Northland surf break recognised as national treasure

by Andr? Hueber
A Northland beach with one of the best surfing breaks in the country is set for special protection.
Ahipara's Shipwreck Bay, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, is one of six surf breaks around New Zealand listed in a proposed Department of Conservation coastal policy statement.
The break gained worldwide fame in the 1960's classic surf movie Endless Summer.
DoC says the breaks are nationally significant and need to be protected from "inappropriate use and development". The proposal would bar activities that could harm the surf breaks, such as water discharges, dredging or inappropriate coastal building. Public submissions closed in May and hearings continue until December.
Veteran surfer Paul Atkin, of Pukepoto, said protecting the break was a great idea and he was pleased it had been recognised as a national treasure - however a ban on vehicles would bring the ultimate protection.
Beach erosion caused by vehicles was having a negative effect on the surf breaks, which were nowhere as good as they used to be in the 1970s, he said.
"In summer we've got large numbers of boyracers on quad bikes and teams of four wheel drives with trailers which shift the sand about. They start at low tide point, rev their engines and charge up on to the sand dunes."
Erosion was making the bay shallower, so the waves were breaking further out to sea and had no chance to develop form.
"By the time they get to the beach they've dissipated," he said.
He blamed the "rape and pillage mentality" of some beach users.
DoC senior policy analyst Dave Marshall said vehicles could be prohibited under the coastal policy - but only if it could be proven they had an adverse affect on the surf break.
Te Rarawa conservation co-ordinator Rongo Bentson said he supported the idea of banning inappropriate development at Ahipara, but questioned how "inappropriate" would be defined.
While the hapu couldn't support the plan outright, they wanted to be involved - and were unhappy they had not been consulted about the proposal.
He said some control of vehicles on beaches was needed, but a total ban would mean some people would be unable to reach their properties.
"We just don't want to get so carried away with protection that it becomes a problem for our own people."
The other surf breaks included in the proposal are Raglan, Waikato; Stent Rd, Taranaki; White Rock, Wairarapa; Mangamaunu, Kaikoura; and Papatowai, Southland.