A careless driver caused a 6 hour power cut in December 2016.
On a Saturday afternoon in December 2016 the power went off around lunchtime and stayed off for 6 hours or so. It was massively inconvenient for a lot of people. Now we know why the power went off — [January 25 2017] Man claims dropped cigarette caused him to crash car:
Just how Justin Benner crashed his car in Manakau was the centre of argument in the Levin District Court on Wednesday.
Benner pleaded guilty to careless driving in relation to a December 17 incident. …
Police prosecutor Sergeant Simon Chamberlain said a witness saw two cars driving next to each other down the road beforehand. Benner was driving the car on the wrong side of the road.
Benner ended up swerving out of the way of a car heading in the opposite direction, crashing into a power pole as a result.
Waikawa Powercut, photo by Maree Grant.
Photographer Maree notes: …rain, hail or powercut, Countdown deliver the groceries (the actual reason I took the photo as you can see the Countdown truck by the 80k sign)!
There are a couple of places quite near Waikawa Beach to grab a bite to eat. Just up the road in Manakau we have the Manakau Hotel which has reopened in March 2017, under new management.
Kia ora WhΔnau, the Manakau Glade Hotel (Formerly the Manakau Hotel) is open for business. Cafe, Restaurant, Bar and Accommodation. Stop by for BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, COFFEE, BEER. Food includes all the favourites like Eggs Benedict, Bacon & Eggs, Open Steak Sandwich as well as old-school dishes like Lambs Fry & Bacon, Black Pudding. Kids meals available too. Come down and be part of history in this heritage building.
In the hot sun on 27 February 2017 contractors from Higgins were creating fresh surfaces on some of the roads around the village. By mid-afternoon they had resurfaced most of Reay Mackay Grove, a small patch on Strathnaver Drive, and Cathryn and Duncan Streets.
It’s great to see the place being maintained like this.
New road seal on Reay Mackay Grove, looking south.New road seal on Reay Mackay Grove, looking north.New road seal on one patch of Strathnaver Drive.New road seal β Duncan Street.New road seal β Cathryn Street.New road seal β Cathryn Street, photo by Kevin Burns.
Update, 16 March 2017: after some discussion with the Council about the shingle left all over the grass beside the road, a crew has come to clean up. Thanks to Kevin Burns for the photo.
Wonderful things about Waikawa Beach include the peace and quiet, and that it’s a safe place for pedestrians to stroll around, enjoying the environment.
Over the bridge is a (private) forest and wonderland of dunes to explore. It’s a great place for kids, and dogs especially. Thanks to the Walkers who own it for letting us all enjoy this space.
Waikawa River at the bridge, looking north.
There’s nothing relaxing though about motorbikes roaring around in the area, tearing up sand and vegetation. Parents and dog owners worry that a bike will appear over a dune or around a corner without warning and run down their loved ones.
Waikawa Beach sign – private land, no vehicles.
In an effort to keep motorbikes out there were bars across the bridge entrance, but they didn’t work very well.
In late February 2017 the Council removed those bars and installed new bars with an updated design.
Bridge bars, looking north, with bike.
The bars allow a narrow passage, wide enough for a bicycle but too narrow for a motorbike.
Bridge bars, with bike for size.
Pedestrians can still go through the middle or around the sides.
Bridge bars, from the bridge.
Thanks to the Council for helping protect the environment and the people who want to enjoy it in peace.
Do you have any feedback on the new bars? Are they working for you? Let us know in the comments.
In March 2003 John Brown supplied this report on signs leading to and at Waikawa Beach.
WAIKAWA SIGNS
by John Brown, 2003
This is a report on the signs at Waikawa Beach and on the road leading to the beach.
Some are traffic signs and others give information about beach use and other facilities. Most have been erected by the District Council.
Some are not clearly visible because of their placement and others because they are obscured by tree growth etc. Some are hard to read because they are too small and others because they are in a poor state of repair.
The road signs are not consistent. Only two bends are marked with speed restrictions however there are 5 other dangerous bends covering a 4 kilometre stretch of road. The general notice for bends covers only 3 kilometres. The general notice may not be appropriate as there are some long straights between some of the bends.
Road bend signs.
One bad corner outside the 3 kilometre designated area is marked with a speed limit westbound but an incomplete sign eastbound.
Westbound Eastbound and rumble strips.
The rumble strip sign is very small and seems unnecessary. If the purpose of the strips is to wake up the driver then the sign will not be seen until the strips are reached which is too late to read it.
The 50 kph sign on the left side of the road at the entrance is hidden behind a flax bush. The colour on the sign is fading and there is another small sign immediately below, which could cause distraction.
Flax hides the 50 Kph sign.
The recently installed hump in Sarah Street is very hard to see because of the limited paint area on the small hump. The signs from a distance of about 100 metres are hidden behind tree growth.
Sarah Street speed bump.
Of the three signs at the entrance to Waikawa, one is hard to read because of the colouring, another has nothing on it and a third, which I believe is of sentimental or historical value, does not enhance the vision of a well maintained and orderly community.
Entry signs.
The Hank Edwards sign is very good. Some may argue that it is not in the correct position and should be in front of the changing shed in Mangu Pirau Street.
The only other sign at the entrance to Waikawa indicates where the pavilion is but is small, a non standard colour and hidden behind a tree.
Pavilion sign.
There are no signs to indicate beach access. The one at the southern end of Mangu Pirau Street says other things but gives no indication that it is a beach access.
Private property.
There are 2 un-marked legal beach accesses further north in this street.
There are a collection of signs near the bridge. One is in a dirty condition. It gives no indication of the distance to the beach. I believe that this is also over private land or is there access around the northern riverbank.
Help preserve the beach.
Once over the bridge there are the remains of a number of signs, which do not say very much.
Signs across the bridge.
The only sign at the beach to indicate recent planting is falling apart however most of the replanting has disappeared also. It says pingao and spinifex has been planted however other signs name it marram grass, which is incorrect.
There are a number of fire signs and I do not know what message they convey and to whom.
Fire signs.
The sign giving historic information is just after rounding a blind bend when eastbound. There are no speed restrictions and if cars are parked at the sign a dangerous situation exists.
Historic Waikawa.
Below are some examples of signs in other areas but which could be used in Waikawa
Slow down and other signs.
Recommendations
At 2.2 kilometres from main road junction a sign for winding road next 4 kilometres.
At 3 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 3.55 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 3.7 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 3.9 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 5.2 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 5.7 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
At 6 kilometre bend a speed restriction sign
The above signs should be repeated for eastbound traffic at the appropriate positions.
A distance to go sign at the main road junction
50 km restriction zone moved 100 metres east
New additional larger signs at present position of 50 km zone such as reduced speed in holiday season
Pedestrian sign — no footpaths at entrance
Make hump in Sarah Street more visible
Repaint βWaikawa Beachβ a colour that stands out.
Remove blank sign.
Move the damaged brown Waikawa Beach sign to near bridge or even over the bridge.
One sign giving all the conditions for using Hank Edwards Park such as No overnight camping, no leaving rubbish, no fires except in designated barbeque area (is there one), no quad bikes in park, all dogs on leash.
All beach accesses marked
At all beach accesses, rules for that part of beach e.g. no dumping of any rubbish whatsoever, all dogs on leashes (if that is the rule and is enforceable), rules concerning toheroa, whitebait, flounder and other fish if necessary, sand dune protection advice.
Information about bird life in the area.
Widen road near historical information sign to allow safe parking.
The following was sent to all persons in the Wellington Regional Council area recently. It spells out the danger of dumping garden rubbish on sand dune areas.
