Surf Break Research NZ is holding one a series of national workshops on developing guidelines for monitoring and preserving New Zealand’s national and regional surf breaks at the Piha Surf Life Saving Club on April 2nd, 2016 at 2:00pm.
The purpose of the workshops is to scope ideas on factors that should be considered in developing these guidelines.
They are interested in your opinions on these questions (but not limited to):
(1) What do you value about the surf break at Piha?
(2) What do you think makes Piha good for surfing?
(3) What are the threats to Piha?
All are welcome.
Can’t make it? Go to www.surfbreakresearch.org to learn more and get in touch
You can also take part in their online survey to tell them what you value about the South Piha surf break and its surroundings.
BACKGROUND
The realisation that surf breaks are coastal resources and that the integrity of some surf breaks can be threatened by coastal activities led to the classification of 17 surf breaks as “Surf Breaks of National Significance” in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS). The purpose of Policy 16 of the NZCPS is to: “Protect the surf breaks of national significance for surfing listed in Schedule 1, by: (a) Ensuring that activities in the coastal environment do not adversely affect the surf breaks, and (b) Avoiding adverse effects of other activities on access to, and use and enjoyment of the surf breaks”. The surf breaks research project aims to build a knowledge base and develop a detailed understanding of the characteristics of seven selected surf breaks in New Zealand, namely, Aramoana, Lyall Bay, Piha (south), Wainui Beach (“Pines”), Manu Bay, Whangamata Bar, and Whareakeake. Data collection will be primarily through the use of remote camera stations. This knowledge and information from the workshops will aid in the development of guidelines for the sustainable management of surf breaks. The data collected in this research will be made publicly available through an online portal providing the opportunity for other organisations, including universities and crown research institutes, district and regional councils, port and harbour authorities, iwi, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, marine resource prospectors and coastal developers to use the data for their own research, consent applications and/or planning purposes.
A collaboration between University of Waikato, eCoast and Hume Consulting Ltd. Funding by the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employ
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