The future of Hawke’s Bay’s coast is on the table, and everyone has a role in shaping it.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, working with representatives from Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust, Hastings District Council, Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, Napier City Council, and Mana Ahuriri Trust, has launched a conversation about how we respond to coastal change – and how we share the costs equitably.

“People can already see the changes – beaches shifting, roads closed after storms, and insurance costs increasing. We can’t stop the sea from rising, but we can make smart choices together about how we live with it – so families can get to school, businesses can keep trading, and future generations still have options,” says HBRC Councillor Jerf van Beek.

The draft Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy 2120 is the joint strategy guiding this work. It sets out possible first steps in Te Awanga, Haumoana, Westshore, and Bay View, and medium- and longer-term actions for these and other communities along this section of the coastline. These include adding gravel to beaches, placing sand offshore, and strengthening existing structures. The Strategy also highlights long-term pathways that may involve redesigning land use or moving away from the most at-risk areas.

Why your views matter
The first steps being tested – from adding gravel at Bay View and gravel and sand offshore at Westshore, to strengthening beaches at Te Awanga and Haumoana – will affect how communities live with coastal change. These choices also raise big questions about cost and fairness.

The way we fund this work will affect not just coastal households but those living further inland – because roads, businesses, and services we all rely on could be affected if we do nothing. That’s why it’s important to hear from as many people as possible. Your views will shape how options and funding approaches are refined before councils make formal decisions in the 2027 Long Term Plan.

How to get involved

Community survey: Open soon, and will be available online and at libraries across Napier and Hastings.

Drop-in sessions: Westshore and Te Awanga, 29 November 2025 for those who want to talk in detail.

Educational webinars: Three online sessions covering what’s happening to the coast, the options available, and how costs could be shared. Dates to be released shortly.

More information
See www.hbcoast.co.nz for event dates and resources.

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