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Instagram model hits back after backlash over 'disrespectful' photo

An Australian Instagram model has hit back at criticism over a photo of herself at a tranquil stream in New Zealand, at which many believed swimming was banned.

"There's no better way to travel [than] to stumble across these gems unexpectedly. Not a single soul in sight or a piece of rubbish - my idea of perfection," Cleo Codrington wrote two weeks ago.

She and her partner Mitch Cox are currently travelling through the country. The Instagram-famous pair are known for their travel snaps, many taken at off the beaten path locations around the world.

Though the picture of the crystal clear waters surrounded by lush greenery was not geotagged other than broadly “New Zealand”, Instagram users were quick to attack Ms Codrington for swimming in what they believed to be the protected Te Waihou Blue Springs.

The Blue Springs, which supplies around 70 per cent of New Zealand's bottled water, was closed off to swimmers in August 2016. The ban was a result of water users having a "negative impact" on the vegetation in the riverbed and on the banks, Stuff.co.nz reported at the time.

“Is this the blue springs? I thought getting into the waters is prohibited over [there]... have they lifted it now??” one eagle eyed commenter wrote.

Another added: "There is a reason it's this clean. It's sacred and a sign of disrespect to papatuanuku to swim here”.

Ms Codrington denied it was the banned location, initially saying: “nah it’s not even near there, you can’t swim at Blue Springs 😘 a secret spot we found elsewhere.”

However many believed the Instagram influencer to be mistaken.

“All of NZ thinks otherwise. Really hope you weren't swimming in the blue springs,”another wrote.

Following the backlash, which was reported by the NZ Herald, Ms Codrington responded to the criticism claiming she and her partner were not at Blue Springs, but another idyllic location that was not closed off to swimmers.

“Hey guys! No need to think I’m lying/assume I’m doing something that I completely am against. (We didn’t even get to blue springs at all.) this is a little gem near Tarawera out of Rotorua.. the reason I don’t want to say is maybe so it doesn’t end up like Blue Springs? The last thing the environment needs is another overpopulated hot spot 🙌🏽❤️,” she wrote in a comment.

"Please don't listen to untrue articles written about me. This was at the Tarawera Falls River NOT Blue Springs. 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."

In the caption of a follow-up picture of her swimming in sparkling waters, Ms Codrington shared another longer statement, further defending her choice of swimming hole.

She wrote that she left off the geotag to prevent the quiet and idyllic location from becoming “overrun and abused” like Blue Springs.

Again, she reiterated the photo location was “not Blue Springs, but a completely unrelated river system and area in NZ”.

The influencer added that she and her partner had permission from the locals and owners to swim there.

Many of her 136,000 followers expressed support for Ms Codrington, believing she would not have broken the law just for a picture.

"Cleo ignore all these negative comments, I 100% know that you and Mitch are environmentally aware and respectful to the sites you visit and am thankful that you don't tag all the locations in order to preserve them," one wrote.

The backlash came as a number of Instagram influencers were criticised for the misuse of the #PrayforSriLanka hashtag, which is being used to share photographs and messages of support following the bombing tragedy. However many influencers have been accused of misusing the hashtag and taking advantage of it trending.

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