Waikawa Newsletter June 2023
Kia ora ngā hoa mā
As we move along to Matariki we seem to be having weather more suited to Spring: warm sunny days, pouring rain, heavy frosts…
A few weeks ago a group of about 10 or 15 shared a look at the night sky, in the Starry Time event. We took a look at Arcturus, the brightest star in the north sky, a mere 37 light years away. Some in the group were amazed at the idea that a photon, a particle of light, that left Arcturus 37 years ago was just now hitting their eyeballs. Any view of the night sky is a look back in time. The next Starry Night will be held sometime around 21 September.
This Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher isn't hanging around.
Most of the local birds seem to have taken themselves off to other pastures (literally, judging by the flocks of geese and swans in a neighbour's paddocks).
Meanwhile, half a dozen pine trees by the Strathnaver lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora (Tranquil Waters and The Wellspring of Good Health) have been cut down and a large block of pines at the end of Walkers Lane is being felled. Talk about (bird) housing shortages!
Have you helped with the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey yet? It finishes on 02 July 2023 so you still have time to spend an enjoyable hour in the garden and participate in this valuable Citizen Science project. This year I saw many more birds than last year.
Being winter, this month's newsletter doesn't have a lot to report: roadworks between Ōtaki and Levin; WBRA are looking for an artist to paint a mural on the toilet block; it's the time of year to really watch out for seals on the beach.
There are hints in Horowhenua District Council meeting minutes that they plan to develop a beach bylaw. Looking back at a WBRA survey of residents from 2009 shows there have long been concerns about the small number of vehicle owners who cause problems on the beach. For example,
18 respondents mentioned: Vehicles in sand-dunes and on beach - increasing numbers, speed; careless behaviour; underage drivers; causing damage
The May issue of the Takutai Kāpiti newsletter (from Kāpiti) had useful information about native dune plants:
Indigenous plants like pingao, wiwi, and spinifex with its hanging tendrils, are best for helping repair the dynamic ever-changing foredunes.
Those indigenous plants are so important for helping hold dunes together (and provide habitat for all sorts of critters). The dunes help keep us safe from the sea.
I believe this is an Oioi, jointed wire rush, on the stretch of sea frontage on the Miratana land.
The local Waikawa Environment Group aim to work on pest control and dune protection. One member bemoaned the number of rabbits around and the suggestion was to buy Pindone at $45 for 2 kilos at Farmlands.
With seemingly more frequent extreme weather conditions being experienced around NZ, flooding is a threat that dunes help protect us from. Looking at the NIWA maps it seems clear that any sea level rise will substantially affect the Waikawa river and the low areas around it. The occasional flooding of the lower end of Hank Edwards Reserve may well occur more often, and may be more extensive.
Areas marked on a map where inundation could be a concern with 40 cm sea level rise.
July and August are when we usually experience at least one fierce storm that brings the tides well up the beach. We'll soon see what this year brings.
The other day the Fire Risk Management officer visited Waikawa Beach checking on people's fire water storage tanks and looking for fire hazards. One person asked him about being able to pump water from a nearby pond, but apparently that puts the equipment at risk from damage by silt and sediment so is not an acceptable option. If they need to though, and a helicopter is called in, they may scoop up water from the lakes for fire fighting purposes.
Today we have 10 hours and 18 minutes of daylight. By the end of July we'll be enjoying 10 hours and 54 minutes, and sunrise will be at about 0730.
By then we may have some of our birds back, so look out for the all-new Waterbird Walkabout I'm planning for the end of July, probably at dawn. If you're a bird expert I'd love to hear from you to help with sorting out details. If you can't tell a Duck from a Shoveler, or an Oystercatcher from a Pied Stilt, then this will be the walk for you! All ages welcome. Watch https://waikawanews.nz for more details in the next few weeks.
Shovelers on Lake Te Puna a te Ora by Reay Mackay Grove.
Stay warm!
Links
- Roadworks from Ōtaki to Ohau
- Mural artist needed for the updated toilet block at Waikawa Beach
- It's kekeno fur seal time again — beware
- Horowhenua District Council plan a beach Bylaw
- In 2009 residents worried about vehicles on Waikawa Beach
- The role of pingao, wiwi, and spinifex
- Our Waikawa Beach environment needs your help
- New extreme coastal flooding maps, May 2023
This monthly newsletter is based on posts I've written during the month, with added sprinkles. If you'd like to automatically receive posts by email as they are published subscribe at https://waikawanews.nz/subscribe/
If you know of Waikawa Beach things that would interest others or if you have comments on this newsletter or the website please let me know at kiaora@waikawanews.nz.
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Thanks everyone for the support. I've had a lot of great feedback on my newsletters. I really appreciate that.
Me te aroha,
Miraz Jordan
WaikawaNews: https://waikawanews.nz