Long-awaited $21.6m Ōrewa seawall opens to public

A new seawall and shared pathway at the northern end of Ōrewa Beach has officially opened, providing long-term coastal protection while improving public access to one of Auckland’s most popular beaches.

The project, which began construction in October 2024, also includes new beach access ramps, stairs, planting and lighting to enhance the visitor experience.

The $21.6 million project includes a 600-metre seawall and shared pathway between Marine View and Kohu Street, along with a shared space and beach enhancements at Kinloch Reserve.

Ward Councillor John Watson said the completed project would protect the much-loved beach while enhancing the visitor experience.

“Ōrewa Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the entire Auckland region. As a year-round attraction, it is always in high use by the community. It’s one of the jewels in the crown of the Hibiscus Coast.

“I’m incredibly pleased the seawall and shared pathway have been completed, ensuring the foreshore at this much-loved location is protected and the visitor experience is enhanced.”

He said the project would help protect Ōrewa Beach from the growing impacts of extreme weather and coastal erosion.

“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and these often affect the coastline of Tāmaki Makaurau, including the beautiful beaches in the region’s north.

“This project is vital for protecting the taonga that is Ōrewa Beach and its foreshore. It will safeguard the beach now and for years to come so it can continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors from far and wide.”

Early design work and community consultation began under then Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt, with the board approving the seawall design in 2016.

Parfitt said the completed seawall was the result of years of planning and investment.

“This has been a complex project that required significant investment, planning and perseverance, but it’s created a long-term asset that will help protect the Ōrewa beachfront and maintain public access for future generations.”

She said the seawall was a site-specific solution that reflected the urgency of erosion at Ōrewa Beach.

“Projects like this are extremely expensive, aren’t easy to deliver and can’t simply be replicated elsewhere, so we need to take a site-by-site approach to managing coastal erosion.”

She said the project only went ahead because the local board made it its number one funding priority.

“The local board of the day recognised the rate that erosion was occurring meant there would be no reserve land left to achieve a walking connection for all abilities.”

The section of coastline between Kohu Street and Marine View was identified as the highest-risk area under the Ōrewa Beach Esplanade Enhancement Programme due to ongoing erosion of the narrow esplanade reserve and the need to improve public access to and along the beach.

Along with the seawall and shared pathway, the project included planting along the walkway and in Kinloch and Kohu street reserves, inground lighting, three ramps and five sets of stairs to improve accessibility to the beach. The design sought to minimise impact to existing vegetation and protect pōhutukawa trees currently at threat from erosion.

The project went through extensive consenting processes, including hearings and Environment Court appeals. The Environment Court granted resource consent for the seawall in August 2020, including direction on the final design to minimise impacts on the coastal environment. This was achieved with funding from Hibiscus and Bays Local Board’s One Local Initiative.