This film and it’s soundtrack was created for free by a community that cares more about this beautiful country than money.

Thank you to, Josh Kronfeld, Antonio Maioha, Daniel Kereopa, Peggy Oki, Dave Rastovich, and members of the local Raglan community for giving your time and effort.

thanks for your support, KASM

Matt was a well known identity amongst the surfing community as a keen surfer with a great passion for the environment. With a Bachelor of Planning from Auckland University he first started working as a Coastal Consents Specialist for the former Auckland Regional Council followed by working at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Matt was also a national representative for Young Planners at the New Zealand Planning Institute. “I chose planning as a career because I wanted to do something for the environment. People recognise the environmental mistakes of the past, and now we realise the importance of acting sustainably if we want to create a better future.” he wrote on his Auckland University profile.

It was in 2009, when preparing for the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) review, that the Surfbreak Protection Society was put in touch with Matt who offered his planning skills and became one of Surfbreak’s expert witnesses to present evidence at the NZCPS Hearing. A relationship evolved and in the following years Matt assisted Surfbreak on numerous campaigns, preparing evidence for hearings, notably the Te Arai and Aramoana cases, and writing submissions for Regional Plan reviews to roll out the protection for surfbreaks now cemented in the NZCPS.

In October 2010 Matt organised a very successful lecture on the protection of surfbreaks at Auckland University sponsored by the NZ Planning Institute and the Coastal Society. He also wrote articles for surfing magazines, the Planning Quarterly and the Coastal News.

Buoyed by the success of the NZCPS that now provides for protection of surfbreaks in NZ and the developments in this field happening overseas, such as the National Surfing Reserves in Australia and the World Surfing Reserves project, Matt decided to go back to university to write his thesis on international planning mechanisms for the protection of surfbreaks.

Matt was given a sabbatical from his Surfbreak Protection commitments to be able to focus on his thesis, which he was due to complete this year.

The flood of tributes on Matt’s facebook page talk of the many other aspects of his life. A passion for baseball, travel, for having fun, a real character with an infectious smile, an inspiration with his enthusiasm.

Matt was farewelled by his family and friends in a service at his home in Tauranga on 11 May. The Surfbreak Protection Society sends its condolences to the family. He will be sadly missed by us all. We’d like to think his spirit lives on through his accomplishments; Matt’s name is etched on every protected surfbreak in New Zealand.

The Surfbreak Protection Committee

Whangamata surfer John Wilson, who facilitated the meeting, explained that “The Bar” was one of the top three sandbar surfbreaks internationally and it was important for the New Zealand surfing scene that it is retuned to that position. It was also one of the 17 listed surfbreaks in the New Zealand National Coastal Policy Statement.

An expert panel consisting of coastal scientists Jim Dahm and Dr Shaw Mead and wave conservationist Paul Shanks addressed the meeting. The scientists explained the science behind decision-making around coastal management at the Regional Council, using the Whangmata Bar as the example.

Mr Dahm put in plain words how the Bar is formed and the sediment transport system that exists in the Whangamata estuary. Dr Mead spoke in surfer terms, introducing the relatively new field of ‘surf science’. He explained how waves are shaped and how they break, using images of bathometric surveys of the Whangamata Bar.

Paul Shanks talked about attending an international wave conservation symposium Spain in October last year and visiting the world renowned surfbreak Mundaka. “The problems surfers faced at Mundaka were the same as those that are happening here in Whangamata”.

A straw poll was taken asking the surfers present if they had noticed a change on the Bar in the last few years. The vote was unanimous to the affirmative. It was decided that a specially dedicated group focusing on the Whangamata Bar would set up a scientific survey method using time-lapse cameras that will enable the measurement of the wave breaking conditions on the Bar. It would be a first in New Zealand. (Funding for the establishment of the time-lapse cameras is required – click this link if you would like to contribute.

The national wave conservation group, Surfbreak Protection Society, would support this initiative. Whangamata could become a pilot for any other surf break communities wanting to collect scientific data.

Surfbreak Protection chairperson and Whangamata local Paul Shanks said “What was uplifting about the meeting was firstly the participation of the young surfers and secondly that we are doing something that other surfers can utilise if their breaks come under threat.”

For further info contact: Paul Shanks, President Surfbreak Protection Society ph 021 2671492 or email: info@surfbreak.org.nz

Coastal Scientist, Mr Jim Dahm, presenting information at the meeting.

Coastal Scientist, Dr Shaw Mead, presenting information at the meeting.

April 30^th, 2012 – Santa Cruz, CA, USA – The local and international communities came together on Friday and Saturday to commemorate and celebrate Santa Cruz as a World Surfing Reserve, in a series of dedication events that included a number of festivities, from an “Evolution of the Wetsuit” fashion show to a spiritual paddle out at Pleasure Point. The official dedication event took place in front of the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at Steamer Lane, and featured a collection of inspiring speeches from local surfing and environmental leaders and public officials.

“The Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve implicitly underscores the importance of our waves and coastline,” said Pat O’Neill, President and CEO of O’Neill Wetsuits, a supporter of the reserve. “It provides additional worldwide recognition to what we have long known and cherished – that Santa Cruz is a unique special place worth protecting for our families and future generations.”

The heralded Santa Cruz surf zone – designated as the area from Natural Bridges on the western end to Opal Cliffs just east of Pleasure Point – joins only three other sites to claim such status—Malibu in California, Ericeira in Portugal, and Manly Beach in Australia.

On Friday night, the community held a celebration at the Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Wharf, which included a show tracing the evolution and development of the modern surfing wetsuit from the 1950s to present, using local surfing celebrity models. The show began with the precursor to the wetsuit, a high-waisted “speedo-type” belted swim suit made of wool, and ended with a 2013 O’Neill wetsuit.

Saturday morning at Pleasure Point, Ohlone Native American Indian Elder and Shaman Patrick Orozco led a moving blessing on the beach that was followed by a beautiful song performed by local musician and surfer Ashley Lloyd. Surfers then paddled out into the kelpy waters of Pleasure Point where they united in a circle and gave thanks to the natural and cultural surfing heritage of Santa Cruz. During the paddle out, local icon Jack O’Neill came out onto the balcony of his house at Pleasure Point and saluted the surfers, which was met by a loud chorus of cheers from all the surfers in the water. Finally, on Saturday afternoon, community members gathered at the Lighthouse lawn at Steamer Lane for the official dedication ceremony, and listened to brief talks from local leaders on the importance of protecting Santa Cruz’s waves and coastline.

“We are so blessed in this community,” said Santa Cruz Vice-Mayor Hilary Bryant, who is a surfer herself and serves on the Santa Cruz Local Stewardship Council, the group that will provide ongoing oversight for the Reserve. “As important as our parks are, the waves are important to us too.”

Santa Cruz received its approval as a World Surfing Reserve in February 2011. Its application ranked highly on all World Surfing Reserve criteria: wave quality and consistency, unique environmental characteristics, surf culture and history, and community support. More than 23 surf spots dot the area’s coastline, with a handful of iconic locations such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. The cold-water marine environment not only provides a playground for surfers, but also provides habitat for one of the most robust coastal and marine ecosystems on the planet. Santa Cruz’s importance in the history of surfing is undeniable. It was the birthplace of surfing on the North American continent and played a pivotal role in the creation and development of the surfing wetsuit, which opened up surfing to new regions around the world.

“This honor is perfect for Santa Cruz,” said Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, a Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve ambassador. “We are ground zero for surfing on the mainland. No town deserves it more.”

At the end of the dedication ceremony, the members of the Local Stewardship Council signed a plan for the ongoing management and stewardship of the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve. This plan outlines how the group would respond to threats that may arise, what type of stewardship activities the group will carry out, and how the group will reach out to the general public to provide education about Santa Cruz’s incredible surfing resources and how to protect them.

“Santa Cruz is a leader not only in the surfing world but also in maintaining a tremendous environmental legacy,” said Save The Waves Board President and World Surfing Reserves Executive Committee member Dean LaTourrette. “We’re excited to honor this heritage and to work with the community to build increased layers of environmental protection.”

About World Surfing Reserves

World Surfing Reserves (WSR) proactively identifies, designates, and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones and their surrounding environments, around the world. WSR is an initiative launched by Save The Waves Coalition in 2009 in conjunction with National Surfing Reserves Australia, Surfbreak Protection Society in NZ and other partners.

A meeting is being held on 6th May to discuss the background, status and future options.

A survey of the Auckland surfbreaks has been undertaken by Council (see earlier link to this post) and the Council has just issued a summary of the results.

The top three matters identified in the survey were:
(1) concern regarding further coastal development around surf breaks,
(2) appreciation or demand for further facilities at surf breaks,
(3) and concern around water quality and/or pollution.

The survey results provide an excellent body of evidence to support the development of planning controls to protect Auckland surf breaks from conflicting uses and developments.

See attached document link below for more information on the number of surveys completed and the ranking of the surfbreaks in the Auckland area.

Auckland Council Surfbreak Survey Results 2012

NZ$20 for a book of 10 tickets (we will post you the book)
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The fully paidup membership for 2012/13 is $12 per person – this gives you voting rights, representation and a voice on the Society, regular information through our monthly email newsletter and login access to our submission documents and reference material.

Donations we could use anytime, as the cost of protecting surfbreaks – by attending council hearings, making submissions and monitoring surfbreaks – continues to rise.

You can fully support us by becoming both a Member and by making a small donation – just go to our website, via the link below, enter your details and make the payment online using either Paypal (if you have a Paypal account) or by using your regular Debit or Credit bank card – it’s that simple.

click here to join or make a donation.

However, it is now under threat from continued dumping of dredged spoil in its’ swell corridor from the maintenance dredging and spoil from the proposed deepening of the Otago Harbour by the Port of Otago.

In protest a paddle out by locals surfers and other concerned citizens was organised.

see the epic video story here on the Aramoana Paddle out video

Thanks to Mark Stevenson photomarkstevenson.com for the water footage, and Ian Henderson for the original soundtrack ‘Save the Wave’. All other film, photos, editing production by Nic Reeves, from Phoam Arts phoam.co.nz