Waikawa Newsletter November 2023
Kia ora koutou kātoa,
if you've tried to drive anywhere recently you've probably struck the massive roadworks between Ōtaki and Levin, including a new seal job at the intersection of SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road. Occasionally I've zipped through the intersection in a flash. Another time I was waiting forever, then luckily vehicles from both directions stopped to allow some of us through.
Unfortunately this time of year is when resealing and other roadworks are possible — something to do with temperature, I think.
Waka Kotahi are still supposed to be putting in the island to stop northbound traffic easing across to the left to nip round into Waikawa Beach Road. They say it'll make things safer, though plenty of residents are sceptical about that.
In short though, expect traffic delays for the foreseeable future and remember to warn guests and visitors to allow extra time for travel too.
The intersection has been resealed and road markings added. Sarah Street was also resealed and marked.
What do you think about HDC's proposal to allow 2 Freedom Camping spots by the toilet block on Manga Pirau Street? Campers could each stay 1 night. You have until 04 December 2023 to submit your comments to the Council.
Note: the wording of the notice about this led me to believe at first that there would be no Freedom Camping allowed at all at Waikawa Beach and I shared that view with the community. I asked HDC for clarification though and the actual proposal is for 2 spots.
Many residents and visitors at beaches up and down the Horowhenua coastline (and, in fact, all over Aotearoa) are fed up with vehicles that hoon around on the beach and dunes. HDC officers ran a workshop for Councillors to see whether there was an appetite to create a specific Beach Bylaw.
Councillors decided there was no immediate need to create a specific Bylaw as provisions already exist to counteract what Cr. Brannigan referred to as "boofheads". He also pointed out that 98% of beach users are respectful and considerate. The problems can be resolved by enforcement of the provisions that already exist.
The Police are responsible for enforcing such things and they have already responded favourably more than once when locals have laid complaints about illegal and dangerous or destructive behaviour such as riding bikes in dunes and ripping up the sand or plants.
It is worth taking photos or videos of 'boofhead' behaviour and reporting it to Police. If it's urgent or threatens safety then dial 111, otherwise report it online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105#online-report-options. Take care of your own safety first though.
Vehicle entrance at 17 November 2023 with a 2 metre drop. It's not snowing, but it was windy so sand was blowing around.
At the moment vehicle access to the beach is still cut off, with no real expectation for when that might change. See Vehicle entrance update, 27 November 2023 for details, but restoring access needs the right river conditions, a resource consent and landowner approval. None of those things are currently in place.
With summer coming on birds are gathering at the estuary and several pairs are nesting, including Oystercatchers, Pied Stilts, and almost certainly Dotterels. The Stilts let you know without a doubt that you're within about 100 metres of their nest because they yell a lot and dive bomb you. You can't miss it!
The Oystercatchers also yell a lot and run round a bit, while the Dotterels, with their quieter voices, also yell at you and do some running around.
The whole area between the Miratana Track and just south of the north track off Reay Mackay Grove is a place to be very cautious. Please don't allow dogs or kids to disturb the birds and if you are on the beach with a vehicle please stay well clear of all areas with accumulations of driftwood in particular.
Did you know there are actually three kinds of Dotterel at Waikawa Beach this season? It's worth taking binoculars to help you see them, usually near the water puddles in the estuary. We have the larger Tūturiwhatu | NZ Dotterel and the sparrow-sized Black-fronted and Pohowera | Banded Dotterels. It's quite a challenge to spot the smaller ones — a good activity for kids with binoculars.
NZ Dotterel.
Banded Dotterel.
Black-fronted Dotterel.
A good group of people, including some 'new' faces, turned out to plant spinifex near the north track off Reay Mackay Grove and also between the groyne and the Miratana Track. Many thanks to HDC for providing the plants and all the volunteers who helped plant them.
Spinifex traps and holds vast amounts of sand (unlike marram) as can easily be seen in the Reay Mackay Grove track area. Test plants near the groyne have survived, so there's a lot of optimism about being able to restore that part of the beach over time. The new plantings have been taped off so vehicles don't go inadvertently destroying the young plants.
Another smaller restoration project saw volunteers from the Waikawa Environment Group plant 40 Makaka | Ribbonwoods beside the river near the footbridge.
Summer swim spot monitoring of the river by the footbridge has started up again and results so far are mixed, with 1 green and 2 red results. I keep the front page Notices section of https://waikawanews.nz updated with the results.
There was considerable consternation in the community in early November when a property at the end of Walkers Lane had a huge two-day burn-off of forestry slash. The edge of the fire was at least a couple of hundred metres long and the fire burned 10 or 20 metres back too. Enormous amounts of smoke billowed into the air but blew towards the south, fortunately.
A programme of Chorus cabinet art has seen a cabinet not far from the footbridge painted colourfully.
Anyone attending the Community get-together at Hank Edwards Reserve on Saturday 25 November 2023 or the Second-hand clothing fundraising sale for Waikawa Wildcats the next day is likely to have spotted the art.
The two events were well attended, and were a great way to get us started on the upcoming holiday season.
Properties currently for sale include: 24 Strathnaver Drive; 34 Manga-Pirau Street; 17 Drake Street; 501A Waikawa Beach Road; 69 Waikawa Beach Road.
Bird spotting
On the beach, in the estuary area and on the Strathnaver lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora (Tranquil Waters and The Wellspring of Good Health), there are plenty of birds to see. There are all the usual garden birds, but also look for shovelers, white-faced herons, ducks, including Paradise ducks, dotterels (3 types), oystercatchers, Pied Stilts, godwits, black-backed gulls and others. I haven't yet seen any spoonbills this season, so they are ones to watch out for.
Local resident Kezna Cameron spotted a Glossy ibis on the lake on 27 November 2023, and gave me permission to post her photos. She managed to grab a few shots of the very hungry bird just as it was getting dark. It seems to have moved on overnight.
Keep your eyes peeled.
Links
- More delays with the intersection roadworks
- Intersection roadworks delayed to 06 November 2023
- Sarah Street reseal, 01 November 2023
- Freedom Camping proposal would allow for 2 parks at Hank Edwards Reserve
- Have your say on Proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw
- HDC Proposed Beach Bylaw workshop 01 November 2023
- Beach Bylaw Workshop November 2023 — report
- Boot out boofheads on bikes from Waikawa Beach
- Vehicle entrance update, 27 November 2023
- Vehicle access to Waikawa Beach, public consultation update November 2023
- Birds back for summer, November 2023
- A new bird joins the estuary crew: a Black-fronted Dotterel
- Help protect the vehicle access and the nesting birds with spinifex
- Great turnout for planting 1600+ spinifex
- Makaka | Ribbonwoods planted by the river
- Summer swim spot monitoring begins 06 November 2023
- When Waikawa Beach becomes the big smoke
- A two day burn
- Chorus cabinet art at Waikawa Beach
- Glossy Ibis: an unusual visitor
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.
Waves in the sand, 27 November 2023.
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.