We must sustain a valued coastal community, survey results confirm

Protecting the estuary for use and maintaining the existing urban environment, with its valued lifestyle, atmosphere and friendly community are the main priorities for Mangawhai according to a survey of more than 300 people conducted during January and February this year by Mangawhai Matters Society (MM).

The survey, aimed at establishing what people value about the Mangawhai community and their priorities for its future, was undertaken to ensure the views of the entire community are recognised, and that Mangawhai Matters does not overlook issues of concern in its dealings with the district and regional councils.

An “intercept survey”, where people were approached to take two minutes to complete a one-page questionnaire, was undertaken by MM executive committee members at two Mangawhai Tavern markets, the January 2 Domain gala market, the community market at Mangawhai Beach School, Wood Street shops, and the Insley/Moir Street and Mangawhai Club coffee carts.

Retired development planning consultant and local resident, Dr Phil McDermott, designed the survey and analysed the results for MM.

Respondents were first asked to nominate what they most liked about Mangawhai and then to select four priorities areas for action from a list of eleven possibilities. While not comprehensive, the list was prepared to represent the issues facing Mangawhai today. It did not ask about immediate matters like the current review of political representation by the Kaipara District Council (KDC), its forthcoming Long Term Plan, or future land use proposals. However, Phil said, the results do offer a coherent framework within which MM can consider such matters from a community-wide perspective.

“By interviewing at different times and localities, we were able to draw conclusions across different groups,” he said.

He has completed a 10-page report for MM on the survey’s conclusions for presentation to the KDC and Northland Regional Council.

Survey results

Coastal features – Mangawhai’s surf beach, the ocean beaches, and the estuary – were the most frequently cited when people were asked “What do you most like about Mangawhai?” However, equally important was the character of the local community, described, though, by a wider combination of attributes: atmosphere and eclectic character, scale and the built environment, activities and people.

The character of the coast and the qualities of the community complement each other in shaping people’s appreciation of Mangawhai.

“Across ages, short and long-stay residents, people are happy with what we have in Mangawhai, and their priorities favour more of the same –only a little better, and maybe not too much of it – as the way to manage the future of the area,” said Phil.

The survey shows that Mangawhai is valued for both its coastal and community environments, and that Mangawhai’s popularity results from a happy balance between the two.

Key findings of the survey and priorities for respondents were:

· Protect the Estuary: This tops the list of priorities for managing growth. It seems that protecting the quality of the marine environment is something almost everyone can agree on.

· Mangrove Removal and Dredging: A large share of respondents also see maintaining mangrove removal and dredging programmes as important, along with improving coastal access amenities. This suggests that protection of the estuary is strongly tied up with maintaining its recreational value.

· Walkways and Cycleways: There was strong support for more walkways and cycleways and for improvements to local roads (by way of footpaths, kerbs and channelling). Improving local roads was the third priority behind protecting the estuary and more walking/cycleways. More younger people and people from the village prioritise such improvements than their older and Heads-based counterparts.

· Coastal and land-based facilities: There was equal emphasis given to coastal activities (boating, fishing, surfing and other water sports) and land or community-based activities (track walking, MAZ, and the markets).

· Recreation Centre: About one-third of respondents asked for a recreation centre and swimming pool, but few gave priority to increasing the sorts of urban amenity that more development would bring (more retail, more land for employment, or apartments). There was no mention of a new library, one of the proposals from the KDC in its current review of the Long-Term Plan.

· Coastal Amenities: High priority was given to improving coastal amenities, the Ocean Beach and coastal beaches, reflecting the value that people attach to the Mangawhai coast.

Interestingly “beaches” and “coast” was the most common reference, suggesting that access to the wider coastline, encompassing the flat-water beaches of the estuary and the selection of coastal beaches from Waipu to Te Arai, is Mangawhai’s most highly valued single attribute.

Summarising the “big picture” results from the survey, Phil commented: “Identifying Mangawhai’s valued attributes suggests that while the physical environment and particularly the coastline are consistently nominated, the reason that people are here and, indeed, the ‘raison d’etre’ for Mangawhai – but today the character, quality and sense of community that has been created on the coast is equally important. This is apparent across all groups and highly valued by residents and visitors alike.

“The survey has revealed that the essence of what people want is endorsed by values (coastal and community) and priorities (protect and enhance, but no fundamental change),” he said. Mangawhai’s appeal has been based on its scale, character, atmosphere, wide activity range and people, and the fact that, as one person highlighted, ‘it does not have traffic lights’.”

n Want to join the Mangawhai Matters Society Inc. as a member and have a say? It’s only $20 per family per year. Please make deposits to 01-0204-0160241-00. Following your payment please email us at mangawhaimatters@gmail.com giving us your name, phone, and address so we can keep in touch.