• Environmental Sustainability, featuring Dive! Tutukaka
• 'Time Capsule' of Maori Life 200 Years Ago Found
• Threat to natural assets (Kerikeri)
• Northland Conservation Management Strategy review
• 'Maori Pompeii' yields treasures

• Court ruling delights Long Bay park group
• Receivers called on Landco owner
• Act of Good Faith
• Endangered bird forces resort delay
• Green Party Applauds Long Bay Regional Park Decision

"...Those people point out a fact that is often overlooked by those of us who live here - that endless kilometres of undeveloped coastline and vast areas of native bush where one can feel complete solitude are unheard of in many parts of the world. It is the quiet atmosphere of the place that makes it such a treasure."
Northern Advocate editorial: Northland naturally worth visiting - and saving.

All Items - new content items in all categories
Key Resources - get up to speed with these items
Articles by Topic - an in-depth look at sandspit protection
Events - activities the society is involved in
Other Coastlines - other places with similar challenges
Human Interest - off-topic material of local interest
Photo Gallery - heaps of images
Links - annotated links to related sites and agencies

Regular visitor? Go straight to All Items because new items will be appearing there, almost on a daily basis.

If you register, you can submit your own material and use all the site's features. If you want to become a member of the society, though, you do need to sign and post off a form.

Pop up a video.

Landco is the most recent development company to turn its attention to the sandspit and Whakairiora, but it's certainly not the first. The area has been in a tug-of-war for the last 45 years or so between private and public interests. Check out the following resources to learn the history of the place, understand the current situation, and think about some possible futures for the site.

Past

Sandspit Timeline
Pat Heffey's chronological account of important events in the history of the sandspit – 1838 to the present.

The Ngunguru Sandspit and the protection of wahi tapu
A case study written in 1996 by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Looks at efforts in the early 90s to get the sandspit into public ownership and protect its cultural, historic and natural heritage.

Present

Close Up: Sandspit Fight
A TV1 item about local reaction to LandCo's proposed development of the sandspit.

Fight for the beaches
A Listener cover story, written in late 2005, about local reaction to LandCo's purchase of the sandspit.

Ngunguru Spit and Whakairiora
Chris Mulcare's summary of events and human pressures on the land.

So many reasons to save sandspit
A Northern Advocate editorial by Laura Franklin, summarising the issues related to the sandspit.

Future

Ngunguru Spit Subdivision
A New Zealand Herald article by Gary Taylor, chairman of the Environmental Defence Society, explaining why the sandspit is unsuitable for development and recommending that it be put into public ownership.