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Waiwera residents are asking for the local board’s support to preserve a line of pōhutukawa trees at the northern end of Waiwera Beach, ahead of planned beach restoration work later this year.
Local resident Kate Harland launched a petition last year calling for the trees and surrounding grassed area to be protected and restored. She says recent severe weather has caused further erosion and, if action is delayed, trees that could still be saved may be lost.
Since Cyclone Gabrielle, the popular beachfront area has lost at least eight metres of sand. The erosion has also affected dotterel nesting sites, Harland says.
This year, none of the dotterel nests or fledglings survived after a recent weather event ahead of Auckland Anniversary weekend. The pōhutukawa trees also suffered further damage during the same period.
Waiwera residents have installed sandbags in an effort to protect the trees, but with limited success.
“It’s a precious spot and we want to protect it not just for the many people who love it, but also for its biodiversity,” Harland says. “It is home to so many species, including dotterels and migratory godwits that travel from Alaska.
“If we can get support to preserve the trees until the restoration work planned for August, there is a good chance they will survive.”
The petition can be found at change.org under Save the pōhutukawa trees at Waiwera Beach.
