PHOTO: Hataitai Beach. SWIM WATCH
Wellington locals are fuming after one of the city’s most loved swimming spots has — quite literally — disappeared under water.
The once sandy and sheltered Hataitai Beach now appears to vanish completely at high tide, leaving residents questioning how a $1.5 million seawall upgrade could result in no beach at all.
🏖️ Locals say the beach they loved is gone
Nestled at the foot of its namesake suburb, Hataitai Beach has long been a family favourite — calm waters, a wharf for jumping, and a golden stretch of sand for summer picnics.
But after the Wellington City Council completed a 115-metre concrete seawall and adjacent cycleway earlier this year, locals say the character — and sand — has disappeared.
“At high tide, you used to be able to still come down onto the beach,” said Susette Goldsmith, a member of the community group Friends of Hataitai Beach.
“Now, you can’t. We’ve basically lost the beach.”
🏗️ The seawall that cost the sand
The new seawall was built to replace an aging structure, improve resilience against sea-level rise, and make space for the popular Evans Bay cycleway.
However, residents claim that much of the beachfront has been swallowed up since construction finished — a change especially obvious at high tide.
Community members have plastered flyers around the changing sheds showing “before and after” photos of the shrinking shoreline.
Goldsmith said while locals supported the cycleway, they were angry and heartbroken about the impact on the beach.
“This was a little beach with a lot of character — it’s lost it completely,” she said.
“In summer, it’s packed with families. Now there’ll be no space for anyone.”https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/unlock-1-2-million-aussie-business-contacts-no-subscriptions-no-limits/
🏛️ Council under pressure
The Greater Wellington Regional Council has now launched an investigation into whether the city council’s work breached the Resource Management Act.
A spokesperson said:
“We have advised Wellington City Council to investigate adding sand and reprofiling the beach. As this is an open investigation, we cannot comment further.”
The Wellington City Council said it was aware of community concerns and would consider topping up the sand if necessary.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will liaise with the regional council,” a spokesperson said.
“We’ve not received any formal notice of a potential consent breach.”
🌊 Experts weigh in
Coastal engineer Rob Bell said the problem could stem from how the seawall interacts with local wave energy.
“If a seawall isn’t designed with the right slope and understanding of local conditions, it can actually worsen erosion at its base,” he explained.
Bell said that while seawalls are often needed to protect infrastructure, they can come at a cost to beaches themselves.
“There are always trade-offs — communities must decide whether they want to prioritise protecting the beach or protecting the assets behind it.”
He added that many successful seawall projects include sand replenishment from the start — something Hataitai residents are now calling for urgently.
🏖️ Locals demand action
Goldsmith said residents want the council to act fast before summer hits.
“We need about 400 cubic metres of sand put back here — at least enough for people to enjoy the beach again.”
The Friends of Hataitai Beach group plans to continue pressing for immediate sand restoration, warning that Wellington is at risk of losing not just sand — but one of its most iconic small beaches.
SOURCE: 1NEWS