Peace and beauty shattered

Litter bugs and vandals are ruining an idyllic spot by the sea, leaving Bethells Beach locals to clean up the mess. Joanna Davies reports.
It has never been as busy as Piha, but Bethells-Te Henga Beach wears dismaying signs that more and more people are visiting.
Picnic benches are scribbled on, and rubbish doesn't always reach the bins. Some people don't clean up after their dogs, leaving that ghastly task to the locals.
Samantha Happy has lived at the beach for  almost all her 27 years. She says problems are getting worse.
"There have been a few car break-ins, which are always devastating for people when they return from a nice walk to find a broken car window and their stuff gone.''
Miss Happy says Lake Wainamu, the swimming spot near the sand dunes, is frequently strewn with rubbish. "It's such a special place, so this is really sad.''
Residents have asked Waitakere City Council to base a park ranger longer at the beach over the summer. But Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving Club president Dave Comp isn't sure this will make a difference.
"It's handy having the rangers around because they check on the fishermen and keep an eye on things. But a lot of the vandalism happens at night, when the rangers aren't on
duty,'' he says. "If it could help, then it would be great, but I'm not sure whether it would.''
Mr Comp says the surf lifesaving tower is vandalised about every two months.
The council employs two rangers from Labour Weekend to Easter to look after Piha and Bethells beaches. But they work only 16 hours a week, generally at weekends when the
beaches are busiest.
Council spokeswoman Lisah Henry says the rangers' duties this summer will include looking after the track to Lake Wainamu, which becomes the council's responsibility this year.
"There has been an increase in time for the Bethells' ranger to include the Lake Wainamu and Bethells track area,'' says Miss Henry. "No further money has been approved in the
council's 10-year plan to increase the number of park rangers or their hours.''
Miss Henry says the council was not aware of any antisocial behaviour or excessive littering at Bethells Beach.
"Residents who witness anyone driving at excessive speeds or exhibiting behaviour likely to cause annoyance or damage to people, property or wildlife, should contact the police.''