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With spring the birds are starting to show up again. Down at the Strathnaver lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora, this afternoon I spotted a black swan pair with half-grown cygnet, Pāpango | New Zealand scaup, Australian coot, and some ducks. Not too far from there a pair of Barbary dove were hanging out on a driveway. Black swan on the lake. Black swan inverted in the lake. -
Wind brings sand and welcome dune growth
The baby sand dunes grew in the gales. A few days ago we had gales blowing from the west or southwest for a couple of days. A huge amount of sand was blown around. In the area where the new dunes are growing south of the river mouth it was easy to see how much had accumulated. The map shows roughly where new dunes have been growing for the last few years. -
Electoral information for Waikawa Beach
There is an election coming up in Aotearoa. This post gives factual information for voters who are registered at Waikawa Beach. Information gathered on 18 September 2023. Updates may be made to this post. The most important source of official information is at Vote NZ. Election dateVoting starts on Monday 2 October 2023, and you can vote at any voting place in New Zealand. On election day, Saturday 14 October, all voting places will be open from 9am to 7pm. -
Waikawa rubbish cleanup changes for Saturday 16 September 2023
Arrangements for the Keep NZ Beautiful rubbish pickup at Waikawa Beach on Saturday 16 September 2023 have changed. Meet at Hank Edwards Reserve at 2.30 to get a bag and a ride to Kuku Beach then walk back to Waikawa Beach picking up rubbish along the way. See the original post at Please help clean up Waikawa on 16 September 2023. -
Starry Time tonight is going ahead
Starry Time tonight! Meet on the beach by the Manga Pirau Street entrance at 7 pm. Dress warm. Bring binoculars if you have them, but you don’t need them, red torch (or put red cellophane over an ordinary torch), and maybe your phone to try taking photos. Cloud keeps coming over then going away. Who knows if it’ll be clear at 7! We’ll meet up then anyway and hope we can see stars! -
Pygmy Blue Whale washed ashore at Hokio Beach, 12 September 2023
Photo from Stuff by David Unwin. A New Zealand pygmy blue whale washed ashore at Hokio Beach on Tuesday. It's a sad thing but a pygmy blue whale (tohorā) washed up just up the coast at Hokio Beach on Tuesday 12 September 2023. In a straight line along the beach that's about 10 Km away. — Enormous pygmy blue whale washes ashore on Horowhenua beach | Stuff.co.nz: A New Zealand pygmy blue whale washed up on Hokio Beach west of Levin on Tuesday morning and was found dead. -
Upcoming changes to the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1
Planned changes to SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road intersection. Photo of a page available at the session. On Friday 08 September 2023 I attended a poorly advertised Waka Kotahi drop-in session held at Manakau School to discuss the next phase of safety improvement works from Manakau to Ohau. The information below reflects what I was told by someone called Wayne, as best I can remember and is not in any way my opinion. -
Please help clean up Waikawa on 16 September 2023
Update, 15 September 2023: arrangements have changed. Meet at 2.30 to get a bag and ride to Kuku Beach then walk back to Waikawa Beach picking up rubbish along the way. Chris Wood of the Waikawa Environment Group emailed: September 16 – Rubbish Collection for Keep New Zealand Beautiful Day On Saturday 16 September [2023] volunteers are invited to meet at Hank Edwards Reserve at 10am to spend an hour picking up the rubbish that has been accumulating along Waikawa Beach Road, and any other littered spots noticed in our area. -
Email glitch, September 2023
Kia ora koutou, an email glitch at my service provider meant those of you who subscribe to receive posts by email probably didn't see the following: For sale: 34 Manga Pirau Street, published on: Monday, 4 September 2023 Strathnaver Drive burglary 27 August 2023, published on: Monday, 4 September 2023 Join us for Starry Time on Friday 15 September 2023, published on: Thursday, 7 September 2023 Presentation on Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access, 06 September 2023, published on: Thursday, 7 September 2023 My apologies. -
Presentation on Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access, 06 September 2023
In November 2021 some people submitted to Horowhenua District Council a Petition for vehicle access to Waikawa Beach. The HDC then decided to engage consultants (Boffa Miskell) to produce a full report on all options in respect of beach access at Waikawa Beach. On 06 September 2023 a presentation was made to Councillors with findings. The 1 hour long workshop is available on a recorded livestream (the Waikawa Beach portion begins at 1 hour 52 minutes from the start of the livestream). -
Join us for Starry Time on Friday 15 September 2023
Night sky September 2023 (partial view). All welcome! On Friday 15 September 2023, if the weather suits, we should have a good evening for looking at the night sky. Backup days (if it’s cloudy or rainy) are the Saturday and Sunday. Meet on the beach by the Manga Pirau Street entrance at 7 pm. Dress warm. Bring binoculars if you have them, but you don’t need them, red torch (or put red cellophane over an ordinary torch), and maybe your phone to try taking photos. -
Strathnaver Drive burglary 27 August 2023
At the end of August 2023 there was a post on Facebook about a suspicious man [on a Strathnaver Drive] property. The Police were called. The 31 August 2023 Neighbourhood Support Newsletter listed a burglary at Waikawa Beach between 75 and 95 Strathnaver Drive on 27 August 2023. Remember to keep your garages and sheds locked and your valuables protected. It only takes a moment to steal something. Keep an eye out too for people around in places where they shouldn’t be. -
For sale: 34 Manga Pirau Street
For sale: 34 Manga-Pirau Street. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 89 m2 more or less floor area, 809 m² land area, RV $650,000. -
No speed change for Waikawa Beach
At their meeting on 30 August 2023 the Horowhenua District Council voted for no speed limit changes at Waikawa Beach. Part of the rationale was that previous calls for speed changes had referred to seasonal problems, such as an increase in traffic over the Christmas period. It may be that HDC will look into the possibility of seasonal speed limit changes at all the beach communities. For the moment though, no change. -
Waikawa Newsletter August 2023 published
Published on 27 August 2023: Waikawa Newsletter August 2023. 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.nz. If you want to suggest others subscribe to the newsletter please send them to waikawanews. -
Footbridge bike stands finally have road markings
It’s been more than a year since bike stands were put in by the footbridge, but at long last road markings have been added. These should at least indicate to drivers that they shouldn’t block the stands. See Bike stands update, February 2023. 21 June 2022, driver blocks bike stands. -
Waikawa Beach Kererū times 2
In August 2022 I spotted a Kererū at Waikawa Beach for the first time. This year there are two! They've been hanging out in Tree Lucerne down near Lake Waimarie at the west end of Strathnaver Drive. -
HDC to discuss Waikawa Beach speed change options
Map of Waikawa Streets shows affected areas. At their meeting on 30 August 2023 the Horowhenua District Council will discuss the potential changes to speeds around Waikawa Beach. See Give your opinion on Waikawa Beach speed limits by 21 August 2023 for details on the proposals. Read Horowhenua District Council Open Agenda 30 August 2023 (7 MB PDF) or at the Horowhenua District Council site. See Pages 13 and following. -
Possible speed increase for parts of the Expressway to Wellington
According to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency the speed limit on the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways could be lifted to 110 Kph in 2024. Waka Kotahi is working to see if speed limits can be increased to 110 km/h on the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways next year. Emma Speight, Director, Regional Relationships, says a speed management technical review is being done and the intention is to make a decision on speed limits for the expressways in early 2024. -
Community spinifex planting on 07 October 2023 — please join in
Spinifex seed heads. Did you know a single spinifex plant can trap 16 cubic metres of sand a year? That sand helps protect the village and all the coastal houses, and gives us all more space for enjoying all the beach has to offer. Which brings us to news from the Waikawa Environment Group: The date confirmed with Horowhenua District Council for the Annual Spinifex Planting is Saturday 7 October 2023, from 9 am, meeting by the North track on Reay Mackay Grove. -
A bud-galling wasp is helping control the invasive pest plant Sydney golden wattle
A bud-galling wasp (Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae) introduced by Horizons Regional Council is showing promising signs … of being a viable control tool against the highly invasive pest plant Sydney golden wattle. … Horizons environmental manager Craig Davey says a recent inspection found the wasps had created galls on Sydney golden wattle growing along our western coastline. … The wasp lays its eggs on areas that would become flower buds, which instead produce growths — known as galls — and these prevent flowering and thus seed production. -
Horizons asks for feedback on priority areas for next 10 years
Feedback on Horizons Regional Council priority areas is due by 17 September 2023. Horizons Regional Council have three priority areas: building resilience to the impacts of climate change, taking a holistic approach to natural resources from mountains to sea, and strengthening relationships with tangata whenua and want to know what we think of these areas. Early next year there will be consultation on the 2024-34 Long-term Plan. This feedback on the general direction for Horizons Regional Council will guide Councillors on what should be in that plan. -
MDCA Quiz Night 01 September 2023
Manakau Hall next door to the Bowling and Sport Club. An email from the Manakau folks: Greetings everyone, You are warmly invited to the next MDCA Quiz Night at the Manakau Bowling and Sport Club to be held on Friday 1st September [2023], starting at 7.30pm. Cost: $10.00 per person (max. of 6 quizzers per team). If you don't have 6 people for a full team we can help you make up a team on the night. -
August 2023 update on HDC vehicle access study
The study about vehicle access to Waikawa Beach is slowly grinding along. In an update on 16 August 2023, Stephan Titze, HDC Parks and Property Project Lead | Kaihautū Kaupapa Papa Rēhia, Rawa, advised: The project team has finalized the ecological and geomorphological report with focus on the proposed potential new vehicle access. We are still in communication with Iwi and the landowner of the current vehicle access to receive feedback, advise and evaluate further options. -
The river scratch, August 2023
Whitebaiting season starts on 01 September 2023 so some folks have a particular interest in driving their gear onto the beach. For quite a while now though the river has formed itself into a long lazy loop going right past the Miratana track to the south side of the bay and then doubling back. On 11 August 2023 a group of folks took their shovels down to the beach and dug a shallow trench between the two streams.
