Active Recreation | Ngā Mahi Whakahohe a Rēhia
Active Recreation in Whaingaroa
Raglan has an environment that is very conducive to active recreation. There is a myriad of recreational activities in Raglan. This is a reflected on a daily and weekly basis when people from out of town come here for recreational activities. During the Summer the town is swelling to its capacity with people pursuing relaxation and active recreation. Raglan has world class surf breaks, offers harbour recreation, has beautiful bush walks and bike tracks.
Active Recreation in the Waikato and Aotearoa
The 2013/14 Active New Zealand Survey showed that 74% of adults (2.5 million) take part in sport and recreation weekly and 94.2% at least once a year. Walking, swimming and cycling are the most popular. Time and cost are the main barriers to not doing more sport.
Objective 4 of the NZ Coastal Policy Statement 2010 says –
To maintain and enhance the public open space qualities and recreation opportunities of
the coastal environment by:
• recognising that the coastal marine area is an extensive area of public space for the public to use and enjoy;
• maintaining and enhancing public walking access to and along the coastal marine area without charge
What topics were covered and who has been involved so far:
We appreciate all the work of the Focus Group members
Please note: this Snapshot report is a starting point for community-wide input and is not a finished or complete report. Your input will build on this report.
Topics Covered:
- Land activities (Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Walking, Cycling)
- Sea & Water Activities (Surfing)
- Air Activities
- Recreation facilities (buildings, built spaces)
- Reserves
- Land activities (gardening, horseriding (Pony Club), hunting, rugby, golf, running/hiking/tramping, netball, rock climbing, badminton (Badminton Club), Blowkarts – land yachts, bowling and indoor bowls (Bowling Club), croquet, dance, kapa haka, exercise classes/gym, martial arts, netball).
- Sea & Water Activities (kayaking, rowing (Rowing Club), waka ama (Waka Ama Club), boating, fishing (Fishing Club), SUPing, swimming (Swimming Club), kitesurfing, diving/scuba diving, jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing (Sailing Club), surf life-saving (Surf Life Saving Club))
- Air Activities (paragliding, hang gliding)
Who is contributing to this Snapshot
Surfing community, Raglan Health & Fitness Trust, Maioha Kelly, Luke Hughes, Jo Gibbs, Malibu Hamilton, John Lawson, Luca Grilli, Dirk de Ruysscher, Daniel Kereopa & Renee Davenport, J Beaudry
Partners, organisations, people
Tangata whenua, SurfBreak Protection Society (SPS) is a National organisation, Te Ngaru Roa ā Maui, Point Board Riders, eCoast, Raglan Fitness Trust. Guillaume Gignoux and Hamilton Tennis Academy, & Luca Grilli Te Mata tennis, Raglan Football Club, Raglan School, Roosters Football team, Raglan Area School basketball teams. Jacob Fyalka. Dirk De Ruysscher. Raglan Mountainbiking Club. Cyclery Raglan. Dirk De Ruysscher, Raglan Ramblers, Light Exercise Group, Pauline Abraham
Still to be included:
Land activities: gardening (Horticultural Society), horseriding (Pony Club), hunting, rugby (Rugby Club), golf (Golf Club), running/hiking/tramping, netball, rock climbing (Raglan Rock), badminton (Badminton Club), Blowkarts – land yachts, bowling and indoor bowls (Bowling Club), croquet, dance (Whaingaroa Youth Movement), kapa haka, exercise classes/gym (many..), martial arts (Raglan Kyokushin)
Sea & Water Activities: kayaking (Raglan Kayak & Paddleboard, Raglan Watersports), rowing (Rowing Club), waka ama (Waka Ama Club), boating, fishing (Fishing Club), SUPing, swimming (Swimming Club), kitesurfing (Kitesurf Club), diving/scuba diving, jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing (Sailing Club), surf life saving (Surf Life Saving Club)
Air Activities: paragliding, hang gliding
Active Recreation Strengths & Assets
The New Zealand west coast has very powerful swells, with waves predominantly arriving from the southwest on the Whaanga coast. The predominant wind is also from the southwest. The surf wraps around Tirohanga and bends along the coast towards Whaingaroa for approximately 2ks. Karioi Maunga lays majestically in the landscape and affords a semi sheltered environment for the coastline and surf areas.
The left hand point breaks are comprised of volcanic boulders that go out to approximately 6m depths and has a steeper gradient that assists to increase the power of the wave along with creating a more consistent wave due the rock bottom. Those characteristics on the Whaanga coast create some of the best surf breaks in Aotearoa. The Whaanga Coast surf breaks are recognised in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 as being nationally significant along with being world renowned.
Future Challenges & Opportunities
Key challenges that are specific to the active recreation group:
For the key challenges that need to be considered across all focus areas, these are the questions we are asking:
The key challenges: (Please note that there may be areas that are still to be completed.)
Aspirations & Goals Identified by the Focus Groups with supporting projects, strategies and initiatives.
(Please note that there may be areas that are still to be completed.)
Values behind the goals & aspirations |
Aspirations vision for long term & Goals measurable, specific, achievable |
Strategies Different ways goals can be achieved |
Projects & Initiatives Specific actions, responsibility, funding |
Crossover with other Focus Areas |
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Really clean water, no more wastewater to ocean discharge. | – Systems that filter the stormwater before it enters the harbour – The wastewater treatment plant has a high quality standard post treatment. – Land disposal of man-made pollutants such as wastewater discharge. |
Contribute to the public submission process on the wastewater upgrade 2022 | Natural Enviro, Infrastructure | |
Protect the Whaanga coast and maintain a wild coastal landscape. Manu Bay to be free from additional building development |
– Manu Bay, in terms of commercial activities, is the place for surf competitions only. – Surf school activities are kept to Ngarunui beach. – Consideration for the Whaanga coastline to become an indigenous coastal surf reserve |
Contribute to the Transport reviews. Contribute to the Waikato Regional Coastal plan review |
Natural Enviro | |
Recreation is accessible to all |
– Transport services to beach and back for our local youth. – Provision of a shuttle bus service between Wharf and Manu Bay during the Nov-April (est. 30min journey including stops at the Recreation Sports Park carpark, town centre, and Manu Bay). – Upgrade substandard road segments on Wainui Road segment to Ngarunui Beach – Wharf to Wainui Beach trail |
Engage with Community Board, Raglan Chamber of Commerce and Waikato Regional Council to create transport for Rangatahi and others to recreational activities including surfing areas. | Transport, Youth, | |
Recreation is safe | – Create a separate foil board zone to allow for separation from established surfing zones. – Support the new surf code of conduct and ensure that signage is placed in surfing areas for education purposes. |
Contribute to the Waikato Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw. | Community Wellbeing | |
Sports are supported | – Forming and sustaining a tennis club that caters for all levels and ages would ensure the sport keeps growing and we utilise facilities we have | Community Wellbeing, Youth, | ||
We have suitable, safe facilities for sports teams, groups and individuals | – Finding alternative fields in the Whaingaroa area would give more options to play games if football keeps growing. Possible venues at the 4 surrounding schools, or on the airfield – Basketball. There is room for expanding mini court at Papahua. Presence of a full indoor court would enable local teams to play competitions and host tournaments. |
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Walking and cycling are supported as they are already popular (as in the introduction above walking and cycling are two of the most popular recreation activities – 60% walk each year, 24.8% cycle) and they provide transport solutions, have a low impact on the environment and encourage exercise to improve health. They also attract tourists in a manner which minimises their adverse impacts on the area. | · Wainui Reserve Management plan review could be very crucial to establish new walking trails at the Reserve ● Rangitahi development will include walking and cycling tracks. These could be linked to Wainui Reserve and to Raglan to create a safe cycling network around Raglan. ● Walkway/ mountain bike track build on paper road off Wainui Rd to DOC land on Karioi and across to Te Hutewai Rd. ● Low traffic / off-road route to cycle to Waikato, possibly via Plateau and Fillery roads. ● Better access to mtb trails through Wainui Reserve ● Update the Raglan Walking & Cycling Map 2010 ● Footpath/cycleway along Wainui Rd to Riria Kereopa Memorial Dr – City to Sea cycleway widening the footpath to allow for shared use alongside Wainui Rd. ● Get the Council’s Walking Strategy implemented and contribute when its next up for review (2021). ● Walkway from the Sports Reserve carpark to intersection of Wallis/Puriri St ● Coordinate a network of walkways on public and private land, maybe private with charges, as at Akaroa (http://www.bankstrack.co.nz/), to provide a network of walkways along the southern shore of the harbour from Raglan to Te Uku and linking to Karioi. |
New and upgraded walking and cycling tracks. | Transport | |
● Skate park at Manu Bay ● Skate park at Rangatahi ● Official skate spots/path ● Skate academy at school ● Local skate company ● Interscholastic comps ● Skate comp on Bow Street ● International competition ● Skate/bike paths with features ● Remove ‘no skate’ signs |
Questions from the Active Recreation Group
1. What’s missing in our Snapshot?