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Coastal reserve agreed for Kaitorete Spit

By

TESSA WARD

A new coastal dune reserve has been approved by the Minister of Lands, Mr Wetere, for Kaitorete Spit, which extends from Birdlings Flat to' Taumutu and encloses Lake Ellesmere. All the Crown land reserved from sale under the 1948 Land Act is to become the new reserve stretching the full length of the spit. A Lands and Survey Department report concludes that extensive reservation of the coastal dunes will satisfy requirements of three acts and advance several departmental policies and programmes. "It is also in line with many statements made by experts and interest groups who see the importance of extending protection by means of reservation,” the proposed reserve addition report says. A maximum possible length of dunes should be reserved since they are relatively narrow and part of a physically unstable system, the report continues. • “A large reserve would be particularly desirable to lessen the .relative effect oL damage, natural or otherwise. 1 whole

length of the dunes is also a protective barrier which prevents sand drift and invasion by the sea on to farm land behind. “The dunes are currently in a phase of scientific investigation which, because of the unusual habitat, is likely to reveal further features of high scientific and conservation interest” A scientific reserve has already been set aside behind a portion of the coastal dunes. Other reserves have yet to be classified. Environmental and historic values of Kaitorete Spit have prompted 11 groups and 18 individuals to object to an application by W.A. Habgoods, Ltd, for a Mining Act licence to remove sand from a coastal section of the spit. In December last year, Transport North Canterbury Ltd, took over the company, which has been mining the particularly coarse-grained sand of low silicon content since . 1952.

The Planning Tribunal has yet

to set a special fixture date for the hearing of all the submissions. On completion of the hearing it will make its recommendations to the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, who will decide whether to grant the Mining Act licence. Among the objecting groups are the Lands and Survey Department, the botany division of the D.S.I.R. in Christchurch, the National Parks and Reserves Board, the New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Society, and the Nature Conservation Council. Kaitorete Spit has become well known for its historic and archological values, both reflected in the objections by the Canterbury Museum, the Canterbury Workers Educational Association, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust,-and a council member of the New Zealand Archaeological Association. According to the Lands and Survery Department’s objection, Kaitorete Spit is unique for its

geomorphology, flora, fauna, and climate. “Over the past few years much scientific information has been written on the regional, national, and in some cases international importance of this area,” the objection says. “The environmental importance is so high that, whatever the value of the mineral deposits might be, the land should not be further modified by mining operations. Extending for about 24 km from the foot of Banks Peninsula to Taumutu, Kaitorete Spit is a natural barrier separating the brackish Lake Ellesmere waters from the sea. Materials deposited from the Rakaia River during the last seven millennia formed the complex barrier ridge. A “true” spit has a free end and is thinnest at the end furtherest from the source of sediment Kaitorere is the reverse shape and is attached at both ends.

The harsh climate and low nutrient soils of the spit have given rise to unusual flora, including the tough sand-binding pingao, scabweed, prostrate pimlea, cushion plant,

and a rare native broom. These plant communities are . essentially in their original condition.

Kaitorete’s fauna includes the uncommon green skink and two flightless moths endemic to the spit. The rare Canterbury darkling beetle has been found at Birdlings Flat. Further fauna investigations are likely to reveal more unusual native fauna, particularly insects, the department’s proposed reserve report says.

The Maori people have a special association with Kaitorete, the Lands and Survey Department objection says. In pre-European times the spit was part of a route along the east coast. Evidence remains of intensive Maori activity from moahunter times to about the middle of the last century. . Along the length of the dunes are numerous oven and burial sites and stone artefact deposits. The spit continues to be an

important source of pingao for traditional Maori decorative work. It is not acceptable to destroy a national-international ecosystem of importance for personal, local or regional gain, the Land and Survey Department’s objection says. “Evidence has not yet been produced that the extraction of this sand is essential to . any industry on a national basis. Much Jias been said on its local and ppssibly regional economic

value to certain industries. “During a’ recent period when the sand was unavailable these industries found alternative sands which may not have been ideal but allowed the companies involved to continue their operations.” The former managing director of W.A. Habgood, Mr John Habgood, says that while the sand was briefly not available the company used Kaitorete Spit saq| that it held in stoc&

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860208.2.132.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 19

Word count
Tapeke kupu
852

Coastal reserve agreed for Kaitorete Spit Press, 8 February 1986, Page 19

Coastal reserve agreed for Kaitorete Spit Press, 8 February 1986, Page 19

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