Help Protect Aramoana Spit

The Port of Otago has recently applied for resource consent to dredge the Otago Harbour so bigger ships can utilize the Otago Harbour. What does this mean for surfers and the surf break at Aramoana? The Spit as it is known in surfing circles is well known as a break that on it’s day has some of the best tubes in the country and alongside, Matakana Island and Wainui it sits as one of the country’s best beach breaks. The similarity to its northern cousin of Matakana and also across the ditch in South Stradbroke island are uncanny. Those other two breaks also have harbours dredged with the spoil( left over material) dumped out at sea. This outer bank breaks up swell in a way and splits swell into peaks that then make their way to shore and barrel on the shallow shoreline. Without this outer bank the swells would most likely march in straight and closeout. To cut straight to the point the additional dumping of material far in excess of dumping over the years is worrying Otago surfers and beach users that incoming swells could break further out to sea and also fill in the immediate areas breaks which also include the famous ‘Murderers’. They are asking for submissions to make sure that dumping is monitored to sustain the area.

Aramoana on fire, make your submission and protect it, or a wave like this could be a thing of the past.

Murderers, another break in the affected zone

Check out the following video and get in behind the submission to protect one of our greatest surfing assets.

Also check out Phoam blog for more info