The problem of seafloor erosion at Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand Conference Paper
- Author
- Gibb, J.
- Year
- 1985
- Journal / Source
- Proceedings of the 7th conference on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Christchurch
- Pages
- 309-318
- Summary
- Despite a long-term (117 yr) trend of advance to dynamic equilibrium the 2.2 km-long Hokitika shoreline is subject to episodic short-term cyclic erosion-accretion up to 140 m amplitude with associated flooding. Severe erosion occurs once every 30-50 years migrating northward as ah erosion trough destroying property and assets in its wake. The cycles are natural but became a problem during accretionary phases, when development was allowed to encroach into the Coastal Hazard Zone (CHZ), on the west side of Revell Street. Making suitable provisions in the Hokitika Borough District Planning Scheme to both prevent further development in the CHZ and relocate existing threatened assets over the next 30 years is the preferred solution. Groynes and the training of the river mouth north provide possible other solutions but they cannot be guaranteed.