Erosion of sand dunes along Papamoa East in the Bay of Plenty has created a sheer drop of more than two metres along the beach- but locals are not concerned about it creeping closer to their properties.
The dunes off Karewa Parade, Papamoa East in the Motiti Reserve area, have been badly hit by the phenomenon.
Houses in the area are only 15 to 18m away from the edge of the dunes.
Karewa Parade resident David Green said the erosion was the worst he had seen but it "comes and goes".
"I think we are far enough away not to be worried."
Mr Green said over the 30 years he had lived at the property, he had seen nature at its best, and worst. He thought the eroded dunes would regenerate over time.
Another Karewa Parade resident, Bryce Wells, said in the past the dunes had eroded a further 2 or 3m closer to his house and had then regenerated.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesman Pim de Monchy said the local authority had been aware of the erosion for several weeks - with staff from the data services team and Waikato University collecting data on beach profiles since 1978.
The erosion on the beach and throughout the Bay was caused by "cut and fill" process, he said.
"During storms, often over autumn and winter, waves at high tide can create steep erosion scarps on coastal dunes. The eroded sand is largely deposited on offshore bars which then help to reduce the wave energy from subsequent storms.
During calmer weather sand moves back up the beach and is carried to the dunes by wind. "Plants on the dunes slow the wind-speed and trap the wind-borne sand, rebuilding the dunes. Beaches also go through longer term cycles depending a range of factors such as the predominance of El Nino or La Nina conditions."
Mr de Monchy said the condition of the beach was within the range of condition recorded since monitoring began in 1978. "We expect the dune profile to return to a more gentle slope during spring and summer. The fore dune has grown considerably over the last few years due to an intensive programme of planting native dune species."
In the council's view there were no properties at risk from the natural winter erosion cycle, he said.
"The best thing property owners can do is maintain a healthy cover of native sand-binding dune plants on the dunes in front of their properties."