Mangawhai Sandspit: It's our taonga

KEN RAYWARD / MHRS

5 Sept, 2022

Against some of the worst weather events seen for years, community volunteers joined with the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) team to complete this year’s grass seedling planting along the estuary sandspit and iconic dunes. It was an incredible effort and well done to all who helped.

Over 100,000 plants have been dug in over the years, ensuring the sandspit remains stable and able to provide a safe harbour for all to enjoy. The MHRS manages this, along with the relocation of estuary sand blown in by the wind back on to the spit using the Spirit Of Mangawhai dredge. Sand is moved to the most needed locations, including refurbishing of fairy tern annual breeding habitats.

For those who haven’t seen the Spirit Of Mangawhai, she is currently moored at the North Street estuary end, close to shore. She is by far and away the ugliest vessel on the harbour, but to our community she is also the most valuable vessel on the harbour with the work she completes. A significant part of Mangawhai history – which a trip to the museum will reveal – we would not have the harbour we now have without her.

Mangawhai can be very proud of having a harbour now recognised as the most pristine of Northland’s 17 harbours. The wealth and life of Mangawhai depends on the health and vibrancy of the harbour.

Volunteers hard at work. Planting helps to protect the spit by stabilising the sand dunes PHOTO/SUPPLIED