Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach is on the East Coast of the North Island.  Located in Hawke’s Bay, it is one of New Zealand's most spectacular and iconic coastal landscapes. 

It is well known for its sense of wilderness and isolation and has the most extensive dune systems on the east coast of the North Island.

Archaeology

Ocean Beach contains a wealth of archaeological sites that expert opinion suggests has the potential to gain international significance. These sites include:
- Pa sites
- Middens
- Pits
- Terraces
- Historic sites
- Artifacts

Ocean Beach has a wealth of other important attributes including important flora and fauna (including pingao) and significant coastal birds.


Land Owners

Currently the area has six registered owners:

- Waipuka Corporation
- Pukepuke Tangiora Trust
- Tennyson OB Ltd
- Ocean Beach Land Holdings Ltd
- Ocean Beach Wilderness Property Ltd
- Hastings District Council

The land is currently zoned as rural but existing landowners may seek to subdivide into minimum lots of 20 hectares, of which after three years they may further subdivide.

There are approximately 32 character baches at the southern end of Ocean Beach


Beach Usage

Ocean Beach has a higher number of beach users than Waimarama.
The majority of users are day trippers whose activities include relaxing, swimming, walking, surfing, fishing and snorkling.

Significance of the Landscape

Landscape Assessment Report for Hastings District
by Isthmus Group. (This assessment was commissioned by HDC and is referenced in the District Plan as a Significant Landscape Character Area).

Ocean Beach

Significance

Ocean Beach, Rangaiika, has the following special characteristics:
- It includes the most extensive area of dunes in Hastings District
- It is the most extensive area of wilderness coast in the southern part of Hastings District.
- It has a largely natural character because of the undeveloped rural character of the defining hills, and the natural dunes.
- It has picturesque qualities deriving from the bold hills defining the beach, the grand scale, the open coast. There is an important view from the elevated viewing point on the road access to the southern end of Ocean Beach.
- The dunes have significant habitat values.
- The beach is relatively close to Hastings and Napier City.

Potential Effects of Activities:

There is a likelihood of pressure to subdivide the coastline. This would compromise the natural qualities of the beach and remove its sense of wilderness and remoteness.

Plantations are potentially likely on hills behind the beach. If carried out in patterns discordant with the underlying landform these could detract from the natural landform character of the beach. Tree planting could block the dramatic views over the beach from the road outlook.

Criteria:

- Natural character
- Wilderness qualities – lack of development
- Integrity of landform

Ocean Beach Settlement

Significance:

Ocean Beach has the following special characteristics:

- Compact and discreet layout
- Unity of scale, style and materials amongst buildings
- Intimate relationship with landform. It occupies a small coastal terrace defined by hills, a stream, and the beach
- Picturesque qualities as a small, intimate settlement within an open wilderness coast.
- Historic character as an example of period bach architecture.

Potential Effects of Activities:

Insensitive redevelopment or expansion could change the unity, scale, style and character of the settlement.

Criteria:

- Extent limited to coastal terrace
- Design and appearance of buildings: single storey, small scale, vernacular bach style and materials.

Download orignial .pdf (15MB) of Report >>