1 Feb 2021

Kaipara outrage at hoons on dunes

From Nine To Noon, 9:35 am on 1 February 2021

Kaipara District Mayor Jason Smith says the closure of Auckland's Muriwai Beach to vehicles this summer, has seen more four wheel drive enthusiasts head further north each weekend and many are driving rough-shod over the ecologically fragile sand dunes and historically important sites on Ripiro Beach.

The West Coast sandy expanse stretches from Pouto Peninsula to Maunganui Bluff and is New Zealand's the longest driveable beach. Dr Smith is furious at the cavalier nature of drivers who traverse the dunes, running over ancient burial sites, disrupting nesting birds, trespassing on private property and driving over toheroa and tuatua beds 9:02

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Pouto beach

Shags dry their wings at at the northern end of Ripiro Beach photo - LDR / Susan Botting

A motorbike heads along Ripiro Beach in Northland. photo - LDR / Susan Botting

Baylys Beach

Pouto Lighthouse