Waikawa Newsletter February 2024
Kia ora koutou kātoa,
E hia kē mai nei ngā manu! — What a lot of birds! The estuary is a delight this summer, with so many birds feeding and relaxing.
The other day, for example, close to the water there were a couple of dozen Kuaka | Godwits, a small flock of white-fronted Terns, half a dozen Banded Dotterels and several NZ Dotterels — one might have been a well-grown chick — along with various other gulls, lots of Oystercatchers (and one growing chick), pied stilts, shags, ducks, swallows.
On recent visits I've also seen a Spoonbill, a White-faced Heron, a Nationally Vulnerable Taranui | Caspian Tern and a whole flock of pigeons.
Newly identified birds include a Nationally Endangered Tarapirohe | Black-fronted Tern and a Declining Tarāpuka | Black-billed Gull.
Our estuary makes a good halfway point with rich feeding for birds flying the 45 Km between Foxton and Waikanae Estuaries.
In sad news though a dead Little Penguin appeared on the beach a week or two back, encircled by 'donuts' created by one or more vehicles. It seemed in good condition, apart from being dead.
Another unusual visitor was a Blokart that had come up from Ōtaki. That looked like a fun ride.
A local told me about going for a swim a few weeks ago, at Waikawa Beach when they were swept away by a rip current. It was a very scary experience, but luckily friends were able to assist.
Apparently some 600 years ago a massive tsunami slammed into the North Island’s west coast transforming the landscape and pushing the Māori occupants inland.
By 1821 though, Te Rauparaha had set up a Pā at Waikawa Beach. In 1826 he gave formal occupancy of Waikawa to Ngāti Tamatātai/Wehi Wehi and a settlement grew up by the Manga Pirau Lagoon where the Waikawa River joined with the Ōhau River at the time. However, during a massive earthquake in 1885 (sic) the lagoon was completely drained. There's more information in the links below.
Note: I believe the earthquake date quoted above might have been a typo — it was probably the huge 1855 quake. See: A terrible state of confusion, in 1855.
Of more immediate concern than an ancient tsunami is how dry it's been around here.
If your rainwater tank is running low with all this dry you might be interested to know that Reggie has sold his Aquagold water supply business. The new owner lives up the back of Manakau though, so it's still pretty local.
We're in a phase of high fire danger that even the solid 10 mm fall the other night and few mm since won't have relieved. FENZ have asked people not to light any fires. A warning sign has appeared along Waikawa Beach Road not far from SH1.
As for the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1 locals are frustrated. NZTA installed that island to stop northbound traffic from using the shoulder as a lane to slip into Waikawa Beach Road. Now drivers have to hold their lane which means some of the northbound traffic, instead of slowing, simply moves right to overtake on the intersection itself. That's specially scary for any southbound traffic wanting to turn right into Waikawa Beach Road.
It doesn't help that road markings haven't been restored and are very faded.
Locals have corresponded repeatedly with NZTA about this and fresh road markings are promised as a "priority".
Meanwhile the speed limit on the stretch of road between roughly Forest Lakes and the Ōtaki Expressway has increased to 100 Kph.
Horizons Regional Council aims "to provide a connected and efficient land transport system that is more resilient, reduces the impact of transport on the environment, and is safe for users." They're looking for input.
Soon they'll be consulting on their Annual / Long-Term plan. This season the E. Coli water monitoring tests at the footbridge have returned an expected 6 green, outweighed by 5 orange and 5 red. Horizons Regional Council are the ones to follow-up with on this. We need to get cleaning up our river into their Plans.
"Have Your Say" is a dominant theme for the next few months too as Councils review their Annual and Long-Term Plans. HDC's consultation will start in mid-March 2024.
HDC are warning that we face a rates increase of 17.4% and that's with reduced services.
A recent query to HDC established that there are roughly 424 properties that lie west of Takapu Road — one rough definition of Waikawa Beach, though some within those boundaries see themselves as being part of Manakau.
In the last couple of years we ratepayers, via HDC, spent almost $123,000 on the Investigation into Waikawa Beach vehicle access.
One urgent requirement for HDC to consider is the ongoing and heavy erosion at the beach end of Manga Pirau Street. It is now routine for high tides, heavy river flow and strong winds to sweep away sand from this part of the estuary. In the past this has been aggravated by frequent vehicle use.
Based on past patterns what's left of the track through private land could be all gone within the term of the Long-term Plan (in about 15 to 20 years).
If the private landowners along that stretch were willing, it would be smart for HDC to invest in planting spinifex and Pīngao, and reducing erosion opportunities.
Unfortunately several square metres of spinifex planted last year down by the groyne have been killed off by vehicles driving along an unconsented track past the tape barrier, through the plants and dunes, along HDC-owned land and directly to the back of one Manga Pirau Street property.
It's so disappointing to see this casual and flagrant disregard of work the community is doing to protect the environment.
Further up the river, near the footbridge, there was weed spraying of a pest plant called Spartina earlier this month.
Submissions to the Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access consultation closed on 20 February 2024. One person who sent in their submission almost at 4 pm had a response number in the very high 400s. It seems likely HDC received nearly 500 submissions. That's a lot to sort through to inform the discussions Councillors will hold at the meeting on 20 March 2024.
One thing is very clear though, supported by the very hit-and-miss Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association Survey that was sent to some members of Waikawa Beach: the community is absolutely polarised on the question of vehicle access to Waikawa Beach. The survey showed that some 37% of those who received and chose to answer it opposed restoring vehicle access.
There was some degree of concern for people with mobility issues to be able to get onto the beach. This would be a good opportunity for HDC to create a first-class pedestrian access, with a firm surface and perhaps support rails for those unsteady on their feet or perhaps trying to get a baby buggy or fishing gear onto the beach with a cart. There are several opportunities for HDC to achieve this. Some people though may still need to drive to the nearby Ōtaki or Hokio Beaches if they have greater needs.
It would be a good thing to submit to HDC's Long-Term Plan requesting first-class pedestrian access at Waikawa Beach.
One local issue that isn't for HDC to deal with but which is of huge concern to many in the community is the climate of general angst that has been created in the last months (years even) at Waikawa Beach.
South Reay Mackay Grove track sign: Strictly No Motorised Vehicles Allowed.
Some vehicle owners are so insistent on getting their vehicles onto Waikawa Beach that they have created illegal tracks, caused HDC to be forced to install concrete bollards, taken over the pedestrian-only track at the south end of Reay Mackay Grove, destroying vegetation, chainsawing off an inconvenient post and ignoring the numerous signs HDC erected pointing out that vehicles aren't allowed on the tracks.
In public fora, such as the Waikawa Beach Facebook Group, in private emails and in personal encounters some vehicle owners have practiced verbal abuse and bullying, intimidation and attempts to silence anyone who might voice a contrary opinion. In the most classic of moves they then blame those they are bullying.
It is, of course, clear that if only the person being bullied were to remove themselves then they wouldn't need to be bullied.
The bullying and intimidation had at least one effect: it kept some people from making a submission to HDC because they knew their name would be made public and they feared retaliation. HDC at the last moment decided to keep all names and details secret because people had voiced their concerns about bullying. That will have meant though that some people's voices weren't heard.
When bullying and intimidation fail then there is a last resort: money.
Pied Stilt stands guard on 3 juveniles.
While there are many costs to allowing vehicles onto the beach — other beach users sacrifice quiet and safe enjoyment, and wildlife loses opportunities for safe feeding, breeding and resting, which may cost the lives of the birds or seals — one important cost is the physical work in reconstructing access (along with resource consents).
One group called Keep Vehicle Access at Waikawa Beach, Choice to Walk, Horse ride or Drive has made an offer to HDC to cover this cost. Their ideas for protecting wildlife and birds are to erect signage and educate people. Both are strategies that have proven 100% unsuccessful in the past. Signs will also not help anyone trying to have some quiet time on the beach alone, with dogs or kids or both. All the education in the world won't stop birds from being alarmed and distracted from feeding as vehicles go past.
It seems clear that whatever Councillors decide at the next meeting, the bullying and intimidation won't stop. Even if HDC decide to restore vehicle access it won't be immediate as there are many time-consuming steps to the process. Based on past behaviour, some vehicle owners will continue to create illegal tracks and use tracks reserved for pedestrians and to abuse anyone who tries to point out that they are breaking the law.
If the vehicle access is restored it will soon wash out, as it frequently does, and some drivers will return to the illegal tracks. Some will simply use them any time they feel like it.
One really important consideration is that the land at the end of Manga Pirau Street is privately owned. The owners need to give HDC the go-ahead whether that's for no access for anyone, access for pedestrians (and perhaps horses) or access for vehicles. At the moment it seems the owners haven't yet confirmed their wishes.
In a private conversation one local expressed concern to me at the deep division in the Waikawa Beach community and asked how we can ever come back from it. I certainly have no idea, but it is something we could all turn our thoughts to.
Perhaps a quiet and relaxing walk on the beach would help with our thinking?
Two kuaka | godwits in breeding colours in Waikawa Beach estuary, February 2024.
Links
- Who are all those birds in the Estuary?
- Good news for birds this summer
- Juvenile Black-fronted Tern
- Rare visitor - Little Blue Penguin
- The Blokart on the beach
- Rip current at Waikawa Beach
- Maybe 600 years ago a huge tsunami hit Kāpiti and Taranaki coasts
- Te Rauparaha Pā at Waikawa, 1821-1823
- Local Businesses and Groups
- High fire danger, January 2024
- Ōtaki to Ohau road construction update, January 2024
- Higher speed to Ōtaki; intersection road markings
- Waikawa Beach Road intersection road markings planned, February 2024
- Have your say on Regional Land Transport Plan 2024 by 11 March 2024
- In March 2024 we need to ask for cleaner river water
- Likely rates increase of 17.4%
- 424 properties at Waikawa Beach pay rates to HDC
- Investigation into Waikawa Beach vehicle access cost ratepayers almost $123,000
- Our frequent estuary erosion should feature in the Council Long-Term Plan
- Spartina weed spraying by the river, 19 February to 08 March 2024
- Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access consultation — have your say
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Subantarctic Fur Seal rests on Waikawa Beach.
Me te aroha,
Miraz Jordan
kiaora@waikawanews.nz
WaikawaNews: https://waikawanews.nz
aims to provide accurate and factual information on matters of interest to the local community. And to share photos of and information about local wildlife and landscapes.