Ministry of Works Files – Kawhia Harbour

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 1980’s. 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.

File 6/68. Kawhia Harbour. Report starts 1928 (See also PW 50/410 Wellington). The file starts with a £300 subsidy from the scenery preservation vote for the protection of historical Pohutukawa trees at Kawhia. The idea was to build a stone wall along the foreshore to protect the trees. The engineer involved thought that the wall should have been built further seaward so that a road could be built behind the wall. By 1937 the wall needed repairs. The trees are considered significant because they mark the place where the Tainui waka (canoe) landed. The waka remained there and was eventually buried (Public Works (Te Kuiti) file 10/0 Lands and Survey Department file 4/196 and 13/20 (Auckland)). An August 1938 report states that the trees needed more protection due to a recent storm. The King Country Chronicle says that a storm a week before the 17th of August damaged the wall and threatened the footpath. Another Lands and Survey file (4/196 (Wellington)), and File 18/1A (Taumarunui) included a letter suggesting that more elaborate walls were needed, but settled for repairs in the meantime. A drawing of the area is included. During 1941 there are reports of erosion between Kawhia wharf and the historic trees. In 1943 The Kawhia Town Board claims that the erosion was threatening property. In February 1943 there were indications that the Marae was under threat. A letter is included to Princess Te Puea recommending groynes be placed. In April 1945, unusually strong westerly gales struck over autumn. In September 1946 there were slips caused by wave action undercutting the cliffs. The report states that about 9 feet (2.7 m) of road reserve was lost due to the easterly winds. In October 1946 comments are made for the first time about the erosion to the SC&RCC. December 1946: proposal for a new wharf. The file of November 1948 documents further erosion of the hill, and the collapse of the Karewa Street stone wall through lack of maintenance. There was also six chains (120 m) of erosion south of the wharf. A report of April 1949 stated; (a) the rate of erosion was slow, (b) the monetary value of the work was well out of proportion to the land value, (c) there was little immediate need for work except for the protective stone wall, (d) Unless there was free money, no work should be undertaken, and (e) if proper maintenance had been carried out earlier, much of what was needed would not have been necessary. During July 1949 there was a letter attempting to arrange workmen to prevent sand encroachment at Kawhia and Taharoa. This was windblown sand from the coastal dunes that had been de-vegetated by grazing. A letter was sent to SC & RCC about involvement in sand dune reclamation (SC & RCC file 50/155). It is noted that aerial mosaics 73/2, 73/5, and 73/8 could be available for planning purposes (Taumarunui file PW 22/625 and SC&RCC file 50/155). There is a copy of the 1939 report entitled “Sand Dune Menace Kawhia County” by L. May. The problem area was from the north side of Kawhia Harbour, to beyond Aotea Harbour, an area of approximately 3,500 acres (˜1420 ha). Lands and Survey Department had done two surveys of the limits of sand drift in 1911 and 1925. The Lands and Survey Commissioner in Auckland concluded that the drift of sand was slow and had receded between 1911 and 1925. South of Kawhia there were some mobile dunes in Hari Hari Lake to Albatross Point, about 2000 acres (800 ha). Some sand blows over “Parawai native township” and into Kawhia Harbour south of Te Maika. Most sand comes ashore between Kawhia and Aotea and this was considered a menace. Marram grass had been planted privately on the North Head of Kawhia entrance, but it was of no benefit as it was planted in the wrong place to mitigate the effect of sand drift. Most of the land was Maori land. Proposed actions included: 3,500 acres Marram planting (£40,000), 400 acres Lupin planting (£1,000), 3,100 acres Pinus planting (£33.400), 400 acres grass planting (£2,000). Total £76,400. The report noted that if the sand did not stop, it could potentially cause worse problems further north. It was finally recommended that the planting of a Marram and lupin belt 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 20 chain (400 m) wide would occur. In October 1949, the Minister of Maori Affairs wanted the sand encroachment at Kawhia and Taharoa dealt with. It was claimed that over 4,000 acres (1600 ha) of land was forced out of production. Lands and Survey files refer to developing mosaics of the area. A preliminary report by the soil conservator in Paeroa (Paeroa file 22/14/1) from the 16th March 1950 concluded: 1. The dunes are gradually moving inland. At Kawhia, access is threatened and at Taharoa, potentially valuable land is threatened. 2. Dunes could be stabilised or converted to exotic forest. 3. The land involved is mainly Maori owned. The Maoris are opposed to civilisation in the form of roads. They were actively opposed to roading during World War II. A private ferry crosses Lake Taharoa and ensures their isolation. 4. It was unclear as to who would control the work, Maori Affairs or MWD. Land would have to be bought, there is a need for good-will of Maori, or fires will burn off work. Maori Affairs has had little success with land development in this area. Kawhia County Council: May 1950. Representations were made to the Ministers of Marine, Works and Transport at Kawhia. They presented an 11 page report on the 16th May 1960. This report stated that dune reclamation could be done with an aerial spray of lupin seed and hoped that things would improve from there. There would need to be a proper planting programme at Kawhia. A report was produced by H. C. H. Pearce, September 1950. His advice was to forget Taharoa and save Kawhia. Plant Spinifex and Marram grasses on the foredune and later lupin and boxthorn on the seaward side of the proposed pine forest. Establish several nurseries for dune plants, particularly Marram. This report considered the work done at Woodhill and Maioro forests, and concluded that it was too expensive to be done at Kawhia. 28th February 1951, there is a reference to pollution in Kawhia Harbour by the County Council. It appears the sewer pipe from the hotel became dislodged and blocked causing raw sewage to be discharge into the harbour near the wharf. The pipe and blockage was repaired. During July 1951 a proposal occurred that stated the NZ Forest Service should be part of the Kawhia planting scheme. MWD files and mosaics were transferred to NZFS. In August 1951, clarification was still being sought that NZFS was taking over. On the 20th March 1951 Cabinet approved the control of the sand dunes to be under the Lands and Survey Department and NZFS would carry out the work of dune fixation and planting as required. At this time all files relating to sand dunes in the MWD Hamilton office were forwarded to the NZFS Conservator of Forests Auckland. Note - A listing of sand dunes in the Hamilton area lists: (NZFS file 27/10) 1. Kawhia 4,710 acres (1906 ha) 2. Taharoa 3,870 acres (1566 ha) 3. Aioroa block 1,236 acres (500 ha) North head Aotea. 4. Horea block 250 acres (101 ha) North Head Raglan. File 6/6/1 Kawhia Wharf. Report starts 1938 (Auckland file PW 27/2). The early part of the file is about trying to get a replacement wharf. All efforts were in vain because of a shortage of materials caused by the war. In March 1951, De Lacey, the county clerk at Kawhia wrote a report entitled “Report on a proposal to develop a deep water port at Kawhia” for the Kawhia Harbour Board. This was a 33 page typescript. It was part of a presentation to government representatives visiting the area. The appendix contains a report by Leslie Reynolds (1915) on the potential for port development at Kawhia. Reynolds notes that the chart of the bar in 1915 was very similar to that of 1854, the original survey. Soundings indicated there was 13.5 ft (4.1 m) of water depth on the bar at low tide. The 1915 report also noted that the biggest threat to Kawhia development was the migrating sand dunes which had been destabilised by cattle grazing right to the coast. This presentation was followed up in 1963 and 1964 by two articles outlining the potential benefits of developing Kawhia as an international and national port. There are photographs of Kawhia and Te Maika wharves. These reports make reference to the Reynolds Plan of 1915. The Reynolds plan included the construction of two moles in the entrance to cause the bar to scour to greater depth. This was the philosophy of the time and was used extensively by Sir John Coode, Colonial Engineer in the late 19th and early 20th century (e.g. Wanganui, Patea and Napier). The offshore bar was found to be 9.5 ft (2.9 m) at low water spring tide at the shallowest point in 1965, but was 13.5 ft (4.1 m) according to Reynolds (1915). This error is probably a function of problems with datum or technique (lead line versus echo sounder). A revised (cheaper) wharf plan was submitted in 1967 and approved with a 3:1 majority. A subsidy was given by Works and Ministry of Transport. Otorohanga County was considered responsible for the construction of Kawhia wharf and also looked after Te Maika wharf for Waitomo County. In 1965, Te Maika consisted of 40-50 houses which were land locked. No roads were likely to be built there as the local Maori had an “anti civilisation policy”. The opening of the new Kawhia wharf was in December 1967. It also had an extension added for a freezer shed, toilets and changing rooms. File 6/68 Kawhia Harbour (Pt 2). Report period covers 1960–1974. This file contains further documentation of reasons that Kawhia should be promoted as an international port. It also contains a copy of the Leslie Reynolds report of 1915. There is a set of photographs of Te Maika wharf and the Te Maika landing. The file then concentrates on the need for a new wharf at Kawhia and government approval for a £3 for £1 subsidy to build new wharf. File 6/68. Kawhia Wharf. Report period covers 1960–1974. The file notes an extension to the wharf, before completion. Part of the file covers the proposal to construct a road to Maketu Marae. The file notes the completion of the Te Maika wharf and that there were significant cost overruns due to bad weather and the presence of rocks that had not been expected. The file also contains as application to replace the Te Waitere wharf at a cost of £30,000. There is nothing in file about any resulting outcome. File 7/0/34. Newspaper clippings (Vol 1). Report covers period 1967 - 76. Report covers some brief articles on setting up access to Taharoa iron sand deposits. In 1972 there was a plan to set up a fresh water lake on the shores of Kawhia Harbour at Puti inlet. The idea had first surfaced as a tourist attraction in 1968. File consists of many clippings from the King Country Chronicle about roading funding. File 74/30/28 Part 1. Coastal erosion surveys. 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. There was a proposal for the Taranaki Catchment Commission to carry out a coastal survey from Cape Egmont to the Mohakatino estuary in 1979. During March 1980 there was storm damage on Pukehina Spit followed by proposals for protection works. In January of 1980 there was a proposal to carry out a coastal survey from Cape Egmont to Paekakariki. The file contains several proposals but no information on any outcomes. 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. 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.

Kawhia Harbour and surrounds

1920s -1980s

Information has been collected from archived files obtained from NZ archives.

Limited to what is recorded on file. Data quality: Varied Completeness: Historical

Original data stored in hard copy files. Digital Format: some images stored as .pdf, to be made available on this website over time.

none Sensitivity/Confidentiality: none

historical