The Wainui Coastal Adaptation Plan aims to provide a forward-looking strategy for managing current and future coastal hazard risks at Wainui Beach.

The plan will guide development, protection structures and emergency management, while preserving key values like the natural environment, habitats, surf breaks, access for recreation and kai gathering.

The first phase of the project is to understand your values and priorities for the beach. We asked you last March about these and based on your feedback here is what matters most and least to you.

This is the second phase of engagement for Wainui Beach.

We are now asking for your feedback on a set of options to manage coastal hazards. These options are based on the values and priorities you shared with us earlier on what matters most to you about the beach.

Each option has different implications for access, safety, the environment, private property and how responsibilities are shared. We want to know which options you think best reflect your community's priorities.

Your input is important. This is your opportunity to help shape the direction of the plan before we begin developing it. Your feedback will guide the next steps in deciding which options to explore further and how the adaptation plan is developed.

Feedback closes Monday 28 July 2025.

We're seeking feedback, by your responses to the questions for the 3 option sets: short-term, medium-term and long-term approaches.

This means maintaining the current levels of service. Existing structures are managed for health and safety but are not maintained for ongoing protection. Current levels of emergency management, dune care and environmental monitoring will continue.

Investment is still required to manage existing structures especially as many of them are degraded. This will also involve repairs of access ways and stairs when failure occurs.

Continue with existing levels of service but provide more planning/policy direction and dune care:

• Update planning regulations through the Tairāwhiti Resource Management Plan review to avoid increasing risk by restricting further development in hazard areas.
  
• Develop a policy for emergency management, including no unplanned protection works.
  
• Guidance for planting and pest control on private property
• Increased budget for dune care and management
• Develop policy for managing access or stairs – progressive upgrade of stairs to meet building standards and more resilient design.

Sand push-ups involve moving sand mechanically from the lower beach to the upper beach. Push-ups are supported by dune planting to try and restore sand dunes. Relic structures would remain, with aim to keep them buried. Council would require a global consent for sand push ups.

Maintain or rebuild structures within existing footprints. Restore embankments with native planting. Look to develop design guidance and a global resource consent for property owners to pursue protection works on private property.

Construct engineered seawalls to modern standards. Potential to include bank treatment or planting.

Removal of property and infrastructure from hazard zone. Establishment of natural buffers and reserves.