Takapuna dig finds what lies beneath
They dug to preserve the history above, and stumbled across a glimpse of it below.
Erosion protection work has revealed a relic of Takapuna Beach’s past, with workers finding a buried set of stone steps leading down to what was once the beach.
The steps, buried by years of shifting sand, will soon be reburied, however — the privately funded work is actually to preserve two other reminders of times gone by, the landowner paying for the work told the Weekend Herald.
Peter Menzies owns a William St beachfront property and asked contractors to build a retaining wall and do other works in a bid to protect an age-unknown changing shed and a po¯hutukawa at the bottom of his property.
The steps were a surprise, but nothing special, Menzies, in his 80s and who had lived in the area for 50 years, said.
“They will just be buried again when the work is done . . . we can’t leave a big hole there. I’ve got two things to preserve — an old changing shed and a protected po¯hutukawa.”
He was unsure of either’s age but both were special.
“The shed I’m protecting was built at the time people used to bathe at the beach and change in there. It’s a reminder of what it was like years ago. But when we get big waves coming in, the tide washes over the whole base of the shed.”
He’d already lined the shed walls with marine timber to protect it.
Menzies, who has left his front lawn unfenced so those visiting the beach can sit on its lower section, said the tree was special and familiar to many.
“It’s a lovely old tree. Some families have picnicked under it for 30 or 40 years. It’s got a lot of history and the old bathing shed is a reminder of a time past.”
However, a big northeast storm, which struck at the peak of a king tide about five years ago, had
Can you help
Do you know more about the steps? Email cherie.howie@nzme.co.nz
caused serious erosion. While his home, set 8m back, wasn’t at risk, the shed and tree were.
The works, expected to take about two weeks, involve replacing the stormwater disposal system and building a retaining wall.
“The retaining wall will act as a barrier so the sea doesn’t erode [any more land]. The shed would be secure and the tree would be secure.”
He didn’t want to say how much the work cost. It was all part of owning a property and wanting to protect the environment around it.
“You’ve got a responsibility to look after it for the generations ahead. I’m a Christian and I think I understand why we’re here . . . responsibility for the environment is fundamental to a Christian person’s faith.”