Swimming at the beach
Our beaches are generally very safe for swimming. You can find out more about each beach at Kāpiti beaches.
Paekākāriki and Ōtaki beaches have surf life guards on duty at times, and it's safest to follow their directions.
Check the Facebook pages for Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards, and Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club for information about their patrols.
Recreational water quality
We regularly monitor our beaches in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Kāpiti's water cleanliness is generally safe for swimming and other water-based recreational activities, but we recommend regularly checking if it's safe to swim, from Greater Wellington Regional Council.
It's always a good idea to wait 48 hours after heavy rain before you swim again. More information can be found at Recreational water quality.
- Coastal Management Strategy (PDF, 2.06 MB)
- Beach Bylaw 2021 (PDF, 2.17 MB)
- Surf Lifesaving New Zealandlaunch