News & Events

Last Saturday Sumner beach was buzzing with community activity as local volunteers (70) worked with regional parks coastal rangers to undertake the annual winter sand dune planting programme. ‘Coast Care’ ranger Jason Roberts has worked closely with the Sumner Environment group and others for several years to facilitate regular beach work days, which have included tasks such as walkway construction, weed removal and restoration plantings.

Not only will the 2000 new plants help stabilise the dunes, reducing sand blow nuisance, and reinstate native species to our coast, but they will also build a basic buffer dune to protect the adjacent Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club and future Coastal Pathway route. The club facility, presently being rebuilt, (cf. scaffolding in photo background), will combine a new set of public toilets and landscaping, funded by CCC Parks Unit, to enhance the whole beach area, improve visitor experience and help build pride for the local community.

If you want to be involved in any future Sumner Environment Group events, get in touch with click here

The Environmental Defence Society has published a new book called “Sustainable Seas” . It retails for $49.95 + p&p. Raewyn Peart, who spoke at our conference recently, is one of its authors. For more details and to order go here.

There are also many other books on coastal issues in their shop.

Over the last 2 years the Coastal Restoration Trust has been developing an on-line coastal dune ecosystem literature database with a focus on NZ references. Some had a trial run on a prototype of this at our Whitianga Conference, which allowed a range of representatives from councils, Department of Conservation, NGO’s and the Coast Care community members to provide feedback. The project is funded by the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) Programme administered by the Department of Conservation with support from members and research partners of the Coastal Restoration Trust. Read more here.

Access the database here.

The Coastal Restoration Trust has recently initiated a project to develop national community-based guidelines for monitoring coastal sand  dunes and restoration programmes. The aim is to provide Coastcare groups and managing agencies with scientifically robust, easy-to-use guidelines for quantifying the status of their dunes and to determine whether restoration outcomes are meeting objectives. The 3-year project is funded by the Ministry for the Environment’s Community Environment Fund with cofunding and support from the Coastal Restoration Trust and its research partners including councils, the Department of Conservation and Coast Care groups.

Check out the full details here and see if your group can get involved.

Christchurch’s recent beach erosion was reduced due to 20 years of dune restoration planting by Coastal Ranger, Jason Roberts.

The earthquakes may have passed but coastal erosion is still with us in Christchurch. If you go down to the beach today, after the recent spectacular stormy seas, you’ll see some significant dune erosion in places such as at Spencer Park beach, and some fully vegetated and stable dunes in others, such as the pictured South Brighton beach. Same day, different management input.

The first line of defence, and the cheapest insurance policy, against such storms is having healthy functioning and managed sand dune systems in place. The stable dunes pictured at South New Brighton, have a full face of sand binding Spinifex in place, trapping sand and being a natural buffer. Without our history of 20 years of persistent Dune Restoration plantings by the community and facilitated by committed CCC coastal park rangers such as Jason Roberts, we could well see all our dunes looking like those also still found today just north of Spencer Park, with the 4-5m cut scarp.

Keep up the great work, Jason!