Protesters ready for 'occupation' as Kaikōura coast 'chained up in asphalt'

Tuesday, 21 January 2020

Kaikōura locals are ready for battle as they feel ongoing road works are spoiling the 'raw beauty' of the once-rugged coastline.

Protesters are prepared to occupy the Kaikōura coast to stop it becoming 'sterilised' further by the post-earthquake highway rebuild.

Community collective Protect Our Unique Kaikōura Coast (POU) is ready to up the ante as their signs along State Highway 1 – 'Stop Destroying Our Coastline' – go unheeded.

Group member Sharon Rayner, of Ngāti Kurī, said they were grateful for initial works and the re-opening of SH1, but it had continued beyond what was necessary.

Protect Our Unique Kaikōura coast members, from left, Darlene Morgan, Tim Hawkins and Sharon Rayner, have staked out their message.

'We loved Kaikōura's rough, rugged coastline. The visitors, they come here for the raw beauty of Kaikōura,' she said.

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A designated safe stopping area at Ohau Point.

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The Earthquake Emergency Legislation, which was enacted after the Kaikōura earthquake in 2016, resulted in their community's 'voice and rights' being taken away, Rayner said.

The North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery asked the group to 'reposition' signage last week, but they refused.

They had expressed their views to officials, but felt like they weren't being heard, she said. Their next step would be occupation.

'If they are going to carry on with what they're doing, then we will prepare for battle,' Rayner said.

Kaikōura Board Riders president Alan Te Moananui, pictured on a wave in 2017, says they have lost their freedom to use the coast.

Officials from the recovery alliance, the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR), asked the group to 'reposition' signage last week, but they refused.

'They are there for a reason, they are there to stop you,' Rayner said.

Locals say the Kaikōura coast has been 'chained up' in asphalt, guard rails and concrete.

NZ Transport Agency owner interface manager Colin Knaggs said they asked POU to reposition one sign because it was in a construction zone and 'in the way of road realignment work'.

'We have not asked them to remove any of their other signs along the coast. We respect people's right to protest, however, if signage is causing safety issues, such as masking official warning signs or are in the way of our work area, then we need these to be repositioned,' he said.

The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake destroyed road and rail along the South Island's east coast.

Kaikōura Board Riders club president Alan Te Moananui said locals were never consulted on the rebuild.

'The whole of the Kaikōura coastline is an epic drive. One of the things people loved about it was the natural aspect, but what you see now is steel, concrete and man-made construction.

Major slips cover State Highway 1 near Kaikōura after the 7.8 earthquake hit in November 2016.

'They've chained the coast up in asphalt and concrete. It doesn't feel right.'

For generations, they had the freedom to use the coast, to pull over, go for a dive, swim or a surf. But guardrails made it impossible to pullover for much of the drive, with designated, 'cosmetic' safe stopping areas built instead.

Iron gate bridge between Clarence and Kaikōura.

'They've got a mandate from the Government but where's the communication and the co-operation with the soul of the community?' Te Moananui said.

'As far as we're concerned, it's devoid and there's a big gap between them, this big government entity, and us, the locals of Kaikōura.'

The collective formed in 2019 in response to ongoing works and was made up of mana whenua, surfers, divers, farmers and fishermen.

Knaggs said all NCTIR works were 'essential' safety and resilience works. Their work met the objectives, set by Government, to 'rebuild a resilient and safer road and rail corridor'.

'We work closely with our Treaty partners, the Restoration Liaison Group, and the Cultural Advisory Group to ensure that environmental, ecological and cultural issues are appropriately addressed during the rebuild of the coastal corridor.'

They produced a monthly bulletin which updated the community of their work and would this year host regular drop-in sessions, where the community could talk to them about their work programme, he said.

'In addition to this, we are committed to listening to residents and addressing local concerns, and NCTIR is always available to answer questions.'

They also planned to 'enhance' the journey along SH1 with artworks which had been developed in conjunction with the Cultural Advisory Group, iwi advisors and Te Runanga o Kaikōura, Knaggs said.

Illustrative and story-telling panels would be installed in safe stopping areas along the route and art would feature on surfaces such as retaining walls, tunnels, furniture, fences and the installation of artworks at key points.

The New Zealand Māori Council had backed POU, calling for an inquiry into the rebuild and an end to the emergency provisions, which required 'little or no consultation for new works'.

Māori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said he was asked to intervene after being told the ongoing construction was 'killing the heart and soul' of the community.

NCTIR had a 'full workload planned' through to June, when work would begin to wind down to completion of seasonal works in late Spring 2020.

The 'Connect with NCTIR' drop-in area would be outside the Kaikōura Library foyer every Tuesday and Thursday between noon and 2pm.