Dunedin's Whareakeake and Aramoana beaches have been included in a research project looking at New Zealand surf breaks of national significance.
Research director Ed Atkin said the project, funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, aimed to develop a detailed understanding of the characteristics of seven selected surf breaks in New Zealand.
‘‘Essentially we don't have any sustainable management practices for our surf breaks as coastal resources in New Zealand,'' Mr Atkin said.
Data collection would be done through remote camera stations at each of the beaches, he said.
‘‘We need to understand the surf breaks and what we need to do to ensure that we're not going to have a negative impact when we do make changes to the coastal environment.
‘‘That's our major objective and that will be output as a set of national guidelines. The ultimate goal is that these guidelines are adopted into the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, and followed by everyone.''
The research team was holding workshops in each location to find out what locals valued about their surf breaks, what made them good for surfing, and what the threats to them were, Mr Atkin said.
‘‘These surf breaks are a natural resource.
‘‘It's quite evident, over the last few years, the economic benefits they bring to local communities, regions and entire countries.
‘‘In New Zealand we have exceptional surf breaks of the highest quality used by locals and a lot of tourists who come specifically to surf.''
South Coast Boardriders president Craig Higgins said Aramoana and Whareakeake were the two best beaches in Dunedin for surf quality.
The research project and creation of guidelines was a good idea, particularly with Port Otago dumping sand in the areas surrounding the beaches, Mr Higgins said.
‘‘They definitely need to be monitoring the amounts they're dumping so they don't overfill the beach and ruin the surf conditions.
‘‘They're world-class waves and there's not many of them in New Zealand. We have to look after what we've got,'' he said.
Box of Light photographer Derek Morrison said Aramoana and Whareakeake were ‘‘an absolute asset to the New Zealand surfing community''.‘‘
Surfers like national longboarding champion Zen Wallis, of Piha, travel to Dunedin regularly to surf these waves.
"These breaks not only quench the wave thirst of locals, but New Zealand's nomadic surfers and international travellers alike,'' Mr Morrison said.
‘‘When the north coast breaks it brings a flood of business to the cafes, petrol stations and food outlets along the way. The buzz of a new north swell emanates from St Clair to the Octagon as the surfing community prepares for some more of the best waves in New Zealand.
‘‘Combined with the south coast breaks, this is what makes Dunedin one of the great surf cities of the world.''
The research project began in October last year and the aim is for it to be finished in September, 2018.
