Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the ...

Pariokariwa Reef and Opourapa Island
Number: 9 GPS: 2640923E
6256264N
(Shipwreck 2642021E, 6256800N)
General description
This section of the coast is dynamic, high energy, and supports diverse marine life.
Opourapa Island stood as high as the nearby mainland in the mid-nineteenth century.
Connected to the island is a large reef system, approximately 8 km long extending north to
Waikiekie Stream. The reef extends between 1.5 km and 900 m offshore, with a small
intertidal area known locally as Waikiekie Reef which has approximately 30 m of rocky
habitat. The reef is relatively shallow (approximately 8 to 20 m deep) 2 . The ship ‘H.M.
Colonial Transport Alexandra’ was wrecked off the coast in 1865, at the time when the
military settlement at Pukearuhe was being set up. The H.M. Colonial Transport Alexandra
(273 tonnes) was one of the many ships carrying materials and garrison to this area. Many
parts have been salvaged, and most of the ironwork is badly corroded. The ships bell hangs
in St Peter’s by the sea at Mokau. 8
Location
16 km north of Urenui.
Land tenure
Site: - Crown Land: Seabed (administered by the Department of Conservation)
Site access: - Crown Land: Recreation reserves and Pukearuhe Historic Reserve
(administered by the Department of Conservation)
- District Land: Pukearhue Road and unformed roads in the Pukearuhe
‘township’ (administered and vested in the New Plymouth
District Council)
Values
Amenity High - within area of outstanding coastal value 1
- unusual marine feature
Recreational Moderate - popular fishing and kaimoana gathering, and underwater
divers
Cultural/ High - site of the shipwreck ‘Alexandra’ in shallow water offshore
Historical
Ecological/
Scientific
1, 2
(archeological site)
1, 4
Moderate - abundant marine life
- diversity of encrusting (attached) marine animals, sponges,
shellfish, crustaceans and large variety of fish 5
- fur seal haul-out and a seabird roosting area 1
Public access
Poor - The island is accessible at low tide from the beach at the end of Pukearuhe
Road. There is no visible indication that a recreation reserve or unformed
roads exist on the ground. The shipwreck is located offshore approximately
half way between Opourapa Island and Waipingau Stream.
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