Te Raekaihau Point
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Te Raekaihau Point is a rugged coastal landform in New Zealand. It is located adjacent to Princess Bay, between Houghton Bay to the west and Lyall Bay to the east on the south coast of Wellington. One meaning of the name is "the headland that eats the wind".
The future of the point is presently uncertain, with a dispute over whether a marine centre should be built on the site. Proponents believe that the centre would be beneficial for the community and for Wellington and its ambitions as a tourism destination, whereas detractors present a variety of arguments, primarily related to cost, location, development ethic, and impact on the environment. The consent announced in late October 2006 may not be the end of the matter.
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[edit] Current state
The point is geologically new, having being modified during the 1855 (Wairarapa) earthquake, in which land was uplifted by two to three metres. It can be reached through Island Bay, Houghton Bay via Melrose, or Lyall Bay. The point is used for diving, walking, scenic photography, relaxation, picnics, eco-tourism, nature study, and astronomy. It is one of the few undeveloped coastal places within easy reach of Wellington City. Artists such as Bruce Stewart, are reportedly inspired by this location, Nick Dryden continues to sculpt images inspired by the point, and Rangatira of Tapu Te Ranga Motu wrote a poem about the site[citation needed].
The point is relatively free of light pollution, with little nearby population, minimal street lighting, and no population causing sky glow in the southern direction of Cook Strait. The lessened light pollution means that Aurora Australis displays are sometimes visible from the locality.
[edit] Marine centre dispute
In recent times, the Wellington Marine Conservation Trust has insisted that it will build a Marine Education Centre at Te Raekaihau Point[1], to be known as the Aquarium of New Zealand. The Trust claims that an aquarium would greatly increase tourism to the remote location, and showcase the "unique marine environment of the Wellington region and New Zealand." It aims to also provide education programmes, partner with organisations for marine research purposes, and provide a regional base for "long term protection and enjoyment" of Wellington's marine resources[2].
Although the Wellington City Council is providing backing for the idea, as well as providing a significant amount of funding for promotion and legal matters, a substantial populace has attempted to resist the construction of the centre via the resource consents process. The resistance is primarily comprised of residents of Wellington, as well as other users of the area, most of whom claim that development of the point will damage the stretch of coastline in one form or another. Although some people oppose the idea entirely, others believe that the centre could simply be better sited, in a place where the ecological impact might not be as much. And others oppose any increase on Wellington City Council's public debt load, which is projected to treble to over NZ$320 million in the next 7 years.
The initial hearing of resource contents for the centre failed to reach a conclusion, after a strongly fought opposition by community members, and consequently the process was re-started with new submissions being sought. In the second round of submissions, approximately 10,000 submissions were received, with about half being in favour of the plan, and half against [3].
Objections to the plans have been for a number of reasons. Residents who object are concerned about the loss of one of the last remaining undeveloped and accessible parts of the South Coast. They fear that the positioning of a tourist development the scale of the Marine Centre will both damage the atmosphere of the point, and result in an increased amount of traffic and commercialisation in the coastal environs, reducing the feeling of remoteness. Some other Wellington residents believe that the $26 million price tag of the Marine Centre is an excessive amount of spending, that the potential benefits are not worth the risk, and that the Centre will not be economically self-sustainable. Local amateur astronomers in the Wellington region, who find the Point favourable for watching for aurorae, are also concerned that the existence of the centre, including a proposed late-night cafe and lighted parking lot, might compromise the relatively un-polluted night skies of the area.
[edit] Gallery
 Te Raekaihau Point of View |
 Aurora Australis from Wellington South Coast |
 Aurora Australis latitude 41 degrees South |
[edit] External links
- Save The Point is a residents' organisation that opposes building of the Marine Centre.
- The Wellington Marine Conservation Trust, backed by the Wellington City Council, is proposing to build a Marine Centre at Te Raekaihau Point.
- Te Raekaihau Gallery
