New Zealand’s best city beach continues to wash away

Ōrewa’s iconic beachfront reserve is being threatened by erosion, with locals saying that the council’s current approach is a “band aid on a worsening problem.”

Recently voted as New Zealand’s best city beach, Ōrewa is victim to the seas recurring longshore drift where the sand is effected by severe north easterly winds.

Ōrewa local John Chapman says the state of the reserve is an embarrassment compared to other beaches on the Hibiscus Coast and calls it an “eyesore” and an “absolute disgrace.”

“The erosion’s been going on for 20 years and people are getting to the point now where they are getting sick of it and something has to happen.

“They have to fix this, they have to fix it,” he said.

Chapman who is also the Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club president says the local board have a limited budget so the council needs to be held accountable for procrastinating over a solution.

“I think our local board is very good, they have always been really proactive in advocating for local issues, not just Orewa beach but anything.”

“There’s tens of thousands of people using that beach every week, from all over Auckland, and it’s being ignored or being stymied by the council staff who are trying to do something different than what they’ve done on every other beach on the Hibiscus Coast.

“It makes no sense at all.”

For example, other beaches have retaining walls.

The local board says its approach thus far has been to replenish the eroded sand as an “immediate response.”

“(We) are in the stages of identifying a preferred long-term management approach for the Ōrewa Beach Reserve Revitalisation,” says Gary Brown, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chairman.

Staff are working with stakeholders including the surf club and Mana Whenua, he says.

Future proposals towards sustainable erosion management will seek community feedback.