Key points

No data source has been identified for the indicator “Public access to coast”. However, the indicator “Coastline ownership” is used here as a proxy. This indicator measures accessibility to the coastline for the public in terms of coastline ownership. The coast is widely perceived as a public open space, which should be accessible to everyone.

• Public access to beaches and the marine environment relies on the provision of public areas such as access strips, walkways, reserves and conservation areas or agreements with landowners.
• Of the total length of coastline in the Waikato Region (1175 km), only 19 percent on the West Coast and 22 percent on the West Coromandel is in public ownership. 65 percent of coastline along the East Coromandel is publicly owned.
• Coastline with road frontage makes up 26 percent of the total coastline along the West Coromandel, but only five percent of the West Coast and six percent of East Coromandel.

Source: Environment Waikato

What agencies are doing

• Section 9 of our Regional Coastal Plan recognises the importance of public access and emphasises that public access within the CMA - along the foreshore and across the water - should not be unduly restricted.
• Section 3.5.7 of our Regional Policy Statement recognises the importance of public access to the coast and contains associated objectives and policies.
• Environment Waikato works with Territorial Authorities to help ensure that subdivisions on the coast provide for public access, for example through the provision of esplanade reserves.
• As there is a relatively low level of public and road frontage coastline on the Region’s West Coast, we need to be careful with future development and provide generous esplanade reserves. Environment Waikato will continue to promote the need for public land and access on the coast.
• Environment Waikato is reviewing its role in the protection of the Region’s natural heritage and public open spaces. This includes consulting with the public about a policy to help prioritise contributions to partnerships with local authorities, Central Government, private landowners and the general public to ensure that special places in the Region are protected and available so future generations can enjoy them.

What you can do to help

• Let your District and Regional councils know your views on public access to the coast, and the values you hold for the coast.
• Get involved! Join a local Beachcare or Harbourcare group.
• If you own a coastal property and you’re thinking about subdividing, remember to provide access points for the public so you are not reducing other people’s use of the coast.

More information

More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.

What we want to achieve

The community outcome we are seeking to achieve by monitoring public access to the coast is:

• Our coastal and waterway environments are restored and preserved and access to them is maintained.