New Zealand’s reputation as one of the world’s top surfing spots has been future-proofed by new legislation that protects the country’s most famous breaks.
Under the revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement which came into effect on 3. Dec 2010, 19 top surf breaks will be officially protected from inappropriate use and development.
New Zealand is known for quality waves, plenty of choice and relatively few surfers and the new legislation has been welcomed by the surfing fraternity as well as costal planners and environmentalists.
Seven surf regions
The breaks are located in seven New Zealand regions from Northland to Otago in the south, and include well known surfing spots in Raglan, Taranaki, Gisborne, the Coromandel Peninsula and Kaikoura.
The policy, which was proposed by the Department of Conservation, effectively awards the surf breaks national park status and is designed to give local authorities clearer direction on protecting and managing New Zealand’s coastal environment.
It covers protection of water quality, access or the placement of anything in or on the water that may hinder swell reaching the breaks, and prevents anything that may adversely affect their use and enjoyment.
Protection for further unnamed surf breaks will also be available with the new legislation requiring local authorities and decision makers to preserve the ‘natural character of the coastal environment’.
Surfbreak Protection
Veteran Kiwi surfer Paul Shanks who is president of the New Zealand Surfbreak Protection Society, welcomed the new legislation saying past and present governments should be congratulated for endorsing it.
“It is definitely a step in the right direction and everyone who helped get recognition for these surf breaks deserves a pat on the back,” he said.
Shanks said councils were required to action the new policy as soon as practicable.
The list of protected surf breaks was developed by a board of inquiry after submissions from national surfing organisations such as Surfbreak Protection Society and individual surfers, as well as related environmental
evidence.
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More: New Zealand Surfing / List of protected surf breaks
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