Nau mai haere mai ki Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, Te Ara Wairua ki Te Rerenga Wairua
Greetings and welcome to Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, a place regards as the sacred and spiritual pathway to Te Rerenga Wairua. The place where those who have passed on, leave us bound for the spiritual world.
As stewards of this treasured taonga, we ask all who visit this summer to uphold the mauri (wellbeing) of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe in accordance with our ancestral traditions - by honouring Te Ara Wairua, respecting the natural environment, and keeping safe along the beach.
We encourage all who visit to make safety their first priority by driving slowly, swimming safely, respecting the environment and avoiding unnecessary risks along the beach and in the water. Below are some key messages we’d like you to take some time and read before heading to Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe this summer.
We wish everyone an enjoyable and responsible season ahead.
Te Ara Wairua ki Hawaiki Pāmamao
Ko Te Ara Wairua hei hononga mō te hunga ora ki te hunga mate. He huarahi tawhito rawa nā Kupe i Poropiti hei ara mō ona uri kia tae ai rātou te hoki ki te kāinga tuturu mō te tangata. Mai i tērā wā i noho nei ngā rarangi kōrero hei kupu whakamārama kia puta ki runga i ō tātou marae, hei poroporoaki ki ō tātou tupāpaku. E kore e rereke, e kore e wareware te iwi ki ēnei tātai ki Te Moana Nui, anā ki Hawaiki Roa, ki Hawaiki Pāmamao. Haere e ngā mate haere, no reira kia tatou Te Hunga Ora, tēnā rā tātou katoa.
Life after death is a fundamental spiritual notion of human communities all over the world. In Aotearoa the indigenous worldview is rooted in 6,000 years of Polynesian and Pacific history, which converges at a common destination – the Polynesian home of origin known intimately in Aotearoa as Hawaiki.
To learn more about Te Ara Wairua
Te Oneroa a Tōhe (The pathway of Tōhe
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe is a special place with a unique history. Tōhe lived in his Whāro Pā, at Pīwhane. Although he was an elderly man at the time of this journey, he was well known by many to have the status of a highly ranked and respected Chief.
Tōhe’s journey began when he received the message that his eldest daughter, Raninikura, had been taken from the home of her cousins. When he heard that she was taken by Ngāpuhi warriors, he became anxious and suspected that she would be in danger. Although this journey was against the wishes of his whānau, Tōhe asked that if he didn’t return alive, they could snatch his Spirit when it passed Pīwhane.
From here, Tōhe and his warrior companion Ariki (Tama) set out on their journey to find Raninikura.
To learn more about Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe is a reserve – help protect te taiao (the environment)
Together we are kaitiaki. The preservation of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe will require leadership from all of us and our children after us. We wish to remind tangata (people):
-
To share Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe respectfully, it is for everyone’s enjoyment.
-
That there are several sacred sites on the sand dunes. These sand dunes are also alive with natural habitats and these taonga deserve much care and protection.
-
Keep vehicles off all dunes.
-
-
To not disturb nesting birds
-
To not litter
-
That fires are prohibited
-
That campervans are prohibited
-
That camping is prohibited
-
That dogs should be on leashes at all times (particularly around local families, other visitors and wildlife)
Driving a vehicle on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe is not a highway and it should be considered an ultimate privilege to use and receive from this iconic taonga. Please ensure you understand the risks of driving on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe before you go.
-
Your vehicle must be roadworthy/legal,
-
You drive on the beach at your own risk
-
Check tide times before driving on Te Oneroa a Tōhe
-
Avoid driving near high-tide and allow enough time for your journey
-
Avoid disturbing or driving near nesting shore birds
-
General road rules apply
-
Use only the approved on/off ramps when entering and exiting Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe
-
Be clear on the speed restrictions on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe:
-
30km/hr for 200 meters either side of each beach on/off ramps and
-
60km/hr for the remainder of the Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe.
-
-
Take care and reduce your speed around crowded areas. who may be hard to see.
-
Drive to the conditions, they can change rapidly
-
Do not drive vehicles at night – only in clear sight
-
Never drink alcohol prior or while driving on Te Oneroa a Tōhe.
Signage
Along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe you will see various signs reminding manuhiri (visitors) of different ways to respect this taonga (treasure). Additional signs promoting safe driving and awareness of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe and Te Ara Wairua will remind drivers to respect the spiritual pathway. Please ensure you respect Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe by following the tikanga (rules) of use.
Limited access to emergency services
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe remains a place of natural beauty and as such, access to emergency services are limited. To protect public safety and accessibility to emergency services, we remind beachgoers that cell phone coverage can be intermittent along sections of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe. We urge beachgoers to plan accordingly and consider alternate emergency communication options prior to planning a trip on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe. While there are some areas along the beach where cell service has proven more reliable, coverage overall remains patchy.
-
Plan before you go, and if possible tell someone that you are going on Te Oneroa a Tōhe.
-
If your vehicle gets stuck, get out of the vehicle and get to higher ground. Do not stay in your car
-
If you spot someone in trouble, ensure your own safety, and dial 111 and ask for Police
Swimming
PREPARE – WATCH OUT – BE AWARE – KNOW YOUR LIMITS
Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says last summer was one of the worst in many years, with 19 beach drownings between Labour Weekend and Easter - up 36% (five drownings) on the previous summer, despite the poor weather keeping many people out of the water." From these grim statistics, people clearly need to take their own safety at beaches far more seriously," he says.
Te Oneroa a Tōhe Beach Board wish to remind swimmers that:
-
There are no lifeguards on duty, swim at your own risk
-
If in doubt, stay out of the sea.
-
Do not overestimated your ability and underestimate the risk. Take a moment to stop and think before entering the sea and
-
-
Check conditions before swimming
-
Never swim or surf alone, always take a friend.
-
Supervise children at all times
-
If you spot someone in trouble, ensure your own safety, and dial 111 and ask for Police
-
-
Don’t swim at night
-
On hot days, make sure you have plenty of water to keep you and your child hydrated
-
When in the sea, always face the waves so you are prepared for what is to come
-
If you spot someone in trouble at an unpatrolled beach, ensure your own safety, and dial 111 and ask for Police
Dog access rules (may change)
Below are some key messages that we want you to be aware of. To ensure you understand your responsibilities as a person in charge of a dog, follow the link below to the full bylaw
Dog Management Bylaw Far North District Council (fndc.govt.nz)
Dog Management Policy 2018 Far North District Council (fndc.govt.nz)
-
Always show respect for Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, keep dogs under control and on leash.
-
keep dogs away from dotterels and other nesting shorebirds.
-
Restrictions apply to Ahipara Why Only Ahipara when these restrictions are meant for Te Oneroa a Tōhe.
All dogs must be on leash from 15 December – 31 January and including all public holidays, between 10am-5pm.
Pick up after your dog
-
Share the shore peacefully, clean up after your dog. Consider all beachgoers so everyone can relax.
Do not leave your dog in a hot vehicle
-
A person who leaves a dog in a stationary vehicle must ensure that the dog does not display signs of shade-seeking behaviour, as well as one or more of the following signs consistent with heat stress:
-
excessive panting:
-
excessive drooling:
-
hyperventilation.
-
Shade-seeking means that the dog is compulsively seeking out and placing, or attempting to place, itself in the shadiest, coolest part of the vehicle that it can access.
-
-
Dogs that are transported on an open deck or open trailer of a moving motor vehicle must be secured (for example, by using a tether or a cage);
Contact Information
Kaitaia Police Station
P: 09 408 6500
In an emergency dial 111, *555 for dangerous driving or contact the Kaitaia Policition Station 17 Redan Road
Department of Conservation
P: 0800 362 468
For threatened wildlife and marine issues
Northland Regional Council
P: 0800 504639
Environmental hotline
Far North District Council
P: 0800 920 029
Noise and rubbish issues
Iwi Representatives
Ngati Kuri: Graeme Neho on 021 038 0331
Te Rarawa: Lisa McNab on 021 243 2467
Te Aupouri: Niki Conrad on 021 890 013