Northern Pegasus Bay

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Northern Pegasus Bay
Pegasus Bay, with New Brighton the spit in the foreground.jpg
Pegasus Bay, with Northern Pegasus Bay in the distance
NZ-SI plain map.png
Disc Plain red.svg
Location New Zealand
Coordinates 43°19′33″S172°41′44″E / 43.3259565°S 172.6956407°E / -43.3259565; 172.6956407 Coordinates: 43°19′33″S172°41′44″E / 43.3259565°S 172.6956407°E / -43.3259565; 172.6956407

Northern Pegasus Bay is a regional park in the norther part of Canterbury's Pegasus Bay in New Zealand's South Island. It is operated by Environment Canterbury. [1]

Contents

The regional park covers an area north of Waimakariri River , including the beaches in Kairaki, The Pines Beach, Woodend, Waikuku, Leithfield, Amberley and Ashley River / Rakahuri estuary. [1]

Geography and ecology

The sandy and pebbly beaches, river mouths, estuaries and dunes provide a range of important habitats. [1]

The Ashley Rakahuri Estuary is major site for birds on the South Island east coast, with colonies of spotted shags / pārekareka and white-fronted terns / kahawai regularly sighted. Other rate native bird species in the reserve include banded dotterels, pied stilts, the endangered wrybill, black billed gulls / tarāpuka and black fronted terns / tarapiroe. There are also seasonal migrations of grey tailed tattlers, whimbrels, eastern curlews, bar tailed godwits and red knots. [1]

History

The mixed sand and gravel beaches of Northern Pegasus Bay have been eroding since the 1980s. This, combined with heavy rainfall, has been affecting [2] tuatua in the bay. [3]

The Waimakariri District Council bylaw governing the park was changed in 2016 to restrict vehicles, horse riders, vehicles and dogs. [4] The changes were aimed at improving public safety, reducing public nuisance and protecting the environment. [5]

The bylaw was further amended the following year to restrict drone usage. [6]

In November 2018, extra enforcement patrols were introduced after four-wheel drivers caused destruction to the beach. [7]

University of Canterbury research, published in November 2020, found vehicles on Northern Pegasus Bay beaches had a significant impact on the environment and other beach users. Dune health had improved after vehicle permits were required. [8]

In January 2021 Environment Canterbury dealt with three breaches of the park bylaw. It also warned people to stop recreational driving on the beach after a vehicle was seen driving at speech down the beachfront at The Pines Beach. [9]

Recreation

Beach activities

Swimming and surfing are safe at all beaches, except at Kairaki Beach close to the Waimakariri River mouth. A surf club patrols Waikuku, Pegasus Town and Woodend during summer months. [1]

Land sailing is allowed on sea beaches and the Ashley Rakahuri estuary, with some rules in place. [1]

Gas barbecues and picnics are allowed in areas free of vegetation, but fires are not allowed and there are no on-site barbecues. [1]

Use of drones and microlights is restricted to protect sea and marine birds. [1] This includes a ban on using a drone or model aircraft, or taking off or landing a microlight or helicopter, in the Ashley / Rakahuri and Saltwater Creek estauarine areas. [6]

Vehicle access

Two-wheel motorbikes and recreational driving is banned. [10] Vehicles are only allowed on the beach to transport recreational equipment such as boats, surf boards and fishing gear, and can get caught in changing tides. [11]

Fishing

Fishing is allowed in a range of places around the reserve. Surfcasting is allowed along beach fronts. Whitebaiting is permitted during the season at river mouths, but a permit is required at the Ashley River mouth. Salmon fishing is possible at several places, particularly at Kairaki Beach. [1]

Offshore kayak fishing and boat fishing is safer in the bay than in the Canterbury Bight due to the lack of strong undertows and longshore rips. The bay is suitable for drag netting of flounder and other fish, particularly just north of Kairaki at the Waimakariri River mouth. [12]

Cycling

There are several cycling tracks within the reserve. A short track from Amberley Beach to the Waipara River mouth, where a four-wheel-drive track continues on to the Amberley Rocks. Kowai Track runs from the Leithfield Hotel to Leithfield Beach. Tutaepatu Trail connects Waikuku Beach to Woodend Beach, connecting to the Pegasus Trail to Kairaki Beach. [1]

Dogs and horses

Dogs must be controlled at all times, and are prohibited in the Ashley-Rakahuri estuary area. [1]

Horse riding is permitted along sections of the bay below the high tide line. However, horses are prohibited from the Ashley Rakahuri Estuary, Kowai River mouth, Waipara River mouth, and between the Waikuku Beach horse-float car-park and the north side of the Ashley Rakahuri estuary. [1]

Camping

There are campgrounds at Kairaki, Woodend, Waikuku, Leithfield and Amberley Beaches, but freedom camping is not permitted on the beaches or shore. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Leithfield Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Leithfield is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Amberley and 42 kilometres (26 mi) north of Christchurch and 11.8 kilometers north of Waikuku. The Leithfield area consists of two semi-distinct areas, Leithfield Beach to the east of State Highway 1 and Leithfield Village adjacent to and immediately to the west of State Highway 1. Leithfield sits just south of the South Branch of the Kowai River.

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Ashley River / Rakahuri River in New Zealand

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Waimakariri District Territorial authority in South Island, New Zealand

Waimakariri District is a local government district, located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Waimakariri River, which forms the district's southern boundary, separating it from Christchurch City and the Selwyn District. It is bounded in the north by the Hurunui District and in the east by the Pacific Ocean.

Regional parks of New Zealand

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Environment Canterbury, frequently abbreviated to ECan. is the promotional name for the Canterbury Regional Council. It is the regional council for Canterbury, the largest region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is part of New Zealand's structure of local government.

Waikuku Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Waikuku is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, which sits 28 km north of central Christchurch. Waikuku lies 11.8 km south of Leithfield on state highway 1 and 3 km north of Woodend. In 1901 there were 86 people resident in Waikuku according to that year's census. Waikuku settlement had a population of 156 people at the time of the 2018 Census. It is popular with both those that commute into work in Christchurch each day and with owners of holiday houses. Waikuku was home to rope and twine works. This business started off using flax from local swamps. It closed in 1987. The nearby sandy beach and pine forests are popular with surfers, swimmers, campers and horse-riders, and the large estuary of the Ashley River hosts many species of birds.

Pegasus, New Zealand Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Pegasus is a new town in the Waimakariri District of Canterbury, New Zealand. Named for the nearby Pegasus Bay, it is adjacent to the town of Woodend and is 25 km north of Christchurch. Once fully constructed, Pegasus will be home to up to 6000 people. The town will have approximately 1700 residential house sites. Retail and office space is located in the centre of the town adjacent to Lake Pegasus

Woodend, New Zealand Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Woodend is a town in the Waimakariri District, in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It may have been named because it was on the edge of what was then called the Maori Bush, or after an early settler, Thomas Wooding. It is situated with both the Waimakariri and Ashley / Rakahuri Rivers running either side. Woodend is 6.6 kilometres north of Kaiapoi and 6.3 kilometres to the east of Rangiora. Woodend is within walking distance of the town of Pegasus.

The Pines Beach Human settlement in Waimakariri District, Canterbury Region, New Zealand

The Pines Beach is a small town situated roughly 4 km east of Kaiapoi in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is 1 km north of the mouth of the Waimakariri River. It takes its name from its close proximity to both a pine forest and the beach.

MainPower New Zealand Limited is an electricity distribution company, based in Rangiora, New Zealand, responsible for electricity distribution to over 37,000 customers in the Canterbury region north of the Waimakariri River. MainPower was formed in 1994, after the Energy Companies Act 1992 required the North Canterbury Electric Power Board to reform into a commercial power company. More reforms in 1998 required electricity companies nationally to split their lines and retail businesses, with MainPower retaining its lines business and selling its retail business to Contact Energy.

Waikuku Beach Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Waikuku Beach is a small settlement on the coast of Canterbury region of New Zealand, about 3 km east of the settlement of Waikuku.

Kaiapoi High School School

Kaiapoi High School is a state co-educational secondary school located in Kaiapoi, in the Waimakariri District of New Zealand's South Island. The school serves 955 students from Years 9 to 13 as of March 2021.

Brooklands Lagoon

Brooklands Lagoon is technically a very elongated estuary near Brooklands, Christchurch. The Styx river drains into it and it is at the mouth of the Waimakariri river. The Waimakariri used to drain out of Brooklands Lagoon towards the Spencer Park end. This changed when engineers dug through the sand dunes to provide a more direct course to the sea in 1930 in order to reduce the risk of flooding from the Waimakariri River. The Lagoon is protected from the Pegasus Bay by Brooklands Spit. To the south of it is Bottle Lake Forest and Spencer Park. The lagoon is approximately 270 hectares in size, 4.5 kilometers long and 800 meters at its widest. Spring tides will bring approximately 1.6 million cubic meters of water into the lagoon.

Punakaiki Marine Reserve

Punakaiki Marine Reserve is a marine reserve administered by the Department of Conservation. The reserve includes the area of sea surrounding the pancake rocks and blowholes at Dolomite Point, at Punakaiki on the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. It also includes most of the coastline on the western edge of Paparoa National Park.

Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park

Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park is a regional park in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It covers 417 hectares on the banks of Ashley River / Rakahuri and Okuku River, and is operated by Environment Canterbury. The park is used for fishing, walking, swimming, cycling and family picnics.

Waimakariri River Regional Park

Waimakariri River Regional Park is a regional park in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It covers 15,000 hectares on the banks of the Waimakariri River, and is operated by Environment Canterbury.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Northern Pegasus Bay". ecan.govt.nz. Environment Canterbury.
  2. ↑ Hall, S D (1995). Morphology and morphodynamics of the beaches of northern Pegasus Bay. University of Canterbury. p. 155.
  3. ↑ Marsden, I D (2000). "Variability in low tide populations of tuatua, Paphies donacina, in Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, New Zealand". NNew Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research,. 34 (2): 359–37.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  4. ↑ Ineson, John (20 April 2016). "Consultation reopens on Northern Pegasus Bay bylaw". stuff.co.nz. The Christchurch Press.
  5. ↑ "Summary of Key Changes" (PDF). ref.coastalrestorationtrust.org.nz. Waimakariri District Council.
  6. 1 2 Salmons, Matthew (9 April 2017). "Drone rules amended for Waimakariri district". stuff.co.nz. The Christchurch Press.
  7. ↑ Dangerfield, Emma (2 November 2018). "Four-wheel-drivers ignoring rules, damaging Waimakariri beaches". stuff.co.nz. The Christchurch Press.
  8. ↑ Kirk, Ben (November 2020). The Impact of Vehicles on Northern Pegasus Bay Beaches (PDF). Christchurch: University of Canterbury.
  9. ↑ Dangerfield, Emma (26 January 2021). "Recreational drivers warned to stay off North Canterbury beaches or risk prosecution". stuff.co.nz. The Christchurch Press.
  10. ↑ "Beaches & Estuary". waimakariri.govt.nz. Waimakariri District Council.
  11. ↑ Nutbrown, Kim (22 January 2019). "Changing tides trap motorists on North Canterbury's Pines Beach". stuff.co.nz. The Christchurch Press.
  12. ↑ "Pegasus Bay fish spots". fishing.net.nz. The Fishing Website.
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