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The new street end entrance to the pedestrian track at 60 Reay Mackay Grove. In May 2024 Horowhenua District Council took action on some problems created by vehicles accessing the beach through pedestrian-only walkways and to protect private land where the owners no longer granted access across their property. See the HDC letter quoted below. The pedestrian-only access at 10 Reay Mackay Grove already had bollards across the street end but the number and density of bollards was increased so quads and larger vehicles couldn't pass between them or round the ends. -
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 -
Spartina weed spraying by the river, 19 February to 08 March 2024
Spartina, photo from Weedbusters, [www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-...](https://www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/spartina/.) I received the following notice for distribution to the wider community: Spartina weed control – Waikawa Conservation Area The Department of Conservation is planning to undertake a herbicide operation to control the weed, Spartina (Spartina anglica, Spartina alterniflora), within the inter-tidal zone of the Waikawa Stream (see map). Spartina is an invasive weed that colonises inter-tidal zones such as river mouths and estuaries, detrimentally altering such ecosystems. -
In March 2024 we need to ask for cleaner river water
Many locals are justifiably upset about the poor ratings on the Traffic Light System for the quality of water in our river by the footbridge. Our long-term grade: Poor – The estimated risk of Campylobacter infection has a >5% occurrence, at least 5% of the time. I have a spreadsheet named lawa_recreationalwaterquality_monitoringdata_2017–23_20oct2023 that someone at LAWA or HRC sent me a while ago. It shows that between 06 November 2017 and 24 April 2023 over 147 measurements our score was: 62 green; 47 orange; 38 red. -
Identify those prints on the beach
I just happened upon an excellent guide to footprints you see on the beach: A Sandy Footprint Guide. That will be very helpful! -
Great turnout for planting 1600+ spinifex
On Sunday 12 November 2023 a couple of dozen people turned out, including some very welcome new faces, to plant 1600+ spinifex provided by Horowhenua District Council. Did you know A single spinifex plant can trap 16 cubic metres of sand a year? Some plants filled in gaps in a previously planted area south of the river near where the birds nest, while about half were planted between the groyne and the Miratana Track used by vehicles — an area that is severely eroded. -
Makaka | Ribbonwoods planted by the river
Salt Marsh Ribbonwood just planted. On Sunday members of the Waikawa environment group planted 40 Salt Marsh Ribbonwood (makaka, plagianthus divaricatus) along the banks of the river near the footbridge. Plagianthus divaricatus is an upright shrub with closely interwoven branches. The shrub is found in coastal environments in areas with salt swamp, sandy banks and throughout estuaries. The plants were donated by one member (Sally). With about 8 people it took only a few minutes to plant. -
A two day burn
In a follow up to today's post When Waikawa Beach becomes the big smoke, published on: Thursday, 2 November 2023 at 15:13:21 — It's almost dark and the fire is still burning. We called 111 and spoke to the Fire service. They're aware of the fire and advised it may burn for two days. We should alert them if things change. Note: I suspect my previous post wasn't actually sent out to those who subscribe by email — I didn't receive my copy, anyway. -
When Waikawa Beach becomes the big smoke
I arrived home from errands on 02 November 2023 to a very unpleasant surprise — only a few hundred metres from our house a huge area of forestry slash was on fire, belching out enormous clouds of white, brown and black smoke. Fortunately for me the wind was blowing away from our house. Unhappily for Emma Drive and environs it was probably enveloping them. With any luck only smoke and not flame was heading in their direction. -
Spinifex planting report and photos, October 2023
Marked up planting areas on a map. (ArcGIS Aerial at GPS Visualizer) Weather on the weekend of 07 and 08 October 2023 was a bit dicey which may have led to a lower turnout than usual. A huge thanks though to the 8 or 10 diligent locals and several Council workers who planted something like 4,000 plants (at $3 each) on the day.
I was out of town at the time, but can see a huge area (approx 12,000 square metres or 3+ acres) was covered and subsequently taped off. The northbound branch of the north track off Reay Mackay Grove has been extended by a good 50 metres.
I’ve gathered photos and text from Stephen Betts, a resident, and from Craig Kidd, Horowhenua District Council Parks and Property Officer | Āpiha Papa Rēhia, Rawa.
Above is a map I’ve finally been able to mark up. It shows where this year’s spinifex was planted and the area of driftwood where birds nest.
Note: lots of photos below. The page may be slow to load and use up to 5 MB of data.
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Toxic Sea Spurge signs at Waikawa Beach
Signs have gone up at several of the Waikawa Beach entrances asking us to watch out for the dangerous and toxic invasive pest plant called sea spurge. (My emphasis below): Have you seen this weed on our coast? A serious threat to New Zealand's beaches Sea spurge is an unwanted organism. This introduced pest could damage our sand dunes and harm our coastal environments. It's likely to have arrived on ocean currents from Australia and may also be at other beaches in the area. -
Waikawa Beach: clean; the road: not so much
Becky Webb rubbish pickup results. Photo used with permission. On Keep NZ Beautiful Day, Saturday 16 September 2023, a rubbish collection at Waikawa was organised by the Environmental Subcommittee of the WBRA, in conjunction with the Horowhenua District Council. The Council collected any rubbish gathered and left in the bags provided at Hank Edwards Reserve. Unfortunately there were some communication glitches, where initially a cleanup along Waikawa Beach Road was to start at 10 am, but then HDC said that for safety reasons their contractors would do that and volunteers should instead pickup along the beach between Kuku and our river in the afternoon. -
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. -
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. -
Understand how to make your pest control measures really work
This hour-long NZ video about trapping and killing pests such as mustelids, rats and others has a huge amount of incredibly valuable information: PFNZ Trust Webinar # 29: Fine Tuning Your Predator Control with Cam Speedy. If you’re considering dealing with pest species, do watch it. The tips can multiply your success rate. -
In 2009 residents worried about vehicles on Waikawa Beach
In 2009 apparently a survey of Waikawa Beach residents was conducted by Corydon Consultants Ltd. On 12 January 2011 the WBRA published results. Of particular interest to me were a couple of items relating to vehicles on the beach. Topic 5: Safety Almost all of the respondents who thought there were safety issues in Waikawa mentioned traffic - either the danger of traffic to others, the danger to motorists due to particular factors, the danger and damage caused by vehicles on the beach. -
The role of pingao, wiwi, and spinifex
Useful information about dunes and their flora and fauna from the Takutai Kāpiti 29 May 2023 newsletter — Takutai Kāpiti May 2023: Indigenous plants like pingao, wiwi, and spinifex with its hanging tendrils, are best for helping repair the dynamic ever-changing foredunes. These plants are designed to trap sand; they work with driftwood to help build back the foredunes after big tides or storms. Pingao is an essential plant in any dune planting but can be difficult to establish as the rabbits love it. -
Our Waikawa Beach environment needs your help
I've received the following message about a new Environmental Sub-committee within the WBRA: Are you interested in protecting the environment at Waikawa Beach? We need your help for a few hours each month I am a member of the WBRA committee, have owned a property in Waikawa Beach for more than ten years, and am a permanent resident. I have long been concerned about risks to our area and offered to chair a new Environmental Sub-committee within the WBRA. -
Smoke gets in your eyes, clothes, house…
On 17 May 2023 there was a strong smell of smoke in the house, even though all the doors and windows were shut tight. A look to the north showed clouds of green waste smoke billowing into the air from some distance away. The wind from the northerly quarter was driving it over Waikawa Beach. Later when I went for a brief walk I found my clothes stank when I got home. -
270 mm rain brings back the Strathnaver puddle in May 2023
In the last month we’ve had around 270mm rain — a fair bit. With groundwater levels still high after a wet summer any rain at all seems to bring back the puddles. On 05 May 2023 the Strathnaver puddle was all the way across the road again. -
Manawatū-Whanganui Joint Climate Action Plan 2023
An inaugural Manawatū-Whanganui Joint Climate Action Plan has been released to clarify councils’ role in addressing climate change impacts in the Horizons Region to build thriving communities and preserve and enhance the environment. The plan contains recommendations to councils, including incorporating climate change impacts into planning processes, agreeing on areas where councils can work together and talking to communities about potential impacts of climate change in the region. Each council in the region will need to consider how climate change is going to be addressed in each district and implement the recommendations in the plan. -
Destroying dunes, endangering everyone
Marked areas are roughly where, 5 years on from the photo date, new dunes are growing and birds nest in season. Motorbike and quad bike racing; ripping up the dunes — bad behaviour by a few over the Easter holidays was damaging and dangerous. Between the sea and the settlement of Waikawa Beach lie the sand dunes. Grasses such as Spinifex, Pīngao and Marram help hold the sand, binding it in place. -
Recreation and the Wilderness.
Recreation and the Wilderness. Little dots: the Dotterels, Ngutuparore | Wrybill spotted 06 March 2023, Ngutuparore | Wrybill. -
It was a long walk to the sea 20,000 years ago
One of the Departmental Chief Science Advisors, Rob Murdoch, talks in this clear 20 minute video about climate change adaptation in NZ. It’s an excellent video and one you should watch — though it seems that we here in Horowhenua will fare reasonably well as global temperatures rise. One random fact that struck me was that some 20,000 years ago, when the world was around 6 or 7 degrees Celsius colder than it is today, there was much more land to the west of Waikawa Beach than there is now. -
On a clear day you can see 200 Km
When conditions are right, usually in the winter, you can see Ruapehu, to the north along the beach. It's actually about 160 Km away, sometimes covered in snow. Whitebaiter with Ruapehu and bird 31 August 2021. A telephoto lens is a very handy thing. It's also quite common to see the top of the South Island, over to the right of and a small distance from Kapiti, though sometimes you can also see a chunk of it right next to Kapiti on the right.