Mount beach gets plenty of votes

Kiwis have ranked Mount Maunganui beach as the second best beach in New Zealand.

However, it is only early days in the online competition launched by the Green Party to find which beach we love the most.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service general manager Glenn Bradley was not surprised the Bay of Plenty hotspot rated so highly.

"We think it's an absolutely brilliant beach so we're not surprised that it's right up there in the running," he said.

"It's a beautiful beach by itself and it's got a lot going for it with the natural landscape - Mauao on one end and the natural headland on the other - so that means it's often quite sheltered from the wind."

Mr Bradley said it was a nice surf beach which was pretty user friendly for the general public as well as seasoned surfers.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it stays up there and I wouldn't be surprised if it makes it to the top."

The Greens are asking New Zealanders to vote for the best beach in the country in the poll that also aims to draw attention to the threat that deep sea oil drilling poses to our favourite places.

"Summer in Aotearoa means sun, sand, barbecues and beaches," said Gareth Hughes, the party's ocean spokesperson. "But those who visit our beautiful beaches this summer may not know that our Government is gambling with our shores by developing deep sea drilling off the New Zealand coast.

"If there is a leak or blowout from a deep sea oil rig there is no easy way to stop it. The damage to New Zealand's marine environment, our coastline, economy and our reputation would be catastrophic.

"While it is fantastic news that Te Whanau-a-Apanui and others chased oil company Petrobras out of the Raukumara Basin, deep sea drilling still remains a threat to many New Zealand beaches.

"We can protect our favourite beaches from oil spills by saying 'no' to deep sea drilling."

Go to bestbeaches.org.nz to vote for your favourite beach.

Top beaches so far

• 
  Kaiteriteri 295 votes
• 
  The Mount 231 votes
• 
  Cathedral Cove 141 votes
• 
  Whale Bay 116 votes
• 
  Ohope Beach 100 votes

- Gareth Hughes, Green Party