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Weld Road Reserve

Weld Road Reserve Survey

Tell us how you use the coastline between Ahu Ahu Road and Lower Weld Road.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) has asked NPDC to review access at Weld Road Reserve due to ongoing damage of the archaeological site of Hauranga Pā.

An archaeological assessment has confirmed the damage, which is being caused by the expansion and degrading of informal pathways as they are used.

This issue has been a matter of considerable public interest since 2009.  In 2019, NPDC worked with the local hapū and the community to educate walkers through signs telling of the historical and cultural significance of the site.  The intention was that the community could make informed decisions about whether they would use the track to cross the site or to respect the wishes of local hapū and use the access around the beach. 

The signs have not achieved the desired result of reducing public use of the tracks and the damage has got worse.  Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is now requiring us to explore better protection for the site under the HNZPT Act.

NPDC is aware the tracks are being used by the community, particularly for cycling/mountain biking, instead of beach access around the headland.  The beach access is a walk of about one to two minutes.  At very high tides waves can sometimes come right up to the base of the headland/cliff.  For very short periods, some high tides can temporarily stop public access along the beach. 

NPDC has a legal responsibility to prevent the ongoing damage, as such we are currently exploring options to address this.  It is likely to involve managing access to the track and re-direction of the public along the beach.  In the medium to long term we want to explore possibilities for other walking/cycling access.

To help us explore options we need to know how you use the area through the following survey.  The survey will be open for input over the summer for comment.
1. How often do you go along the coast between Ahu Ahu Road and the end of Weld Road Reserve via the swing bridge? *This question is required.
3. What do you use the Weld Road Reserve (the headland between the swing bridge and end of Weld Road) for? Select all that apply.
4. Do you use the beach or reserve for access between Ahu Ahu and end of Weld Road? 
5. Were you aware that the site is an archaeological site with cultural significance? *This question is required.
6. Do you think there should be formal access around the headland in addition to the beach for walking or is the beach sufficient?
Nb. On occasion the streams shift and block beach access, Council has a current consent to fix this if and when it might occur. *This question is required.
7. Do you think that we should plan for infrastructure to support cycling/mountain biking along this part of the coast? *This question is required.
10. Do you live in Ōākura?
This question requires a valid email address.
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