Go to the new Waikawa News site.
Sign up for the monthly Waikawa Newsletter.
Did you know that native Spinifex and Pīngao grasses help hold sand and build the dunes, while Marram Grass was planted by Europeans because cows would eat it? In times gone by, before we had a robust roading system, cows (and other stock) were often driven along the beaches. In recent years Horowhenua District Council have provided thousands of spinifex…
December is the time when we see Spinifex seedheads covering the dunes. Once the plant releases them they will blow and roll across the dunes and the sand, finding a place to stay and grow. Coastal Restoration Trust say: Spinifex (Spinifex sericeus R.Br.) is the major indigenous sand dune grass that occurs on foredunes throughout most of the North Island and…
Rob Cross is biodiversity manager at Kāpiti Coast District Council. In this 10 minute video he talks about the natural highlights of Kāpiti’s sand dunes, reminding us what an important job they do creating homes for plants and wildlife and helping protect our coastline. We could reasonably expect our dunes at Waikawa Beach to be the same. Also check out…
Every summer from 1 November to 30 April Horizons Regional Council monitors the water at the Waikawa Beach footbridge for E. Coli, and just offshore for Enterococci. They also keep an eye out for potentially toxic algae (cyanobacteria). While the water by the footbridge is suitable for swimming only 46% of the time (a historical average), we don't seem to…
I recently became aware of a new publication — Life in the Shallows The wetlands of Aotearoa New Zealand by Karen Denyer and Monica Peters: Featuring wetlands to visit all around the country, descriptions of the rich bird, insect and plant life that can be found there, and some of the innovative ways we can protect and restore them, Life…
Get in touch with Miraz Jordan
Get these news items by email or RSS or subscribe to the per post or monthly newsletter — visit http://news.wow-waikawa.nz/about-waikawa-news.html for details.