Aotearoa New Zealand has 15,000 km of coastlines which are exposed to some of the most energetic wave climates in the world.Its complex geometry of islands, volcanic outcrops, bays and inlets mean that incident wave height and orientation are highly variable,combined with wide a range of geomorphic surf break types, the result is exceptional surfing wave quality nationwide. Since people first arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand, these waves have become central to what New Zealanders value about their coastline,whether it be for surfing or simply as part of the natural and cultural landscape. Yet, as population pressure increased, coastal activities have resulted in threats to the use and enjoyment of surfing resources. Authorities are under increasing pressure to solve these conflicts, and manage diverse viewpoints including preserving the coast for future generations while allowing current generations to fulfil their aspirations.

A milestone in the management of surfing resources came in 2010, when the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS)was updated. The NZCPS guides the authorities of Aotearoa New Zealand in their day to day management of the coastal environment. There is no national monitoring agency in Aotearoa New Zealand, and each regional council is able to develop their own approach to monitoring—an approach that should be guided by government legislation, largely applied through the Resource Management Act (RMA). The NZCPS provides details on how the RMA should be interpreted and transfers the sustainable management philosophy of the RMA, by constraining economic benefits by prioritizing environmental benefits. In 2010, for the first time, surfing resources were recognized in national policy, and manifested as Policy 16. Schedule 1 of the NZPCS specifies 17 Surf Breaks of National Significance that are afforded protected status. This legislative protection was groundbreaking and has provided authorities with a clear mandate and key role in the preservation and management of these unique and natural resources. The NZCPS has several other policies that encourage the sustainable management of surfing resources, their users, recognition of natural features and associated natural character.

Despite this legal framework, the instances where the use and enjoyment of surfing resources have become compromised, or threatened, have been widespread. These instances have resulted in, often lengthy, legal proceedings which highlighted a lack of clarity around specific management practice, assessment methodology and appropriate baseline data.

In 2015, a project entitled “Remote Sensing, Classification and Management Guidelines for Surf Breaks of National and Regional Significance” was funded by the Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The purpose of the project was to provide better information and guidelines for industry, end-users and councils to manage surfing resources, which was largely driven by the requirements around evaluating and applying for consents in the coastal zone. Users needed a defined structure to inform submissions around notified consents. Industry needed a better understanding of the type of parameters that could change a surf break (including those affecting the physical structure of the break, but also those effecting the use of and value of the break) and the time and space scales over which these operate.

These series of papers are written by members of the project team, collaborators and other interested parties about techniques, issues and conflicts that arose from recent work and conflicts within Aotearoa New Zealand. We hope that in publishing this in a condensed, accessible, quality-assured format, that we can provide our experiences which may be useful in managing surf breaks in an international context.