Waikawa Newsletter June 2022
Kia ora koutou kātoa,
with snow making an appearance on the Tararuas today for the first time this season, the feature of the last 4 weeks has been storms and their effects. We've had a bit of everything: gales, loads of thunderstorms, rain, hail, sunny spells, high tides, huge swells in the open sea.
The combination of factors cut off the Manga Pirau Street vehicle track again, and Horowhenua District Council have blocked the entrance completely with concrete slabs.
Hank Edwards Reserve was flooded in the bottom corner and that area was covered in driftwood.
The beach in general is covered in driftwood, big and small — even into the new spinifex plantings by the north track. Further south driftwood was thrown up into the dunes.
One very notable event (series) was a long powercut, after a mammoth thunderclap and lightning bolt seemingly right overhead:
Power out almost 19 hours 13 to 14 June 2022
Power off again 15 June 2022
That second power cut lasted less than an hour, and there was also an outage on 16 June, but that may well just have been a blip — I was out and only saw when I came home that the oven had been off (it helpfully locks after a power cut until you reset the clock).
Read all about the driftwood and beach access in these posts, along with some background on Swell Warnings and Kāpiti coastal hazard info. Photos too, of course:
- Vehicle beach access cut off mid-June 2022
- June 2022 storm effects
- Manga Pirau Street beach entrance eroded again
- Storms brought driftwood, large and small
- Swell Warnings explained!
- Kāpiti coastal hazard information
Note: where the illegal track was cut a few years back, creating a gap in the dunes, the high tides piled up a load of driftwood and even threw driftwood several meters onto the track. That illegal track has created an extra avenue for erosion.
Bike stands arrive
It took a long time between asking for bike stands and receiving them, but I'm pleased to report that the Bike stand by footbridge is complete. No more having to pile bikes up by the fence. There will be road markings soon to help people who don't understand how bike stands work to avoid parking in the spot where the bikes should be.
No bike would fit here!
The toilet block progresses
Work on the toilet block is progressing, despite delays caused by weather, Covid, availability of specialised workers and other factors. Completion is now expected by August 2022. Read details and see photos at:
- Toilet block progress and roundup as at 20 June 2022
- Toilet block progress to 10 June 2022
- Toilet block update to 03 June 2022
The Strathnaver Puddle
With all the rain, of course the Strathnaver Puddle reappeared. Did you know about the stream that drains from Lake Huritini, through Strathnaver and out into the river by the bottom end of Hank Edwards Reserve? Read about it and see the map at The Strathnaver streams.
Strathnaver puddle across the road around 8 am Wednesday 08 December 2021 after a big rain.
Glass recycling returns
Glass recycling is happening again. Our next scheduled date for recycling glass, paper and plastic is Monday 04 July 2022.
Thefts and burglaries
There was a burglary on Sarah Street on 30 May 2022.
In mid June a resident reported on Facebook:
We’ve had an outdoor chiminea stolen from our back yard in Manga Pirau street… likely would have needed two people to carry it, so if anyone has seen anything suspicious over the last few days please let us know. a bit of a shame this is happening locally
To which one commenter replied:
We can sympathise- ours (similar but with no chimney bit) was stolen from Duncan St in March. It had been on the deck for about 10 years or more and was very rusty - very disappointing (or words to that effect)
Heritage Sign on Waikawa Beach Road
Months ago now someone crashed into a fence on Waikawa Beach Road, in the process destroying the Heritage Trail sign which was later removed.
I've made enquiries about getting the sign replaced. It may include a little fundraising and it seems to me that in 2022 we should be sure to consult with local iwi.
After asking if anyone would like to help I've had two offers, including one from someone who volunteers in the library Heritage Room in Levin. Is anyone else interested? If so, email me at admin@wow-waikawa.nz. This could be a fun and valuable small project.
The night sky
The big 'sky' event this month of course is Matariki:
Friday the 24th of June will be our first national holiday to celebrate Matariki, a kāhui or cluster of nine stars whose rising in mid-winter marks the Māori new year for many iwi.
It’s a time for "remembering those who have passed, celebrating the present, and planning for the future".
The Matariki stars on Friday 24th will appear just to the North (left) of Venus which is always easy to see because it's so bright.
Happy sky gazing.
A few handy words:
- Tokerau — north
- Tonga — south
- Tai Rāwhiti — east
- Hauāuru — west (Not sure how to pronounce all those vowels together? It's actually easy if you split it into 3: hau — āu — ru.)
Properties
Still for sale: 10 Arthur Street, 17 Drake Street, 686 Waikawa Beach Road, 159 Emma Drive, 40 Manga Pirau Street, 58 Manga Pirau Street (though the For Sale signs have been removed), 13 Arthur Street, 9 Kristin Place, 501A Waikawa Beach Road (3 lifestyle properties).
If you know of Waikawa Beach things that would interest others or if you have comments on this newsletter or the websites please let me know at news@wow-waikawa.nz. If you want to suggest others subscribe to the newsletter please send them to: http://news.wow-waikawa.nz/about-waikawa-news.html.