Beaches

The Kapiti Coast coastline is approximately 40 kilometres long. As well as being the location for significant urban development, our beautiful beaches are an important community asset with many unique characteristics and natural qualities.

Coastal Management Strategy

The management of Kapiti’s stunning coastline is understandably an important issue for residents. Kapiti Coast: Choosing Futures – Community Outcomes shows that the community wants a comprehensive, integrated approach to coastal management – rather than just protection – which treats the coast as an ecosystem to be managed as a whole.

Therefore, a comprehensive Coastal Strategy (PDF, 88 pages, 2MB) looking at the coast in its entirety has been developed. It is a long-term plan for the coast dealing with hazard management, access, the natural and built character of local communities, restoration and protection:

Our Beach Bylaw

Activities on the beach are regulated by the District’s bylaw. You can click on the title to view the Kapiti Coast District Council Beach Bylaw (PDF, 13 pages, 474 KB).

In some instances, the Council may issue permits authorising activities which are prohibited under the Beach Bylaw.

Activities which require the use of any part of the beach, foreshore or dunes – such as landing an aircraft (excluding emergencies), holding a special event, trading or providing water borne craft for public hire – also require a permit. Please make your request for special permission to the Council in writing.

Council staff carry out patrol duties on the beach in the course of other duties. Main Security are also contracted to patrol the beach during summer, and respond to incidents all year round.

Here's a summary of the main points of our Beach Bylaw:

Vehicles on the Beach

Vehicles are permitted to access all beaches to launch or retrieve a craft from the water provided they move by the shortest practicable route, as well as emergency purposes.

Vehicles may drive along the beach only in the following areas:

• between North Waikanae (opposite Olliver Grove, Waikanae Beach) north to the formed beach access opposite the southernmost end of Rodney Avenue, Te Horo Beach
• between the northern bank of the Mangaone Stream, Te Horo Beach and the southern bank of the Otaki River
• from opposite Konini Street, Otaki Beach to the northern limit of the District.

Any vehicle brought onto the beach must:

• access the beach via an authorised beach access
• not be parked in such a way as to avoid blocking access for other beach users
• be driven in a safe and careful manner
• not be repeatedly driven back and forth over the same stretch of wet sand to avoid potential damage to shellfish beds
• not be driven onto the dune area as these areas are fragile and contain breeding birds and erosion control plants.

Removal of Material from the Beach

Material is not to be removed from the beach without consent from the Department of Conservation or the Greater Wellington Regional Council as appropriate.

Lighting of Fires

Fires are not to be lit on the beach.

Horses

Horses are permitted on all Kapiti beaches with restrictions on urban areas during summer. For further details refer to the Horses Access Map (PDF, 1 page, 730Kb).

Any horse brought onto the beach must be ridden in a safe and careful manner. They may not be ridden onto dunes, as these areas are fragile and contain breeding birds and erosion control plants.

The areas where horses are allowed unrestricted access without a permit all year round are:

• between North Waikanae (opposite Olliver Grove, Waikanae Beach) and opposite the junction of Rangiuru Road and Marine Parade, Otaki
• from opposite Koromiko Street, Otaki to the northern limit of the District.

In all other areas you will need an annual permit. There is no charge for a permit and you can apply for one at the Council offices or Service Centres. Application forms can also be posted or emailed to you.

Reconstruction of Marine Parade Dunes

Months of rebuilding and replanting work on the Marine Parade dunes was torn apart over the 2005/2006 New Year period by winds, rough seas and high tides.

While disheartening, there are other options that can be taken to ensure the protection of the dunes and road behind them.

A Dunes report (PDF, 1 page, 1Mb) to the community showing some of the results of the damage and the remedial work the Council has undertaken.

Coastal Ecosystems

The Council has surveyed coastal vegetation as a preliminary part of the Coastal Strategy. Over 50 species of plants were identified including some rare native plants and several major weed species.

The coastal ecosystem is complex and dynamic, with vegetation playing an important role. The information collected will provide a baseline dataset to measure change in the coastal environment over time, and will help the Council plan restoration and management efforts.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council has also conducted a survey of invertebrate life in the wet sand inter-tidal areas of the coast. This will provide invaluable feedback about the ecological health of our coastline.