Te Raekaihau Point Restoration

Te Raekaihau Point and Cook Strait

Wellington City Council is restoring Te Raekaihau Point, which is between Houghton Bay and Lyall Bay.

The restoration of Te Raekaihau Point started in April 2010 and follows on from a number of projects completed around Wellington's South Coast that have improved the environment, accessibility and provided more recreation opportunities.

The Council is planning to spend a maximum of $350,000 enhancing the area commencing in 2010. The work will be mostly funded from the Plimmer Bequest.

Plimmer Bequest

Landscape Map & Ecological Rehabilitation Plan

A final landscape map has been created showing future changes to the car park and along the track.

Map of Landscape Plan and Ecological Restoration Areas - Te Raekaihau Point (205Kb PDF)

An ecological rehabilitation plan has also been prepared - this recommends planting locally sourced species appropriate for the area and removing invasive pests and weeds. These are also shown in the map above.

Ecological Rehabilitation Plan 2010 - 2014 (807Kb PDF)

Progress Update

Work completed includes:

planting of gardens with over 2,000 eco-sourced native plants
completion of the pathway.

Work currently in progress for July and August includes:

landscaping
creating an accessway from The Esplanade behind Princess Bay changing rooms to the car park
placing large boulders and wheel stops
organising a community planting day (Saturday 31 July).

Upcoming work includes:

upgrading the changing room and toilets
constructing the deck attached to the Princess Bay change rooms and toilets
finishing off the landscaping and paths
weed and pest control programme.

The Environment

Te Raekaihau Point is a wave-cut platform that was raised out of the sea by the 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake. It is very exposed to Wellington's weather - Te Raekaihau Point translates as "the headland that eats the wind".

Vegetation islands created by vehicles

The area is not in its original state. The site has had fill dumped on it from road building. Uncontrolled vehicle activity, weeds and pests have also taken their toll. Aerial photographs show a decline in shrubs and more vehicle tracks and vegetation islands since 1945.

Ecologists have suggested that intervention will be needed to help the coastal ecosystems recover from the continued degradation, otherwise more indigenous species will disappear. Some of the common plant species present include taupata (Coprosma repens), small leaved pohuehue (Muehlenheckia complexa) and the New Zealand iceplant (Disphyma australe).

The recently created Taputeranga Marine Reserve, that starts just west of Te Raekaihau Point, will protect the marine environment and allow it to prosper.

Taputeranga Marine Reserve - Department of Conservation website

Recreation

The area is used for a range of recreation activities:

sightseeing - expansive views of Cook Strait
stargazing - astronomers like the very low artificial light levels
diving - divers use the area to access the sea

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gathering seafood and fish
swimming and picnicking - popular in neighbouring Princess Bay.

Site Restoration Feedback

Te Raekaihau Point

During March and April 2009, the Council asked for community feedback and ideas for the restoration. The feedback was used to help develop the draft Landscape Plan for the area.

Some of the values and issues raised included:

keeping unobstructed views
retaining the rugged and wild coastal environment
keeping the site undeveloped and informal
making the Point accessible to a range of users
limiting car parking.

The draft Landscape Plan was available for feedback in October and November 2009. A summary of feedback is available below.

Feedback on Draft Landscape Plan (151Kb PDF)

More Information

Peter Hemsley
Coastal Manager
Phone: (04) 803 8166
Email: peter.hemsley