Is Mt Maunganui's $1.5m artificial surf reef a waste of money?

Critics say the Tay St reef has created heavier surf and more rips. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Opinion

Mt Maunganui's $1.5 million artificial surf reef, branded as fickle by its designers, has been virtually ignored by Bay surfers since it was completed last June.

Hopes were high the reef would finally achieve its potential once the last sandbags were anchored to the seabed nearly eight months ago.

But Tauranga surfing commentator Josh Guinness said the reef had all but failed to create better quality waves. He knew of only two surfing sessions since June when the swell and tide had combined to produce a right-hand tube ride.

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