Ministry of Works Files – Tairua / Pauanui

The Ministry of Works and Development was the principal organisation carrying out the physical, engineering and environmental investigations for many government departments before it was disbanded in the 1980s. Consequently, the Ministry of Works files contain a wealth of environmental information about the condition of our harbours, coastlines and waterways, both as they were originally, and as they were modified during settlement. To fully understand these files they need to be read in conjunction with information from other Government Organisations, in order to place the investigations into context. For example the development of the West Coast mobile sand dune problems and the subsequent attempts to stabilise them needs to be studied in conjunction with the Maori Affairs Department and the Department of Lands and Survey files. Both of these departments were involved in financing sand stabilisation projects. Eventually the work of sand dune conservation, (formerly done by the Agriculture Department and then by the Ministry of Works Soil Conservators (Water and Soil Division) after 1958), was passed on to the New Zealand Forest Service; who took control of nearly all exotic forest planting and management together with some erosion control functions where pine forests were involved. From 1958 onwards the Ministry of Works Water and Soil Division was the service provider for NWASCA (National Water and Soil Conservation Authority) and SC&RCC (Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council), which authorised the funding for the many soil conservation activities throughout the country. All projects submitted for funding to the Authority by the various Catchment Authorities were examined by members of the Ministry of Works Water and Soil Division to ensure they were soundly based, before funding was approved. Thus, as the adviser to other government departments and NWASCA, the Ministry of Works played a pivotal role in land development and conservation throughout its existence. These files as a result contain a wealth of historical information about; land development, flood control schemes and soil conservation in New Zealand. Because of their extensive engineering knowledge, the Ministry of Works and Development (MWD) reviewed various engineering structures such as wharf construction, reclamations and coastal aggregate mining licenses for the Marine Department and later the Ministry of Transport. Purpose: See data set abstract below.

7/1 Harbour and Marine Works Annual Reports 1931-1945. 1931 Plans on file: Construction of a new Tairua wharf to replace the collapsed structure. Plan ADO 11280. January 1932: Rice grass Spartina Townsendii. A brief summary of discovery and its uses. Notes on planting or sowing seed. Lists experts who understand the plant. It was considered that the plant could never become a problem because of its agricultural value for grazing and hay making. The report was compiled by Mr. W. H. Hayes, Glen Eden Auckland. One land owner proposed to reclaim 294 acres of mud flats in Manaia Harbour using Spartina. Notes reference .Allen, H.H., 1929. Journal of Agriculture. Vol. XXXIX No.5. This article describes the growth pattern of Spartina planted in the Manawatu estuary. This is one of three reports on the plant. May 1940: Repairs to Tairua wharf. 7/1 Harbour and Marine Works: Annual reports. 1969-1973. August 1965: Pacific Paradise Ltd Tairua submitted plans for dredging and reclamation. In July 1970 provided plans of the channel parallel to the Esplanade and proposed a concrete boat ramp. The proposed development would extend up to the bridge at Grahams Creek. March 1970: The Marine Department approved above channel dredging. July 1970: The Thames County Council expressed concerns about erosion on adjacent beach areas. A Consultant (Mr McGlashan) wrote a report expressing his satisfaction with the Pacific Paradise dredging but also suggesting an increase in the number of groynes along the foreshore between the wharf and the boat ramp to guarantee stability. August 1970: The Ministry of Works Department (MWD) asked Pacific Paradise for complete plans for the area rather than piecemeal additions to existing structures. August 1970: Mr Simpson (MWD Marine Engineer) approved plans for dredging and beach development near the Esplanade and noted that part of the area was under the County's control and could not be developed by Pacific Paradise as it was public domain. 7/1 Harbour and Marine Works Annual Reports 1946-1969. June 10 1960: The effect of the tsunami on the eastern side of the peninsula. Ohinemuri County said that the waves were similar to a high spring tide and a dead low over a short period. Thames County residents of Whangamata were evacuated in the afternoon but no damage was caused by the abnormal tidal action in Whangamata Harbour. 7/2 Harbour and Marine Works: Removal of sand Coromandel Peninsula. 1958-1970 In the 1950s the Lands and Survey Department was responsible for all Crown land and this included river and stream beds. Ministry of Works and the local Count Councils often used shingle from local streams for roading material. To simplify licensing these activities and Lands and Survey issued a blanket licence to Ministry of works to take shingle from all rivers and Streams. The Ministry of Works then issued permits to the County Councils and sent in a quarterly return to the Lands and Survey Department. Much of the contents of this file contains these returns from the different areas of the Coromandel Peninsula and the collated summaries sent to the Lands and Survey Department. August 1951: There several memos referring to illegal taking of sand and shingle from beaches. Associated files Paeroa 24/256, SH39/1/1 and SH72/25/2C/6 also Paeroa 24/1256 October to December 1960. 7/2 Harbour and Marine Works: Removal of sand Coromandel Peninsula. Volume II 1970-1974. Note: This file contains 3 monthly returns of material taken from beaches and streams in the Coromandel Peninsula and sent to the Lands and Survey Department who was responsible for Crown Land. This summary does not include these returns and anyone wanting to know where and when material was taken will need to consult these files at Archives NZ. March 1971: Rope Shipping Ltd. were given a permit to remove 3,000 yds3 (2,300 m3) of sand from Whangapoua Harbour. There was also an application to take 1,500 yds3 (1,150 m3) from Tairua Harbour. It was suggested that taking sand from near Grahams Creek could mitigate flooding. This application was referred to the County for comment. April 1971: Rope Shipping Ltd placed an application to take 10,000 yds3 (7,650 m3) from both Tairua and Whangamata harbours. The resident engineer made the comment that if material was to be taken it should be in the area downstream of the wharf in Tairua Harbour to improve navigation. August 1971: The Ministry of Works department recommended that there should be no sand removal from the tidal flats in Tairua Harbour and that any sand should be taken from the main channel. Resident engineer noted that both the County Council and the Regional Water Board would need to be consulted about mining in the estuary. October 1971: Coromandel County applied for permits to take material from a number of beaches and streams, specifically Papa Aroha Creek, Goat Bay, Whangarahi Stream, Okahutahi Stream (Sandy Bay), and the Urarimu Stream at Melsops Crossing. A total of 9,760 yds3 (7,562 m3) of material was applied for. At the same time Parry Brothers Ltd applied for 3,000 yds3 (2,294 m3) from the entrance to Whangapoua Harbour and Mr Simpson of Whitianga applied for 500 yds3 (382 m3) from Kuaotunu beach. 7/2 Harbour and Marine Works: Removal of sand Coromandel Peninsula. Volume III 1974-1976. May 1974: The Lands and Survey Department lost control of sand mining in rivers and beaches to the Mines Department. Control of sand removal now came under the Mines Act 1970. Ministry of Works now told that would have to apply to the Mines Department for a blanket approval to take sand and shingle from the catchments of the Peninsula. This was a continuation of the system run by the Lands and Survey Department. Ministry of Works then issued permits to remove material to local bodies and contractors. May 1974: Ministry of Works were told by the Mines Department that shingle removal from streams etc. was better dealt with under the Lands Act 1948 and that the Lands and Survey should control such licences. March 1975: Ministry of Works applied for a licence to extract 16,000 yds3 (12,200 m3) of shingle from the Tairua River near Prescott's Garage. July 1976: Pauanui Beach. A proposal was made to take 500 m3 from the beach and replace it with sand from the spit. The beach sand was more suitable for construction than the spit material. Outcome of this application not recorded. 7/2 Harbour and Marine Works: Removal of sand Coromandel Peninsula. Volume IV 1977–1981. February 1977: The Ministry of Transport instigated a requirement that the local Catchment Authority would have to be involved in approval of any sand mining operations. June 1977: Ministry of Transport asked the Ministry of Works if there were any other beaches that were suitable for mining out of the public eye. June 1978: Proposal to mine Whangamata Harbour entrance at a rate of 150 m3 per month. Also an application to mine the harbour entrance at Whitianga at a rate of 125 m3 per month as well as Bowentown Heads delta 150 m3 per month and Pauanui off shore at 125 m3 per month. March 1978: The Hauraki Catchment Board and Ministry of Works agree to work together on matters of coastal sand extraction. June 1978: The Thames Valley Gazette ran an article that reviewed present sand mining permits. Included was a report by R.W. Harris, on "Sand and Shingle Extraction from Coromandel Beaches and its Relation to Coastal Erosion" The report concludes that the existing licences should be declined. September 1978: The Hauraki Catchment Board declined the applications to mine sand at Bowentown, Whangamata and Pauanui. 12/1 Harbours and foreshores: Harbour and river works general 1926-1937: July 1930: Regulations for the reclamation of mudflats for agricultural and pastoral purposes passed and gazette May 1930. File 12/243 Volume 1, 1950 onwards (available for download from Ministry of Works Whiritoa dataset). 12/243/1: Harbours and Foreshores: Beach sand and shingle supplies, Auckland and Coromandel Areas. This file refers to the “Rabone Report” on sand and shingle resources of the Auckland and Coromandel areas. Rabone, 1950: Beach sand and shingle supplies, Auckland and Coromandel Areas, Special Report November 1950. File also contains the photos and negatives used in the report. There are also notes on meetings held with sand merchants, land owners, and regulatory authorities. File discusses problems of coastal stability at Omaha Beach. Cause was thought to be excessive sand dredging. One group claimed a change in climate was the cause of the erosion. An investigation of the long term wind characteristics of Mechanics Bay, Auckland was carried out in 1961. Wind charts are in the file. General findings were that winds had generally decreased over the last 20 years but the winds from the east and north-east had increased. Results were summarised as: (a) A drop in winds over 13 knots since 1855 and an increase in winds from the northeast 3-27 knots over the last 20 years. (b) Slight increase in frequency of easterly winds 3-27 knots over last 20 years. Also an increase in easterly winds from 28-49 knots in the last 20 years with the frequency in 1959 and 60 the highest for the 20 year period. (c) Winds from SE, S, SW, W and NW showed a gradual reduction in frequency, especially in the 28-40 knot velocities. (d) Prevailing winds were south-west and west and predominantly 3-27 knots, while prevailing winds over 27 knots were from the east and north-east. Wind scales used were: Over 40 knots, 28-40 knots, 14-27 knots, 3-13 knots and calm less than 3 knots. The Rabone (1950) report contains a number of recommendations for the Coromandel, including: Hot Water Beach: Rabone (1950) noted this as an attractive recreational area. There were no licenses issued and thought that a total prohibition should be sought for this beach. Tairua Beach: Rabone (1950) recommended that this beach should remain closed to mining. Note: Marine Department file:M4/1965. The file contains a request for a copy of Rabone's study. It is reported here that the Marine Department supplied copies of the 1911, 1923 and 1924 reports as background information for the Rabone report. Following the Rabone report the Engineer in Chief recommended that all beaches on the east coast of Auckland Province be closed to mining. This created strong opposition from the sand mining interests and construction industry in Auckland. A petition was sent to parliament complaining about the beach closures and Mr Sheat (MP) went on a tour of the Firth of Thames and along the east coast of the Northland Peninsula. As a result Mr Sheat came back with the recommendation that that the sand could be removed from Pakiri, Mangawhai Heads and the Waipu River mouth as was being done in 1952, and recommended by Rabone (1950). There was no comment about Coromandel beaches at this time. A 1961 report suggested wind erosion from the east and north-east was having an effect on all east coast beaches. Notes in the file refer to a storm 30 June to 5 July 1963. Auckland file 12/210 on Sea protection is mentioned in 1963. The Rabone Report described individual beaches and their suitability for supplying sand of shingle aggregate for industrial purposes to Auckland City and some of the supporting investigation information. Much of the file is on the Auckland and Northland region with a later section on Coromandel Beaches. The coverage reflects the reduction in importance of the Coromandel area as a source of industrial sand and shingle for the Auckland area. File 12/243 contains a report dated 1958 which suggests the recommendations by Rabone to close all beaches was too harsh and though sand mining had not stopped after the 1950 report, this report recommended that mining to continue. The Rabone Report described individual beaches and their suitability for supplying sand of shingle aggregate for industrial purposes to Auckland City and some of the supporting investigation information. Much of the file is on the Auckland and Northland region with a later section on Coromandel Beaches. The coverage reflects the reduction in importance of the Coromandel area as a source of industrial sand and shingle for the Auckland area. File 12/243 contains a report dated 1958 which suggests the recommendations by Rabone to close all beaches was too harsh and though sand mining had not stopped after the 1950 report, this report recommended that mining to continue. A 1961 report suggested wind erosion from the east and north-east was having an effect on all east coast beaches. Notes in the file refer to a storm 30 June to 5 July 1963. Auckland file 12/210 on Sea protection is mentioned in 1963. File 6/138. Coromandel Wharf Report starts 1944 (Associated files Works (Paeroa) 7/8 Marine Dept 13/881). On the 23rd April 1948 when reporting on work for the Marine Department, it was noted that storm damage at Tairua held up work on the wharf reconstruction. A report from November 1951 contained a summary of events from 1939 to 1951. In October 1957 the Council was getting concerned about increased erosion. They decided to request expert advice from MWD. There is a comment that the wharf at Ohiwa Harbour (Port Ohope) was constructed as an emergency wharf for Whakatane Township. File 96/123 000. Tairua River Report covers period 1938 –1962. In August 1938 there was an application for a timber floating license for the Oturu Stream to get timber to Tairua. There was to be no dams along the stretch of water (Lands and Survey file 15/236) & (MWD Paeroa 10/5 Works Auckland 12/176). A firm was required to pay a bond for damage to the road and bridge by logs if they got out of control. It was noted that tidal waters had been over the road to a depth of 18” (0.5 m) in the past. The milling company once they had received a license started milling a catchment above Hikuai and the settlers complained because the increased run off could cause more serious flooding than in the past. It was also claimed that the logs were damaging their property. In September 1939 a report recommended that the State Forest Service start to re-afforest the Tairua catchment to prevent flooding on the lowlands that occurred several times a year at Hikuai. By 1961, the farmers were complaining about the willow growth along the banks of the Tairua River above Hikuai Bridge to Boom Creek causing flooding. A proposal was created to straighten part of the Tairua River by the Hikuai confluence and divert Boom Creek to lessen the water backup. A programme of willow removal was also planned. There is no further information on whether this plan was carried out. File 96/124 000. Tairua Harbour Report covers period 1976-83(1) File starts 1929. It commences with a request for a £1 for £1 subsidy for the renewal of the Tairua Wharf. (Wellington files, PW63/227, PW M4/62, Auckland 12/176 Paeroa 7/27). In 1934 an application to the county was made to prospect for gold in the harbour using dredges. Cory-Wright objected suggesting that the operation would endanger the harbour entrance (Marine file M4/2828). A Paeroa Engineers report indicates that dredging could go ahead provided that siltation of the Tairua and Hikuai wharves was kept to a minimum and a channel between these wharves was maintained. Road transport was beginning to supersede boat transport up the estuary. In 1945 there was a further review of the wharf. It was found that the wharf was necessary for freight, as costs were lower than road transport. The report recommended spending £1,800 on rebuilding the wharf to keep the steamer freight service for: butter, etc - going out, and salt, petrol and oil coming in. There were three petrol supplies in the valley in 1945. Farmers were using petrol and oil powered farm machinery and milking machines. There was a proposal to construct the wharf from a solid earth mole with a piled wooden tee on the end. There was a fear that such construction would lead to scouring or siltation problems. There was a belief that tidal flows were 6 knots on the ebb and 10 knots during floods. Thus the Council opted for the pile construction rather than the earth fill construction. In September the minister told Works to take the construction job from the County and collect the relevant information for the design and build option. Rocks seaward of the wharf were ballast stones dropped by incoming vessels. Refer to the conditions laid down by MOT that ballast stones had to be disposed of in a suitable manner not to damage the harbour. In January, Works advised that the work on the wharf should be delayed as the construction of the proposed Kauaeranga–Hikuai road would render the wharf uneconomic. Alternatively, there could be a need for the wharf as there was likely to be a boost in tourist traffic with the new road access. As part of the investigation a hydrographic chart of the estuary in the vicinity of the wharf was drawn. Some current meter observations revealed maximum ebb flow was 3 knots. Note: Storm damage in 1948 held up work. Presumably temporary repairs to the wharf had been made. The record jumps to 1958 with a statement that at the time the wharf was in such a state that it should be dismantled. (Note: Files Hamilton 6/114 and Tauranga 16/44). It appears that between 1948 and 1958 a new wharf was built costing £6000 but was derelict in three years because of Teredo worm rot. In 1958 the proposal was for a solid mole to replace the wharf. In March 1962, there was a discussion about finishing the causeway crossing Graham’s Creek using two 36” (0.9 m) culverts. An MWD engineer refused to approve the proposal because the stream needed a bigger waterway. E.g. SH bridge has 240 ft2 (22.3 m2) waterway. April 1962 saw the first proposal for a wharf at the foot of Paku. March 1967 saw the MWD recommend removal of several thousand cubic yards of sand from Pepe Inlet. MWD wanted 5000 yd3 for roading. In April 1969 there was a proposal to put a weir in Pepe estuary in order to create a lake. Water exchange was to be at high tide only although there was to be a mechanism that would enable a total change of water if necessary. Note: this is similar to the proposed lake at Kawhia Harbour 1968. In January 1970 Pacific Paradise applied for a permit for marina development and channel improvements. This proposal was a variation on an earlier proposal that had been turned down. This proposal led to a further investigation by the engineer at Paeroa who noted that during SW storms wave action is severe on the north end of Tairua harbour, and any further deepening of the channel could lead to erosion along the northern shoreline. In 1970 there is a note stating that the Pepe bridge is to be replaced in the next 10–20 years. The Works hydraulic engineer commented that Mason’s proposal to dredge the channel to the boat ramp at Paku was unwise and likely to cause channel instability problems. Plans for the development are contained in a pocket in the file. MWD file M54/3/414 and M4/564 deal with the Tairua proposal. There are several letters from R. A. Simpson, a marine engineer. (Other applicable files are; Wellington 74/40/10, Hauraki CB W.81 Marine dept Auckland 54/2/44). In May 1972, the New Zealand Forest Service applied to drain the swamp land in Duck Creek (MWD file Hamilton 50/1/17). There was also a ministerial inquiry into storm water engineering by Pacific Paradise causing problems for residents on Paku. In October 1965, MWD had the Tairua estuary flown. Photographs 179 and 180 cover the lower estuary. These photographs are held in the Paeroa office. During January 1974, a Hauraki file 1/19/12, was created containing a proposal by the Hauraki Catchment Board to install four water level recorders in the Tairua catchment (MWD Paeroa file 7/1). 1. At the Tairua wharf, 2. At the stockyards south of the Hikuai confluence, 3. SH bridge near the Hikuai school, 4. Puketui bridge (Broken Hills). On May the 31st 1974, a strong recommendation was given that the marina proposal not be approved. The reasons cited were; sloppy engineering, poor planning, no car parks, no fuel point and no provision for access to Paku during holiday time. There were no detailed plans of any of the proposed structures. In June 1974, there is a letter detailing the requirements for a licence to occupy the foreshore and seabed for the use of a marina, sent to Pacific Paradise Ltd to ensure a complete and detailed application. No further details were given. A report by R. W. Harris, (Hauraki CB file 2/11/0) entitled ‘Foredune erosion and levelling of foredunes, Coromandel Peninsula, with particular reference to Pauanui’ is contained in the file (From August 1974). The report notes the foredune erosion at Waihi Beach and the extensive engineering needed to correct it. At Whangamata the active erosion ceased naturally. At Whitianga between the wharf and the east end of Buffalo Beach there was serious erosion. This erosion was blamed on easterly storms. At Pauanui the dunes were levelled and grassed and the scrub pines removed and replaced with shrubs. It was concluded that development must be 60 m back from the dune toe and the sand levelled dunes can be an asset if maintained properly. In 1975 there was a silting problem on the lowlands below Boom Creek. The NZ Forest Service was blamed for the problem through their roading and their clearing of the catchment prior to planting. There was a flood May–June 1975 that caused silting of quite a large area of farmland. There is a set of photographs taken by the Paeroa soil conservation officer showing the condition of the Boom Creek catchment in October 1975. File 96/124 000. Tairua Harbour 1976–1983 (2) File starts with a report plus photographs of the flood damage caused by a moderate storm in June 1975 in Boom Creek. This event caused silting on some farm land on the flood plain. There is a report by the Hauraki Catchment Board entitled Tairua River Discharge Investigation March 1976. This file contains the Hauraki Catchment Board and Regional Water Board’s “Report on the (estuary) Harbour of the Tairua River” by R. W. Harris, July 1977. The report highlights the present problems of flooding from extra reclamations, removing estuary storage. The report notes that the lack of sewage facilities represents potential estuary pollution problems. There are more references to the above report and the proposed developments such as the Turners reclamation proposed in Pepe inlet. It is also noted that there is a need for a public sewage system so that the public amenities could be built without the need for a septic tank disposal area. In July 1978 the Thames –Coromandel District Council approved the reclassification of Ocean Beach and Paku from rural A to residential and part rural C in part of the Council’s regional plan. The Hauraki Catchment Board appealed the decision because of the potential for erosion problems. Prime HCB (file 40/42 [K3/10/103]) MWD Soil Conservation tried to stop the tree felling on the Devich Block (Family trust), a native forest block on the 4th Branch of the Tairua River. The grounds for objection were erosion of the hill slopes, slips threatening the highway and sedimentation in the estuary and stream channel. The rest of the file deals with water supply and sewage disposal at Pauanui Spit. File 96/124 000. Tairua Harbour 1976-83 (3) MWD file 72/25/2C/7 (Highways file). When designing the SH bridge at Hikuai discussions were held about the effect of silting in the estuary on backwater curves during floods. However, there does not appear to be any evidence concerning the rate of infilling of the estuary in 1981. The storm from the 12-14th April 1981 and flood caused significant sediment deposition on farm land and in the estuary. It was the largest flood in living memory. The file contains a “Report on the proposed foreshore setback for building and protection at Pauanui, Coromandel Peninsula” by S. J. Corryer (Consulting Geologist 11 November 1980). This report contends that the Pauanui beach is prograding. The HCB report 114 using aerial photographic evidence contended that the beach was eroding. A review of the survey data showed the high water mark of 1895 as being landward of the dune toe in 1978 suggesting that the beach is stable. File 96/124 000. Tairua Harbour 1976–1983 (4) There is a copy of the hydrographic survey carried out by the Navy, dated 28 July 1983. There is a comment including the appeal notice of the Tairua Harbour and Watershed Protection Society about the proposed pipeline from Oturu Creek to supply water for Pauanui. Details of the data are not included on file. File 96/123 000. Hikuai River 1951–1959 Need the Auckland file 12/176 for clarification. This file contains a report written on the 6th July 1939, which deals with the flooding problem in the Hikuai catchment (File 2/70 from Paeroa 1939). A 1951 report notes that much of the catchment consisted of burnt over scrub which had severe sheet and rill erosion. This created a landscape of low fertility. There was some stream bank erosion but none worse than in 1939. There was a recommendation to remove willows from the stream banks because they were reducing flood flows. One farmer tried for a £1 for £1 subsidy to dewater 85 acres of wetland. This was approved as a result his neighbour then applied for a similar subsidy. The outcome of the second application was not given. File 47/16. Tairua Harbour During May 1967, a permit was issued to the Ministry of Works to take 5,000 yds3 sand from up- stream of the SH 25 Bridge over the Pepe estuary. There are no details about the investigation or how the extraction was to be done, other than the presence of the County Engineer as a supervisor of the operation. During February 1971, Rope Shipping applied to take 1,500 yds3 (1,150 m3) sand from the mouth of Tairua estuary. An application for a further 10,000 yds3 (7,650 m3) was made by the Rope Construction Co. It was suggested that the Harbourmaster at Tairua may like to supervise these extractions once details or the location of the extraction had been finalised. There was a thought that removal of material from either side of the sand spur that separated Grahams Creek from the main channel may cause longer-term instability of the channel, and erosion of the area between Pacific Paradise and the stone jetty. A permit to take the 1,500 yds3 was granted subject to comments by the Water Board (Hauraki Catchment Board). The request to take 10,000 yds3 could not be traced in the MOT filing system even though Works had a record of the application. In May 1975, Works applied to remove 7,000 m3 sand and shingle from the Tairua River opposite Prescott’s Service station and just downstream of Boom Creek for use in road construction. A Map in file needs scanning. In August 1978, a request was made to take sand from the Entrance to Tairua Harbour, Whangamata Harbour, Whitianga Harbour and Bowentown Harbour. The Regional Water Board refused to approve these applications on the grounds that not enough was known about the sediment budgets at each of the sites. This refusal was the first since the Sand and Shingle Report commissioned by the Board had been made publicly available. This report stated that if sediment was to be taken from a beach and it could not be proven that it was part of an open system, (i.e. with new material entering the beach) then it would be assumed it was a closed system and therefore no surplus material for extraction existed. File 47/16. Pauanui Beach Pauanui Ocean Beach Resort Ltd applied to remove 500 m3 of material from below high water mark and replace it with wind blown sand from inland parts of the spit. The engineer thought that the windblown sand would be unsuitable as fill and that there was also a significant risk that the local shellfish population would be adversely effected. The effects of removing material from this beach, which was thought to be is a state of balance was unknown and therefore the engineer was reluctant to give approval. He made the comment that it was surprising at this late stage in the development of the spit that the company were applying for a permit to take sand when there had already been a lot of sand used in the construction of housing on the spit. Where was this sand obtained previously? File 74/30/28 Part 1. Coastal erosion surveys, and File 74/30/28 (pt 1). Coastal Erosion Surveys Both files commences in 1974. Note: these files are nearly duplicates of each other and contain much of the same information. Report covers period 1974 to 1983. BOPCC file 21/4. The file notes the existence of the Bay of Plenty Coastal Erosion Survey (1977) and the Coromandel Coastal Survey (1981). The storms of July 1978 appear to have started a review of protection works around the coast. The list includes; Kawhia 1953, Ohope 1954 (Tropical cyclone) Maketu Domain 1965, Waihi Beach 1968 Ohiwa 1969 Whitianga Esplanade 1969 Whangamata 1970, Kawhia 1970, Whitianga 1970, Waihi Beach 1971, Ohiwa 1972, Aotea 1972, Whitianga 1972, Ohope 1973, Miranda 1975, Waihi 1975, Kawhia community shore 1975, Waihi estuary 1977, Marakopa estuary 1974. Pauanui was scarped and Tairua beach was scarped and waves went over the southern end low spot, where present Hemi Place is, and flowed into the estuary. The entrance also appeared to be widened. Tidal surges in the estuary caused flooding on the foreshore between the state highway and Paku. Tairua Beach had been scarped for the full length and waves had overtopped the dunes at Paku end and flowed into the harbour. Storm surges flooded the area between SH25 and Paku (Grahams Creek?).MWD (Attwood) suggests that beach profiling is expensive and sometimes misleading and therefore recommended the use of aerial photographs to determine the position of the dune toe on each beach. No further information. File 74/30/5/1/1 (pt 2). Hauraki Catchment Board Hydrology; Operational surveys File contains a proposal for a thesis studying the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula by Mr Reitema. There is no information on whether this study went ahead.

Tairua Ocean Beach, Pauanui Beach and Tairua Harbour.

hard copy files. Some scanned images stored with Regional Council available on request.

Sensitivity/Confidentiality: None

Historical