The Orewa Reserve has been battered and bruised by the severe weather events this year, so the Auckland Council intends to restore it as it is a major tourist attraction.

“We conducted a survey about what draws people to Orewa and 90 percent said the same thing: the beach,” says the chair of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, Gary Brown. 

So, the council is planning to restore the reserve, to make sure it remains a destination that tourists, and locals, flock to.

When the council conducted the first survey about what people want at the reserve, they said the playground, basketball and volleyball courts must remain on the site, access to the beach to be improved, recreational facilities on the dry sandy beach to be upgraded, and walking and cycling facilities to be improved along the beach. 

All these facilities, as well as the new location of the Orewa Surf Lifesaving Club and a car park, are on the first draft drawings of the new and improved reserve - but not the historic Norfolk pine trees, whose roots lie, buried deep between the dry beach and the playground. 

Even though the final plans have not been drafted yet, the future of the pine trees is still unknown. 

These pine trees are very well known on the reserve and the rumour is that they were planted by Sir Edmund Hilary’s father, Percy, almost 80 years ago when he was a member of the Orewa Beach Beautification Society. 

These towering trees form part of the coastline along Orewa Beach and are one of the attractions in the area.

Gary says, “Erosion has occurred and nature has taken its course on the reclaimed land. 

The Orewa Reserve is a popular destination for locals and tourists, so it is vitally important that we keep and maintain it. 

We need to find ways to restore the reserve without damaging the coastline, reserve or our beloved beach.”