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Pākiri residents say there is still some educating to be done about the status of Pākiri Beach, after online arguments broke out about the right to access the beach during the Covid-19 lockdown.
At the start of quarantine, a spokesperson for landowners at Pakiri announced on Facebook that local iwi had placed a rāhui, closing the beach until Alert Level 2 of lockdown.
The announcement sparked an online furore from those opposed to the closure, which was reported on by media around the country.
Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust deputy chair and local resident Ringi Brown said the closure had the support of the local community and was well respected.
“A few people were doubtful and tried to go down for a surf or a walk, but on the whole people were good.”
Ringi says landowners decided to close access to the beach after visitors were coming up from as far as south Auckland.
“The message from the government was don’t venture out if you don’t have to. People were not observing the lockdown by visiting the beach,” he says.
“The council toilets were also closed and so people were using the beach as a toilet.”
He says the Pākiri community wanted to protect its elderly residents, who have existing health concerns, and are most at risk of infection from Covid-19.
There is a persistent misunderstanding among residents in the wider area that access to the beach is on Department of Conservation land and that the beach is publicly owned.
In fact, the access way is located on land that has been privately owned for generations. It is known as Taumata A block and extends from Pākiri River road down to the high tide mark on the beach.
Public access to the beach has been permitted by landowners but has been closed on occasion.
Some confusion over the beach’s status has stemmed from the fact that Auckland Council has established a regional park adjacent to the land. However, the park is yet to be developed and no beach access is currently available.
Ringi says police were supportive of the closure and provided landowners with signs to mount on their gates.
Initially, a roadblock had been set up on a public road, but was shifted back on to private property on police advice.
Ringi says there will be a discussion among landowners and iwi about reopening access, and they are looking forward to welcoming people to the beach again.
