BEACH WARDENS

Beach Wardens provide a voluntary service and operate under a Warrant of Appointment as officers of the Horowhenua District Council.

The primary role of Beach Wardens is to ensure as far as possible that the Horowhenua District Council Bylaws are observed and take appropriate action if Bylaws are contravened.

Beach Wardens are familiar with Laws/Bylaws relevant to Waitarere Beach including;

• Traffic and Parking Bylaws
• Dog Control Bylaw
• Foxton Beach Coastal Reserves Management Plan 2009 that amongst other things covers vehicle use of coastal lands including Waitarere Beach
• Liquor Bylaw
• Litter Act

Refer to Horowhenua District Council website for details on each of these as revisions may occur e.g. recent changes that downgraded beach speed limits.

Beach Wardens will monitor;

• Traffic activities such as speed and general safety driving behaviour, for example reminding parents of beach traffic dangers where young children playing near vehicle lanes may not be seen by motorists. Wardens on patrol have direct radio communications with Police for incidents that may arise including an ability to take pictures of incidents.
• Dogs are not permitted in the beach areas between the flagged/patrolled area during the period of Daylight Savings times. Dogs are allowed on the beach unleashed outside of the flagged/patrolled area at all other times -but must be kept under supervised control at all times. Dogs can be unleashed outside flagged/patrolled areas. Dog and horse owners are required to remove faeces in front of the Surf Club and between flagged/patrolled areas. In other areas, dog and horse faeces must be removed or buried by owners. Horses are permitted on the beach on hard sand and on defined beach access ways where they will not damage vegetation. Horses (the same for all vehicles) are not permitted on dunes, foredunes or back dunes
• Fire Bans.
• Liquor controls. A liquor ban is active in Waitarere (beach and town) on Guy Fawkes and New Year’s Eve annually
• Litter Control. The public are required to pick up their rubbish and dispose in bins provided at the main beach entrance. ‘Rubbish’ includes glass, general rubbish and disposable napkins
• Shellfish gathering is done by hand and not spades or any other implement.

Beach Wardens are also helpful by providing useful information for beach-goers such as warning people of current beach hazards or dangers. Parts of the beach for example may become unsafe such as ‘quick-sand’ areas not suitable for vehicles.

It should be noted that persons driving vehicles on beaches do so at their own risk, with no liability being attributable to Council or Beach Wardens arising from vehicle damage.

Finally, refer to the Horowhenua District Council website for supporting information on Laws/Bylaws including the Coastal Reserves Management Plan and therein recreational resources affecting our beaches.