Numerous studies have been undertaken, describing the coastal environment and dynamics along the Kāpiti Coast. These studies alongside smaller more focused projects or investigations are catalogued in the timeline below. Click on each of the titles to be directed to the report.
We have endeavoured to undertake a thorough catalogue of the studies to date. However, if there is a relevant technical report not on the list, please contact us on coastal@kapiticoast.govt.nz
1951 | Geology
Scientific Paper | Adkin, G.L.
Early information on the geology and geomorphology of the Paekākāriki area from fieldwork undertaken in the 1940s.
1961 | Geology
Technical Report (general) | Fleming, C.A.
A popular science article outlining the geological and geomorphic development of the Kāpiti-Horowhenua area.
1963 | Sand dunes
Scientific Paper | Cowie, J.D.
Describes the main phases of dune development for the Kāpiti-Manawatu coastal plain.
1972 | Geomorphology
Masters Thesis | Gibbard, R.
This thesis examines the geomorphology and sediment composition of the coast from Wanganui to Paekakariki.
1976 | Coastal erosion
Technical Report (general) | Gibb, J. & Wiltshere, D.
A summary of the 1976 storm event including measurements of the erosion from several locations along the coast.
1978 | Coastal erosion
Technical Report (general) | Gibb, J.
Provides a background of geomorphic and geologic information around the Kāpiti Coast coastal environment.
1980 | Coastal processes
Consultant Report (KCDC) | R.W Morris & Associates
Investigation into beach nourishment.
1980 | Coastal erosion
Technical Report (general) | Gibb, J. & Depledge, D.
The report highlights both long term and short term erosional trends along the Paekakariki coast.
1981 | Coastal management
Hons Thesis | McHugh, L.
A thesis examining the remedial works undertaken following the 1976 storm with a focus on planning and management frameworks.
1981 | Coastal processes
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Morris & Wilson Consulting Engineers Ltd.
Describes the main phases of dune development for the Kāpiti-Manawatu coastal plain.
1982 | Geomorphology
Hons Thesis | Smith, S.
A thesis looking at the geomorphic development of the coast from Paraparaumu to Raumati South.
1984 | Coastal processes
Consultant Report (KCDC) | R.W. Morris & Associates
A continuation of previous work undertaken in 1981 looking at coastal processes using wave buoy, beach profile analysis, sediment analysis and bathymetric survey.
1985 | Geomorphology
Technical Report (general) | Holland, M. & Holland, L.
This report examines historical shoreline trends and coastal processes from the Paekakariki to Himatangi.
1989 | Sand dunes
Scientific Paper | Wright, L.
This study of the sand dunes that occur in the southern, central and northern portions of the Kāpiti Coast.
1994 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Gibb, J.
This report provides a background of coastal processes and geomorphology along the Kapiti Coast and provides some possible management options.
1994 | Coastal management
KCDC Report | Innes, G.
Provides the background and rationale for coastal environment zoning and restrictions for the proposed district plan.
1994 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Provides an update of the Paraparaumu beach nourishment trial including brief analysis of post construction surveys.
1994 | Coastal management
Resource Consent Report | Murray, B.
Details location, methodology and monitoring methods of renourishment trial. Includes schematic cross section of works.
1994 | Coastal managment
Resource Consent Report (KCDC) | Wellington Regional Council
Coastal permit for nourishment trial includes maps and conditions.
1995 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
1995 update on the nourishment trial at Marine Parade with analysis of beach profile surveys.
1995 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Further update on the nourishment trial at Marine Parade with analysis of beach profile surveys.
1995 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Set outs regulatory framework for emergency response works at Paekakariki, Raumati and Paraparaumu.
1995 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Update on the beach nourishment trial at Marine Parade with analysis of beach profile surveys.
1995 | Coastal management
Resource Consent Report | Lumsden, J.
Resource consent application for maintenance of the existing timber seawall at Paekakariki including additional provision for toe rip-rap.
1995 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Initial options report for coastal management options at Paekakariki.
1996 | Coastal management
Resource Consent Report | Lumsden, J.
Resource consent application for maintenance of the existing timber seawall at Raumati that was constructed in 1976.
1996 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Monitoring discussion from a 6000m³ sand nourishment placed along the Marine Parade foreshore in 1994.
1997 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
The report provides updated analysis of monitoring profile data from the trial renourishment at Paraparaumu.
1997 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
This reports outlines a strategy for larger scale renourishment of Paraparaumu Beach including a summary of the monitoring analysis from the trial.
1997 | Coastal management
Conference Paper | Lumsden, J.
The paper outlines the background to development along the Kapiti Coast and the particular pressures this has placed on the coastal zone.
1997 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
This report outlines options and strategies for addressing coastal erosion issues along Paraparaumu Beach.
1998 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Provides a short description of a scarp feature that runs from Paekākāriki to Paraparaumu.
1999 | Geology
Conference paper | Edwards, A.
Provides a short description of a scarp feature that runs from Paekākāriki to Paraparaumu.
1999 | Coastal management
Conference Paper | Lumsden, J.
The paper outlines the background to development along the Kapiti Coast and the particular pressures this has placed on the coastal zone.
1999 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Analysis of beach monitoring data between November 1998 and May 1999.
2000 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Laing, A., Bell, R., Goring, D., Gorman, D., Reid, S. & Renwick, J.
Presents the results from a modelling of a range of coastal processes variables that was used to contribute to an erosion assessment of Kapiti Coast undertaken by John Lumsden.
2000 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Analysis of beach monitoring data between May 1999 and March 2000.
2000 | Tsunami hazards
Scientific Paper | Goff, J., Rouse, H., Jones, S., Hayward, B., Cochran, U., McLea, W., Dickinson, W. & Morley, M.
An investigation of the sediments in Okupe lagoon on Kāpiti Island that provides a record of earthquakes and tsunami over the last 5300 years.
2001 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Boffa Miskell Ltd
Queen Elizabeth Park strategy document outlining the history of dune erosion and management options.
2001 | Tsunami hazards
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Goff, J., MacFadgen, B., Chague-Goff, C., Bell, R., Downes, G. & Kozuch, M.
This scoping project provides a summary of tsunami, and tsunami hazards and risk for the Wellington Region, including the Kāpiti Coast.
2002 | Tsunami hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Goff, J.
Outlines the potential tsunami risk along the Kapiti Coast based upon historical records.
2002 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Analysis of beach monitoring data between February and September 2001.
2002 | Tsunami hazards
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Goff, J. & McFadgen, B.
A summary of field work looking for evidence of a tsunami thought to have widely impacted the Wellington region in the 15th century.
2003 | Coastal management
KCDC report | Kāpiti Coast District Council
Appendix of submission of coastal erosion strategies document.
2003 | Coastal hazards
KCDC report | Kāpiti Coast District Council
Appendix of background documents including bathymetric survey, storm surge investigations and tsunami hazard assessment.
2003 | Coastal management
KCDC report | Kāpiti Coast District Council
Report prepared for councillors detailing the outcome of the consultation process for the coastal erosion hazards strategy document.
2003 | Coastal management
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Boffa Miskell, Planning and Landscape Consultants, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Cuttriss Consultants, Engineers and Surveyors Hunter Hydrographic Services Precision Aerial Surveys GeoEnvironmental Consultants
This report establishes seven different coastal hazard management areas along the Kapiti Coast and provides a description of their geomorphology and coastal processes.
2003 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Analysis of beach monitoring data between February 2001 and February 2003.
2003 | Coastal monitoring
Resource Consent Report | Greater Wellington Regional Council
An analysis of the data collected to monitor the effects on the beach and shoreline adjacent the Waikanae River mouth following a December 2001 mouth cut.
2004 | Coastal engineering
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Beach Systems Ltd.
Feasibility investigation of beach drainage works at Marine Parade and Paekakariki Beach.
2004 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Analysis of beach monitoring data surveyed in October 2003.
2005 | Dune restoration
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Bergin, D.
Report discussing the findings of a trial spinifex planting at Paraparaumu Beach.
2006 | Sand dunes
Scientific Paper | Hawke, R. & McConchie, J.
A study of coastal sediments and soil development used understand the recent evolution of the coastal plain between Otaki and Te Horo.
2007 | Climate change
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Baldi, M., Burgess, S., Mullan, B., Salinger, J., Ramsay, D. & Bell, R.
Climate change projections specific to the Kapiti coast with discussion on impacts to rainfall, temperature, sea level and coastal hazards and flooding.
2007 | Coastal flooding
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Metocean Solutions Ltd.
The report presents a range of modelled wave heights under different return periods for 16 locations along the Kapiti Coast.
2008 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Shand, R.
Part 1 of an assessment of the coastal erosion hazard along the Kāpiti Coast, focussing on the open coast.
2008 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Shand, R.
Part 2 of the Kāpiti Coast erosion hazard assessment that looks at the hazard around12 inlets along the coast, from the Waikākāriki to Waiorongomai Streams.
2008 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Shand, R.
This report contains the background information used in the wider erosion assessments. It also presents model results/calculations of erosion estimates for various scenarios.
2009 | Tsunami hazards
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Leonard, G., Power, W., Lukovic, B., Smith, W., Langridge, R., Johnston, D. & Downes, G.
Findings from interim tsunami modelling of the Wellington region, including the Kāpiti coast, for evacuation mapping purposes.
2010 | Oceanography
Scientific Paper | Chiswell, S. & Stevens, C.
An investigation into the tidal current flows around Kāpiti Island.
2010 | Geology
Scientific Paper | Clement, A., Sloss, C. & Fuller, I.
A review of the evolution of the Manawatu coastal plain and sand dunes over the past 7500 years.
2010 | Coastal processes
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Metocean Solutions Ltd.
The report presents a description of modelled and measured oceanographic variables for Paekakariki Beach.
2012 | Sea level change
Technical Report (general) | Beavan, R. & Litchfield, N.
Presents results of land motion data collected from continuous GPS network and discusses relationship to relative sea level change.
2012 | Sea level change
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Bell, R. & Hannah, J.
Examines historical tide gauge records and provides analysis of relative sea level changes in the Wellington region with discussion of future projections.
2012 | Coastal flooding
Consultant Report (GWRC; KCDC) | Lane, E., Gorman, R., Plew, D. & Stephens, S.
Numerical modelling used to understand the coastal storm surge hazard.
2012 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Shand, R.
An update of the 2008 coastal erosion assessment to include consideration of a 100 year timeframe.
2012 | Climate change
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Sinclair Knight Merz
An assessment of potential effects on the regions groundwater under 4 different climate change scenarios.
2012 | Coastal flooding
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Stephens, S., Gorman, R. & Lane, E.
Calculation of storm surges heights to understand the coastal flooding hazard caused by combined storm-tide and waves for both present day climate and under sea level rise.
2013 | Sea level change
Submission | Bell, R.
Response to submission from Kotuku Park Ltd. District Plan submission on local relative sea level change and future scenarios.
2013 | Coastal hazards
Submission | de Lange, W.
Submission to the review panel providing a technical review of the assessments underpinning the proposed district plan coastal hazard lines.
2013 | Coastal hazards
Submission | Angus, G.
This report is a critique of the 2008 and 2012 erosion hazard assessments.
2013 | Sea level change
Submission | Angus, G.
A response to issues raised by Dr Rob Bell in response to Angus Gordon’s review of determining relative sea level rise.
2013 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
An analysis of beach profile monitoring data from between 200-2011.
2013 | Coastal hazards
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Shand, R.
This letter report provides a more detailed assessment of the erosion risk at Waimeha Inlet.
2014 | Coastal hazards
Panel Review | Carley, J., Davies, R., Kench, P. & Komar, P.
Summary report of findings from the expert Panel appointed to review the proposed district plan coastal hazard zones.
2014 | Geomorphology
Submission | Angus, G.
A critique of the hazards assessment specific to the Waikanae River mouth estuary.
2015 | Coastal hazards
KCDC Report | Kāpiti Coast District Council
Provides a summary of the coastal science and some planning undertaken between 2003-2015.
2016 | Geology
Technical Report (general) | Townsend, D. & Dellow, G.
This report outlines the surface geomorphology of the coastal plain of the Kāpiti Coast using aerial photographs and high resolution topography.
2017 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Results of beach surveys undertaken in April 2016 and discussion of the coastal erosion risks.
2017 | Geology
Masters Thesis | Nolan, R.
A study of the geomorphic evolution of the southern of the Kāpiti Coast by analysing the long term record of sedimentary deposits.
2017 | Tsunami hazards
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Mueller, C., Power, W., Wang, X. & Lukovic, B.
Discusses the methods and presents findings from tsunami inundation modelling of the Kāpiti Coast for updating the tsunami evacuation zones.
2018 | Sea level change
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Bell, R., Denys, P. & Hannah, J.
Update to 2012 report on relative sea level changes in the Wellington region as measured by tide gauge.
2018 | Coastal monitoring
Consultant Report (KCDC) | Lumsden, J.
Results of beach surveys undertaken in October 2018 and discussion of the coastal erosion risks.
2018 | Coastal processes
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Smith, H. & Bevin, S.
A review and discussion of the effects of flood protection activities on the coastal processes and beaches of the Kapiti Coast.
2019 | Coastal flooding
Consultant Report (GWRC) | Bosserelle, B. & Lane, E.
Update to 2012 coastal storm surge modelling taking in the shoreline from Pekapeka to Ōtaki.
2021 | Coastal erosion and Inundation
Consultant Report (general) | Jacobs
Council has commissioned Jacobs Ltd to undertake a Coastal Hazard Susceptibility and Vulnerability Assessment for the Kāpiti Coast District coastline, from Ōtaki in the north to Paekākāriki in the south. This assessment is subject to independent review by Beca Ltd.
The assessment will update previous coastal hazard assessments undertaken along the Kāpiti Coast District shoreline involving the identification of areas susceptible to current and future coastal erosion and inundation hazards.
The assessment will identify areas susceptible to current and future coastal erosion and inundation hazards with various magnitudes of sea level rise and the vulnerability of critical council infrastructure, community services and private property to those hazards.
The methodology used to inform the development of the assessment reflects both national and international best practice, and meets the requirements of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 and Ministry for the Environment: Preparing for Coastal Change. Guidance for Local Government
2021 | IPCC
IPCC AR6 (2021)
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