Kotahi Coastal Environment

Hawke's Bay has over 350 kilometres of open coast and estuary shoreline. This includes rocky shores, cliffs, dunes, sandy beaches and gravel beaches. The natural geology of the region’s coastline provides a diverse range of homes for the creatures that live at the edge of the coast and in the sea.  

In the south, coastal cliffs, sandy beaches, extensive dune systems and rock platforms characterise the coastline between Cape Turnagain and Cape Kidnappers. River mouths, estuaries, gravel beaches and herb fields are typical coastal habitats between Te Awanga and Tangoio.  

In central areas north of Tangoio, steep cliffs and associated rocky reefs extend up to the Waikari River mouth. Between the Waikari and Nuhaka river mouths the coastline is typically low-lying dunes and sand and gravel beaches.  

In the north of the region, the Mahia Peninsula has large sandy beaches, extensive dune systems and expansive rock platforms.  

The Hawke Bay coast and marine environment has: 

• 5 major estuaries: Porangahau, Waitangi, Ahuriri, Wairoa and Maungawhio 
  
• 21 significant coastal areas 
  
• A sub-tidal area that covers 701,372 hectares 
  
• Large rocky reefs at Bull Rock, Portland Island and Long Point (Mahia Peninsula) 
  
• Pania Reef, Black Reef, Hinemahanga rocks and inshore reefs between Aramoana and Paoanio Point 
  
• Deep reef and sandbanks in the Lachlan ridge, southwest of Mahia 

The health of the coast and the sea life it sustains support the values held by the community, including for customary rights and practices, native species, mahinga kai, landscape and natural character, extensive recreational activities and underpin a substantial economic contribution to the Hawke's Bay region. 

The coast and marine ecosystems face variouspressures from human activities, including the effects of contaminants – especially sediment, nutrients and urban pollutants – entering the estuaries and coast, structures such as navigation aids, wharves and coastal erosion structures, and other activities such as vehicle use, dredging and fishing. 

Further to the human impacts oncoast and marine areas, climate change effects include sea level rise, consequential inundation and increased erosion, all of which require active management.   

There is a need to better reflect Māori in managing and monitoring the coastal environment and marine area including for kai moana and native species. 

The current plans to manage the coastal environment and marine areas of Hawke's Bay are out-dated. They require review to ensure they give effect to national Policy, particularly the NZCPS.  Freshwater also needs to be managed in a more integrated way, given its direct inputs into estuaries and open coastal waters.