Notices
Beach access for vehicles: closed.
Recycling: collected every 2 weeks;
next: 22 April and 06 May 2024.
River Water quality between 01 November 2023 and 30 April 2024.
Latest: 15 April 2024 : 213 n/100 mL (green)
Season totals: 9 green, 8 orange, 7 red.
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Another Horowhenua District Council LGOIMA Response. LGOIMA stands for Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. In November 2023, in Reference Number: 2023/1017 someone asked about the footbridge at Waikawa Beach, with regard to schedules for replacement within the next three years. The document published online had some lines cut off, but I asked for the full version and received this information: Waikawa Beach Pedestrian Bridge Requested information : Response Location : End of Waikawa Beach Road at Waikawa Beach Material bridge is made out of : Combination of timber and steeel Value of asset : Booking value as of 8 November 2023 is $92,205. -
Recent posts not emailed out
Because of a server error the following posts weren't emailed out: River training costs 2000-2024 were over $54,000, published on: Thursday, 18 April 2024. Vehicles on Horowhenua beaches - complaints, published on: Thursday, 18 April 2024. -
Game bird hunting season opens Saturday 04 May 2024
Game bird hunting season opens Saturday 04 May 2024. Shooting always starts around dawn, so if you have nervous animals be alert early on 04 May 2024 for the sounds of gunfire. Information from Fish & Game NZ — Game Bird Season. -
Vehicles on Horowhenua beaches - complaints
Another Horowhenua District Council LGOIMA Response. LGOIMA stands for Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. In September 2023, in Reference Number: 2023/1006 someone asked about HDC's policies about vehicles on beaches. These were interesting questions (HDC has no policies), but the final response had valuable information: Regardless of whether you have any rules, regulations or bylaws restricting or prohibiting the use of vehicles on beaches in your territory, please provide the number of public concerns or complaints that have been received/reported to you concerning the use of vehicles on beaches in your territory for the past five years (broken down by year please). -
River training costs 2000-2024 were over $54,000
It can be instructive to check the Horowhenua District Council LGOIMA Responses page from time to time. LGOIMA stands for Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. Back in November 2023 a requester asked numerous questions about vehicle access to Waikawa Beach, including several about resource consents. Some responses (PDF, Reference Number: 2023/1018) didn’t really bring any new information, but one question and answer were interesting: “How much has been spent on “river training” to date including the cost of applying for a resource consent to do “river training”? -
The good old days: Waikawa the way it used to be
Aerial view of Waikawa in 1962, showing Drake, Arthur and the northern part of Manga Pirau Streets. The article below was originally published in April 2020, but is a good reminder still, 4 years later. This Covid–19 version of Waikawa Beach, with roads empty of cars, vans and trucks, is how some longtime locals remember the good old days: “Waikawa the way it used to be”, as one said on Facebook. -
Get your Long-term Plan submissions in - recycling, E. Coli in the river, pests
HDC Long-term Plan consultation closes at 5pm on Monday 15 April 2024. See HDC Long-term Plan consultation closes 15 April 2024 for details. See below for the Horizons Regional Council Long-term Plan consultation which closes at 5pm on 22 April 2024. See also In March 2024 we need to ask for cleaner river water. Horowhenua District Councillors are trying to make very hard decisions to keep our rates increase down to around 17%. -
For sale: 6 James Street
For sale: 6 James Street. Bedrooms: 3; Bathrooms: 2; Living Area: 1; Floor Area: 146 m²; Land Area: 812 m²; also 1 Ensuite; 2 Separate toilets; 2 Garage parking. Price: by negotiation; CV: $780,000. Listed on 10 April 2024. -
Waikawa Beach access options for vehicles - decision postponed, March 2024
The Horowhenua District Council consultation period on beach access for vehicles ended on 20 February 2024, with 446 submissions. Submissions show that there is both strong support and strong opposition for vehicle access at Waikawa Beach. Councillors met on 20 March 2024 to decide how to proceed. In brief: the decision has been delayed. The Consultation Report offered 3 choices for Councillors to consider: no vehicle access at all, or two ways to pause proceedings. -
For sale: 118 Strathnaver Drive
For sale: 118 Strathnaver Drive. Auction 24 April 2024. Bedrooms: 2; Bathrooms: 1; Floor Area: 141 m²; Land Area: 9893 m². Listed 02 April 2024. -
More intersection road works, April 2024
Freshly painted (in March) southbound right turn lane. Back in January 2024 work at the intersection of SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road was finally completed, road resurfaced and (eventually, much later, in March) markings done. So it was a surprise on 02 April 2024 when workers scraped off the surface of the intersection agin. Over the next couple of nights they resealed it, and the road markings were either retained or replaced. -
Big fire near Ōtaki
A reader has sent me these photos of a fire near the old health camp at Ōtaki Beach today (23 March 2024). The photos were taken from Uxbridge Terrace. As the sparks fly, that's a distance of about 5 Km. Update, 24 March 2024, Multiple fire crews battling blaze near Ōtaki Beach: Fire and Emergency said in a statement it was alerted to the fire, behind the former Ōtaki Health Camp, just after 5pm. -
Waikawa Newsletter March 2024 published
Flock of Pied Stilts rest near the river mouth at Waikawa Beach. Published on Wednesday 20 March 2024: Waikawa Newsletter March 2024. The 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. 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 kiaora@waikawanews. -
HDC report on beach access options for vehicles for 20 March 2024 meeting
We are almost at the end of a very long process exploring options around access for vehicles to Waikawa Beach. HDC received 446 submissions and officers have prepared a report with Recommendations for Councillors to consider at their meeting on 20 March 2024. See the Agenda item. There is also a 98 MB PDF you can download for easier reading. The report offers 3 choices for Councillors to consider: no vehicle access at all, or two ways to pause proceedings. -
Big vegetation fire off Waikawa Beach Road, Friday 15 March 2024
Photo at 7.30 pm of the almost quenched fire, supplied by a reader. On Friday 15 March 2024 a huge fire broke out, apparently in gorse, at a property just north of Waikawa Beach Road. Crews at vegetation fire in Horowhenua | RNZ News: Fire and Emergency was alerted to the fire on Waikawa Beach Road about 4pm. At its peak, the fire was burning over an area of 800 by 500 metres and nine crews from Ōtaki, Levin, Te Horo and Wellington were in attendance. -
HDC Long-term Plan consultation closes 15 April 2024
The Horowhenua District Council has released its draft Long Term Plan 2024-2044 for feedback. The Long Term Plan (LTP) sets out the services and projects the Council will provide to the Horowhenua community all the way out to 2044. Council's draft Long Term Plan 2024-44 includes three key topics: 1. What services do we need for our community? 2. How should we manage our waste? 3. Sharing costs - who should pay for what? -
Rubbish collection change
If you're one of those residents who received a letter recently about a changed schedule for rubbish collection, this is a reminder. Tomorrow, Friday 15 March 2024, is the first collection day on the new schedule. -
For sale: 55 Reay Mackay Grove, house and land package
For sale: 55 Reay Mackay Grove. Price by Negotiation: The 250 sqm house to be built on the elevated, flat and sunny 7604 square metre site will combine bespoke architectural craftsmanship with building and design of the very highest calibre, with three double-bedrooms, two bathrooms, sumptuous open-plan living and dining room which open to a deck that runs along the seaward side of the home. -
Waikawa Conservation Area at the seaward end of Waikawa Stream
When looking again at thereports from Boffa Miskell, carried out in response to the vehicle access petition, I noticed something I'd overlooked before: a DOC controlled Waikawa Conservation Area that runs along the river beside the village, and includes the groyne area. This is an officially protected area: NaPALIS ID: 2795282 Protected Area Name: Waikawa Conservation Area Area (ha) 4.39 Legal Description: Stewardship Area - s.25 Conservation Act 1987 -
Intersection road markings finally in place
Freshly painted southbound right turn lane. Finally the fresh road markings have been put in at the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1 (on Thursday 07 March 2024). It’s taken ages and many people have been concerned, with northbound vehicles overtaking at the intersection. Perhaps the road markings will make a difference? Many thanks to the Waikawa News reader who took these photos and allowed me to use them. -
Brief power outage Tuesday 05 March 2024
In the early afternoon on Tuesday 05 March 2024 a car met a power pole up by Manakau Market, causing a brief power outage for most at Waikawa Beach. -
Waikawa Beach median house value $690,300 in February 2024
According to Mapping the Market | CoreLogic New Zealand, the current median house value at Waikawa Beach in February 2024 is $690,300. That’s up a bit since October 2023. February 2024 : $690,300 October 2023 : $677,050 June 2023 : $707,350 March 2022 : $783,950 January 2022 : $756,350 See also: Waikawa Beach median house value $677,050 in October 2023. -
AED temporarily out of action, 01 March 2024
Information on Facebook from WBRA at 7.20 pm on Friday 01 March 2024: the AED is currently out of action. It was recently used and requires new batteries and pads. These will be obtained and the AED replaced into its box at the reserve ASAP. In an emergency always call 111. The AED is stored in a stainless steel box on the street facing wall of the public toilets at Hank Edwards Reserve. -
Caspian Tern fishing in the river
This Taranui | Caspian Tern was fishing in the river this afternoon. It spent a while hovering over the water, swooping down, sometimes immersing itself completely. Near the river were flocks of South Island Pied Oystercatchers, White-fronted Terns, and even a dozen or so Pied Stilts, all in a group. -
RNZAF Black Falcons flypast around 8 am 02 March 2024
These guys are quick — be ready or you'll miss them. We don't know if they'll actually fly over Waikawa Beach, but they'll have to be nearby. RNZAF Black Falcons to visit South Island this weekend - New Zealand Defence Force: There will be many opportunities for people across the lower North Island and the length of the South Island to see the T–6C Texan II aircraft fly overhead on Saturday as they make their way to Invercargill.
