The Taranaki region has a long coastline with rocky shores and cliffs, sandy beaches, subtidal reefs, river mouths and estuaries.
Taranaki people value the landscape, natural character and amenity recreational values of the coast. It is particularly significant for local iwi and hapu as kaitiaki or guardians of the coast.
The generally excellent coastal water quality found in Taranaki is the combined result of a low and declining number of point source discharges to the coastal marine area, improvements in waste treatment and disposal options and an exposed coastline with currents and high-energy waves.
Download this section of the full report 293kb
Coastal Water Quality
The Taranaki Regional Council monitors marine ecology, beach bathing water quality and compliance with resource consent conditions. In summary:
- Taranaki’s coastal water quality for swimming is excellent, with most popular bathing beaches complying with national bathing standards.
- Rocky shore ecological health is reasonably stable at most sites monitored. Sand inundation reduces rocky shore species diversity, but this returns to normal once the sand moves on.
- 43 consents are held for discharges to the coast, but there are now only six major community or industrial treated wastewater discharges direct to coastal waters, compared to some 25 major discharges 30 years ago.
- Compliance monitoring shows that significant improvements continue to be made in terms of waste treatment and disposal systems.
- The main influence on coastal water quality now is rivers and streams discharging to the sea, carrying with them the cumulative effects of land uses within their catchments. This is most noticeable from catchments draining the more erodible hillcountry rivers.
Download this section of the full report 1mb
Natural Character
The rugged nature of the Taranaki coastal environment means much of the coastal area has retained its distinct natural character. In relation to natural character:
- Since the Regional Coastal Plan became operative, 238 coastal consents have been granted, reviewed or varied for activities in the coastal marine area; 96 new coastal consents have been granted since 2003.
- Most coastal permits are for coastal protection works and stormwater structures, followed by foreshore disturbance and discharges.
- An estimated 11.6 km of seawall have been built to protect the region from coastal erosion; about 2 km of this have been constructed over the past five years.
- Activities authorised by resource consents generally have negligible effects on the natural character of the coast.
- Foredune restoration works and sand dumping trials have been conducted to restore natural character to parts of the coast.
The Council’s Regional Coastal Plan contains policies and methods to protect the natural character of the coastal marine area, and district plans contain policies and methods to protect the natural character of the landward section of the coastal environment.
Download this section of the full report 427kb
Biodiversity
The steep cliffs, rocky shores, sandy beaches, subtidal reefs, river mouths and estuaries along the Taranaki coast provide a wide range of ecological habitats for native plant and animal species.
Since the last state of the environment report, 3,248 ha have been fully protected in two marine reserves.
Monitoring of coastal and marine biodiversity is undertaken by Taranaki Regional Council (estuaries and rocky shore communities), the Department of Conservation (marine protected areas and threatened marine mammals), the Ministry of Fisheries (fish stocks) and the Ornithological Society (birds).
In summary:
- Ecological conditions in both the Tongaporutu and Waitotara estuaries are generally stable although they can be affected by severe floods.
- More than 70 different bird species use the monitored estuaries.
- The legally protected subtidal habitats around the Sugar Loaf Islands (Nga Motu) provide shelter for a greater diversity and higher numbers of fish and other organisms than neighbouring areas of reef.
- Extensive reef ledges in North Taranaki support a highly diverse collection of rare and exotic sponges now protected from human activities by a marine reserve.
- There are disparate views on trends in local fish stocks, and quality of recreational fishing.
- Threatened marine animals are observed in Taranaki waters, including great white sharks, orcas, humpback whales, southern right whales, and Maui’s dolphins.
- Reclusive beaked whales have been washed up on Taranaki beaches, enabling scientists to study them.
Download this section of the full report 980kb
Public Access
Generally, the public has very good access to most parts of the coast in Taranaki. A recent inventory of sites of local or regional significance found that:
- 58% had excellent to good public access.
- Some sites are physically difficult to access due to high tides or eroding cliffs.
- Public roads provide the greatest degree of public access to the coast.
- Subdivision offers opportunity for public access to be increased through the provision of esplanade reserves or strips.
- The biggest constraint to public access is lack of signs or formed roads, and the difficulty of distinguishing between public and private access.
Public access to the coast is primarily protected through district plans. A Regional Walkways and Cycleways Strategy has been developed to promote walking and cycling opportunities, including access to the coast, which are best illustrated by the success of the award-winning New Plymouth coastal walkway.
Download this section of the full report 330kb
