Beach Bylaw FAQs
We have put together a list of frequently asked questions, as more questions come in we will update this list.
What is a Bylaw?
Bylaws are laws that are specific to a local authority. In Kāpiti they are introduced and enforced by Council, and reflect the specific needs and concerns particular to our district and residents.
What does our current Beach Bylaw manage?
Our current Beach Bylaw aims to manage human activities on the beach, promote health and safety, and protect the beach environment in accordance with the 'Kāpiti Coast District Council Coastal Strategy 2006'
It creates the rules for Council-managed areas of beach for important things like litter, access, vehicles, horses, motorised watercrafts and environmental protections.
Why are you reviewing the Beach Bylaw?
It’s been ten years since we introduced the current Beach Bylaw and we are required to undertake a review to make sure it is still fit-for-purpose and meeting the needs of our people.
There have also been changes to our District in the last ten years that need to be considered such as population growth and additional or revised legislation that affects coast and marine areas.
Our current Beach Bylaw was adopted in May 2009, more than 10 years ago. Are we late in reviewing it?
The Local Government Act (LGA) 2002 dictates that a bylaw must be reviewed 10 years from the date it was adopted or it will be automatically revoked. There is a provision for a two-year grace period for local authorities to undertake this work, which means that a review of Kāpiti’s Bylaw must be completed by no later than 7 May 2021.
What’s the process and timeline for the Beach Bylaw Review?
We are in the final stages of gathering information and feedback to identify what might need to be included or changed in the current Bylaw. We want to capture the perspectives and options of as many people as possible to ensure that any proposed revisions to our Beach Bylaw reflect the values and needs of our community.
We will soon analyse all feedback together with other data such as our beach-related service requests over the last two years, and, if required, draft proposed revisions to our Beach Bylaw.
We will be consulting with you on any proposed revisions around October 2020.
- Pre-consultation survey and engagement – to end of August 2020
- Formal consultation – October to November 2020
- Assessment of submissions – December 2020 - February 2021
Is our Beach Bylaw the only way activity on our beaches is regulated?
No. The Kāpiti Beach Bylaw works with and is subject to a range of rules under transport, marine and conservation Acts, regional council regulations and customary rights provisions. The Police and Fire and Emergency also play a role on New Zealand beaches.
Does our Bylaw supersede other legislation and regulations relating to the beach?
No. The Beach Bylaw is one of a several pieces of national, regional and local legislation or regulation that governs our coastal environment. It works with and is subject to a range of rules under transport, marine and conservation Acts, regional council regulations and customary rights provisions. The Police and Fire and Emergency also play a role on New Zealand beaches.
What data or information will you be using to inform the Beach Bylaw review?
We’ll be using:
- beach-related service requests, emails and other correspondence received from January 2017 to the present;
- summer beach patrol data from the 2016/17 summer to the present;
- key stakeholder interviews, public workshops, and information pop-ups;
- a review of other coastal councils’ beach-related bylaws;
- media scans to identify beach-related issues in Kāpiti and elsewhere; and
- the results of a survey.