where swimming is banned
Australian couple, Cleo Codrington and Mitch Cox (both pictured) claim they had been swimming in a different river
Social media users were outraged as the pictures appear to have been taken in Blue Springs, in New Zealand’s North Island.
Swimming in Te Waihou Blue Spring, in the South Waikato, has been banned since 2016 as it has a ‘negative impact on the vegetation in the riverbed and on the banks’.
‘Please NEVER swim there. That spring is sacred,’ one person commented.
‘Swimming in sacred waters to sell necklaces?’ another comment read.
‘So sad to see you posting a photo of the Blue Springs, Putaruru. Not only are you swimming somewhere that is taonga (treasure) but you’re posting it on social media- encouraging others to do the same. Learn to respect the whenua of Aotearoa (family of New Zealand)!’
Swimming in Te Waihou Blue Spring, in the South Waikato, has been banned since 2016 as it has a ‘negative impact on the vegetation in the riverbed and on the banks’
Cleo Codrington and Mitch Cox (both pictured) have a combined 245,000 Instagram followers
Ms Codrington and Mr Cox have hit back, claiming they had been in a different river more than 120km away.
‘This was at the Tarawera Falls River NOT Blue Springs’ Ms Codrington shared with her 132,000 Instagram followers.
‘I didn’t want to reveal the location because I’m a big believer in preserving the hidden gems and the environment, not all places should be geotagged.
‘The last thing the environment needs is another overpopulated hotspot.’
Tarawera Falls is in the Bay of Plenty region, and is a popular hiking spot for both locals and tourists.
The couple post images of their travel adventures, which has included Vanuatu, Western Australia and New Zealand
‘This was at the Tarawera Falls River NOT Blue Springs’ Ms Codrington shared with her 132,000 Instagram followers
Ms Codrington said she didn’t want to reveal the location because she is a ‘big believer in preserving the hidden gems’