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Location

Kairakau is a holiday community located on a beach^[1] , 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.

History

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.

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^{[2] [3]} . 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.

Features

Natural

• Waterfall: A short walk North along the beach and up through the
  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
  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.

Many houses are privately owned and are available for renting throughout the year^{[4] [5] [6]} . The other option for people staying at the beach is the campsite, or the caravan parking area^[7] . 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.

References