NZ Surf Breaks enshrined under new Coastal Policy

Nineteen Iconic NZ Surf Breaks enshrined under new Coastal Policy Statement

Nineteen of New Zealand’s leading surf spots have been officially recognised and protected from December 3rd, under the revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which comes into effect tomorrow.

The Policy, deemed long overdue by many coastal planners and environmentalists, aims to prevent inappropriate use and development that may adversely affect their use and enjoyment.

In particular, the policy refers to water quality, access or the placement of anything in or on the water that may hinder swell reaching the breaks in question. Protection for further unnamed surf breaks is also available, as local authorities and decision makers are required to preserve the ‘natural character of the coastal environment’, and ‘surf breaks’ are specifically identified as being capable of being part of this natural character.

The President of the Surfbreak Protection Society, and veteran Kiwi surfer Paul Shanks, welcomed the legal protection, saying, “The past and current Governments should be congratulated for endorsing the Policy, and the Minister deserves praise for her vision in recommending it.”

The Minister is responsible under the Resource Management Act for preparing the Policy.

Says Shanks, “It took a lot of work from many people to get to this point, and we are stoked to get a positive result,” he said. “There are still a lot of popular surf spots not protected, and Piha is a prime example, but there is room for these to be protected in the future.”

In an ironic twist, he noted that, “Sadly, it may be too late to protect the consistency of the waves on The Whangamata Bar, because of regular marina dredging which is already taking place.” Whangamata is now one of the protected surf breaks.

“Surfbreak Protection and others will need to keep an eye on the Councils, because nobody knows how or when the new Policy will be put into effect, though they are required to action it ‘as soon as practicable’,” he continued.

But today remains a day for celebration, if only for a minor victory. “It is definitely a step in the right direction and everyone who helped get recognition for these surf breaks deserves a pat on the back.” he concluded.

The Surfbreak Protection Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting New Zealand’s iconic surf breaks.

Surf Breaks protected:

Northland
Peaks – Shipwreck Bay
Peaks – Super tubes – Mukie 2 – Mukie 1
Waikato
Manu Bay – Raglan
Whale Bay – Raglan
Indicators – Raglan
Taranaki
Waiwhakaiho
Stent Road – Backdoor Stent – Farmhouse Stent
Gisborne
Makorori Point – Centres
Wainui – Stock Route – Pines – Whales
The Island
Coromandel
Whangamata Bar
Kaikoura
Mangamaunu
Meatworks
Otago
The Spit
Karitane
Whareakeake (Murdering Bay)

For the full text of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (Policies 13 and 16 refer to Surf Breaks) see:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/marine-and-coastal/new-zealand-coastal-policy-statement/new-zealand-coastal-policy-statement-2010/

ENDS

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