User:14madisonm/sandbox

Location
Kairakau is a holiday community located on a beach, which receives the morning sun, on the East coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 55 km (45 minutes) from Havelock North. Kairakau is a beach community positioned at the mouth of the Mangakuri River. The beach is renowned for the large dominating rocks at the entrance of the bay, and steep cliffs behind the residential houses and holiday homes. Kairakau is known for it’s sunrises and sunsets, good swimming and large expanses of golden sand. It is a popular holiday spot for farming communities; some of the holidaymakers have been traveling there for generations. More recently the land has been subdivided bringing in new visitors.

Name
kai(food) rakau(eaten form the trees) 200 years ago, the settlers of the land believed that this beach was a great source of food for the local Māori and people who lived in the area. Karaka trees a unique food source known for their edible berries.

Early History
In the 18th Century Kairakau was inhabited by Maori who lived in a Pah ( protected village) on the hills above the Mangakuri River. Traces of this ancient village can still be found, there are remnants of wharies, burial caves, and stone cutting tools. The cliffs at Kairakau are the habitat for a type of flax, which is known for it’s red-flecked leaves, unique to the area. Maori tradition tells the story of a married woman who was a great hunter and gatherer; she always succeeded in harvesting more shell fish than her husband and the villagers teased him for this. One day he took her for a walk on the cliffs and killed her by pushing her over the cliff tops. It is said that since that time, the cliff top flax is flecked with her blood. The husband was banished from the village and walked over the ruahine ranges to found the community of Patea.

Colonial History
After the treaty of Waitangi was signed (1841) European settlers brought up coastal land for farming. Kairakau station and Teapiti station became large farm holdings in the area. Wool was stored in a shed located where the playground is today; it was transferred by boat out to ships in the harbor for export. The Bibby families were among the first holidaymakers to Kairakau, visiting it for the first time in 1901; developing a holiday home there after World War One. The family is one of the pioneering holiday homemakers, and is firmly established at the beach today as residents and holidaymakers.

Recent History
In the 1980’s all holiday homes located on the beachfront were required by the local authority to be removed. In compensation the owners were given the option of purchasing subdivided land on rear sections. The houses were removed because they were built without permits on the queens chain.

In late April 2011, a rainstorm hit Kairakau leaving it damaged and flooded. The camping ground was destroyed and much of the beach covered in debris from the ocean. Many residents houses were flooded and some washed away. The shape of the river changed with the storm, becoming wider with more debris in it. At the time of the storm some residents had to be airlifted out of the area, as their houses were completely submerged in water. A cleanup followed the storm to return it to its natural state.

Natural

 * Waterfall: A short walk North along the beach and up through the driftwood area will lead you to a waterfall hidden in the surrounding bushes, it is a great place to take picnic and spend the day exploring the numerous waterfalls around the area.


 * Fly rock: On the way to the waterfall, you will walk past large rocks and a small freshwater spring; which is a popular place for younger kids to play around. Further on is a giant rock, which attracts flies. This rock is nick named fly rock because of the thousands of seasonal flies that live in its crevices.


 * The cliffs: Towering behind the houses are sheer cliff faces. A short, but tiring climb brings you to the top and gives a pleasant view of the beach below. This is a great spot to view the sunsets and sunrises.


 * The river: The Mangakuri River is a popular place for fishing, water sports, paddling, kayaking and cruising on boats. At the mouth of the river are numerous rock pools, when the tide is low, you can find shellfish and other sea creatures in them.

Facilities
There are a number of facilities available, the camping ground is a popular area to stay, which includes toilets and a kitchen. Next to the camping ground is the Boat Club, which offers the use of tractors for those who need to launch boats. A tennis court is open at all times for the public’s use, as well as a playground. Situated near the camping ground is a village hall where special events and activities are held; a notice board is here also and has the weekly newspaper and upcoming social events posted on it. There are no shops in Kairakau beach, but the country road leading to the nearest town is a scenic drive and sealed, meaning the commute is not an unfavorable one. There is a small cemetery located at the southern end of the beach.

Accommodation
Many houses are privately owned and are available for renting throughout the year. The other option for people staying at the beach is the campsite, or the caravan parking area. There are certain conditions which apply to the use of these facilities. The Central Hawkes Bay District Council provides a weekly refuse collection service. Water is supplied from pumped bore water.