While most of the locals who take cars, quad bikes and tractors onto Waikawa Beach behave responsibly, there is an ongoing problem with motorbikes driving on, around and through the new-growing dunes just south of the river mouth. That bad (and illegal) behaviour damages the dunes and the plants on and around them. It also frustrates residents who know just how important it is to maintain the beach and dunes as a barrier to potential flooding and as a habitat for birds and other wildlife.
On one recent occasion Police spoke to several riders who claimed to not know they were driving in a dune area.
Over Easter motorbikes and quad bikes were racing up and down the beach causing enormous consternation. Read more at Destroying dunes, endangering everyone.
It’s no wonder then that Horowhenua District Council are looking to put in place a Bylaw to control vehicles on beaches. See Waikawa Beach on the HDC Agenda for 31 May 2023, in particular:
Council is currently writing a number of bylaws one of which will consider the administration and management of the foreshore (dune) environment. The Bylaw will consider matters in relation to vehicle access to the beach.
BTW: if you haven’t yet read Balanced beaches: birds, babies, bikes, boats, you should make some time to do that.
There was an interesting and relevant article in the February issue of the Foxton Beach Progressive Association:
Over summer beach goers forced to share with hoons and eco-vandals
Not just at beautiful Foxton Beach but around the country, local authorities are frustrated with drivers flouting rules on beaches, endangering people and wild life.
Technically, beaches, including our one, are classed as roads. Many are off limits to vehicles except with permits or for special reasons but many Kiwis are fed-up with sharing our shore with hoons and eco-vandals.
While drivers are permitted on Foxton Beach with a maximum speed limit of 30kph, they are encouraged to drive slower than this especially when driving past others to keep our beach safe and enjoyable for all users. Sometimes, however their driving behaviour is atrocious. Cars and motor bikes frequently use the beach day and night doing burn outs and doughnuts. When locals have tried to intervene, there have been significant incidents of verbal abuse and threats not to mention their ongoing damage to fragile eco-systems and wildlife.
Most people who drive their vehicles on the beach are compliant but a small minority, around 5 per cent, are not. They ignore safety messages!
Our local Police and Foxton Surf Life Saving Club, among others, aided by strategically placed CCTV cameras capable of vehicle number recognition certainly act as a deterrent for anti-social behaviour.
But quite frankly, If you are at Foxton Beach and see reckless, unsafe, damaging and irresponsible behaviour please call 111 to report your concerns.
The same advice goes at Waikawa Beach. The beach is legally a road (or at least, the area below the latest high tide mark is). That means that vehicles and drivers must abide by all the usual road transport laws. It is up to the Police to enforce those laws.
If you see drivers or riders behaving in ways that endanger people or are illegal (such as riding in dunes) please call 111 to report your concerns.
It would also be a good idea to contact our local Councillors to let them know about your concerns too.
Councillors Procter (cr.jonathan.procter@horowhenua.govt.nz) and Boyle (cr.rogan.boyle@horowhenua.govt.nz) represent our Waiopehu Ward.
