Pukehina

Pukehina is a beach and township located in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It consists of a white sandy beach, an estuary, farms and several homes. The area is popular with surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing. There is a campground located at the south-eastern end of the beach, and a boat ramp at the estuary.[1][2]

Pukehina
Pukehina Beach
Pukehina
Coordinates: 37°48′S 176°31′E
Country New Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityWestern Bay of Plenty
WardTe Puke

The beach is dangerous for inexperienced surfers and swimmers due to the strong currents that are often present and steep banks at many places along the six kilometre beach. Offshore winds blow from the south-west, which are quite common since the prevailing wind in New Zealand is westerly. The area also enjoys more sunshine hours than other places in the country.[2][1]

Both sharks and seals have been sighted at the beach.[3][4] Several dead seals washed up on the beach in August 2019.[5]

Geography

Pukehina Beach is located twenty minutes drive away from Te Puke, the Kiwifruit capital of New Zealand. On the other side of the estuary is Little Waihi and it is a short drive from there to Maketu.[2]

To the north-west, across the estuary entrance and around the point is Newdicks Beach. To the east-north-east, out to sea, lies Whakaari / White Island, an active volcano and peak of a 1,600m submarine mountain, which is visible during fine weather.[2]

To the south-east there is an extensive area of Māori land.[6]

History

In 2017, Pukekina experienced exponential house price growth, due to demand for holiday homes from New Zealand, Australia, China and the United States.[7]

A suspected drink driver crashed into a beachside home in Pukekina in November 2018, but no one was killed or injured in the crash.[8]

The Pukehina Volunteer Fire Brigade was sued in early 2018 by a former volunteer fireman who claimed the brigade had a culture of bullying.[9]

In 2018, developers applied for planning approval to convert a 165-hectare dairy farm into a sustainable eco-friendly lifestyle village, and a restored wetland for birds like the critically endangered Matuku.[10]

In August 2018, State Highway 2 was blocked at Pukehina by a roaming herd of up to 80 cows.[11]

Pukekina Surf Club received planning approval in late 2018 to replace its aging club house and shipping container with a new $2.4 million purpose-built building.[12]

Education

Pukehina School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13] with a roll of 8 as of March 2020.[14]

References
  1. "Pukekina". westernbay.govt.nz. Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
  2. "Pukekina Beach". pukehinabeach.co.nz. Pukehina Beach Ratepayers & Residents Association.
  3. Hunter, Zoe (24 December 2017). "Shark sighting at Pukehina Beach scares family out of the water". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post.
  4. Evans, Aisha (13 September 2019). "Seal enjoys lazy afternoon nap". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  5. Staff reporter (28 August 2019). "Graphic: Dead seals on Pukehina Beach". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  6. "Visualizing Māori Land - Pukehina". landcare.co.nz. Landcare.
  7. Bateson, Sonia (1 February 2017). "Bay's 'hidden paradise' of Pukehina sees exponential growth". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Bay of Plenty Times.
  8. Yalden, Phillipa (10 November 2018). "Suspected drink-driver crashes into couple's home in Pukehina". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
  9. Campbell, Andrew (2 February 2018). "Pukehina fire brigade sued for $350,000". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  10. Nicholas, Leigh (17 August 2018). "Pukehina: From farmland to Eco Village". BCI New Zealand. Architecture Now.
  11. Staff writer (27 August 2019). "Moo-ve over! Up to 80 cows on SH2 in Pukehina last night". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  12. Staff reporter (2 November 2018). "Pukehina Surf Club to get new clubhouse". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Bay of Plenty Times.
  13. "Pukehina School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  14. "Pukehina School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

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