Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw

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Consultation has concluded

What is the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw?

We want to make sure all our residents and visitors to the beaches in the Waimakariri District know their rights and obligations for carrying out various beach activities. We want everyone to have a great experience on our beaches so we have created the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw to explain what activities are permitted on our beaches and what activities are prohibited. There are also rules and guidelines around some of these activities and how they need to be carried out.

If we all play our part we can ensure our beaches and wildlife stay safe and protected now and for the future.

That's why we would like to hear from you on how these rules are currently affecting how our communities use the beaches.

Please tell us what’s working well and what do we need to look at again.

Reasons for the Bylaw.

  • The significance of Ashley River/Rakahuri and Saltwater Creek Estuarine Areas
  • Protection of Foreshore Habitats
  • Protection of Dune Systems
  • Safety concerns of beach users, conflicts between different types of recreational activity and public nuisance
  • Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri values

Background of the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw

After a lengthy public consultation process the first Bylaw for Northern Pegasus Bay was adopted by the Council and took effect on 1 July 2010. The Bylaw was originally established to give effect to the agreements arising from the Northern Pegasus Bay Coastal Management Plan.

The Council is required to review all Bylaws to ensure they are still fit-for-purpose. An in-depth review with public consultation was conducted in 2015/2016 and a revised Bylaw was approved by the Council on 5 July 2016. An Implementation Plan was also adopted by the Council on 5 December 2017.

The next review of the Bylaw is due and the Council approved an interim Bylaw on 2 May 2023 to meet Local Government Act 2002 requirements, requesting time is allowed for community engagement to understand how the current Bylaw rules are impacting on the recreation and environmental needs of our beaches.

The issues and associated Bylaw rules are split across the following themes:

1. Vehicles on the Beach

- Driving On The Beach

For the safety and enjoyment of all users, and to protect special wildlife areas, there are areas along the northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip where vehicles are prohibited or restricted. Check out the map (pdf, 3.5 MB) to view the areas you can and can’t go.

Here are some of the key rules related to taking your vehicle to the Northern Pegasus Bay beaches:

  • Recreational driving or driving for pleasure is prohibited on any area of the Northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip.
  • To protect our fragile coastal dune system, vehicles are prohibited to drive on any dunes in Northern Pegasus Bay
  • All vehicles must drive below the last high tide mark, unless it’s unsafe to do otherwise, except at the Waimakariri River Mouth or using a specified access route.
  • Vehicles must give way and show consideration to people, horses, other animals and birds at all times
  • Approved four-wheel drive clubs may obtain exemptions which allow them to drive on prohibited or restricted areas of the beach for civil defence or rescue training, and for track, beach or facility maintenance, rubbish removal and pest control
  • No vehicles are to drive through a flagged surf lifesaving patrol area
  • Speed limits apply, you should drive no faster than 30km/h and slow down to 10km/h when within 50 metres of people.
  • Access from the Waimakariri District’s northern boundary at Ashworth’s Beach to the Ashley – Rakahuri Estuary is only for the purpose of boat launching or retrieval, fishing, white baiting and mahinga kai gathering.
  • Access from the Waimakariri River Mouth to the Pines Ocean Outfall is Estuary is for the purpose of boat launching or retrieval, fishing, white baiting and mahinga kai gathering as well as taking recreation equipment to the water's edge and for holders of mobility stickers.
  • Vehicle access is available from the Ashley – Rakahuri River Mouth car park to the Ashley – Rakahuri River mouth during the whitebait season.

And remember, the beach is a road, all the road rules and the law still apply in these areas. Vehicles must be registered and licensed.

- Motorbikes

Two-wheel motorbikes are prohibited from all beaches and dunes along the Northern Pegasus Bay Coastal strip.


- Quad Bikes

Quad bikes are permitted to drive on the beach as they are classified as a motor vehicle. They can't be used for recreational driving or driving for pleasure, they must be legal to drive on the road and follow the earlier rules for Driving On The Beach.


2. Dogs on the Beach

Dogs are welcome on most beaches and areas of the Northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip. However, to protect ecological values and bird habitats around the Ashley River/Rakahuri estuary and wetlands, dogs are not allowed in that area.

Here are the key rules for Dogs on the Beaches:

  • Dogs are not allowed in the areas between surf patrol flags or within 50 metres of the flags
  • Dogs must be under continuous and effective control at all times
  • Dogs which are unable to be under effective voice control around horses must be on a leash
  • Carry plenty of poo bags to pick up after your dog


3. Horse Riding & Training

- Horse Riding

The Pegasus Bay Coastal Reserve track network allows casual horse riding along back dune areas between Kairaki-Pines Beach and Waikuku Beach.


There are horse float parking areas provided at the end of Ferry Road in Woodend Beach, and at the southern end of Waikuku Beach settlement, off Reserve Road. A key to access the horse float gate at Waikuku is available by permit only and available 12 months of the year free of charge.


To view float parking locations, beach access areas, and areas that are prohibited for horse riding and training, view the horse access map (pdf, 4.3 MB).

  • Horse riding is prohibited in the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary area
  • Stick to the designated horse trails and give way to pedestrians
  • Stay below the last high-tide mark when riding on the beach, unless using a designated access trail
  • You should avoid riding through flagged surf patrol areas


- Horse Training

Horse training on Woodend Beach has been restricted to an area extending 3.2km's (2-mile training run) either side of the beach entrance to the Woodend Beach Horse Float Car Park and Access Trail and is subject to a user agreement. Find out more in the user agreement brochure pdf, 4.2 MB


4. Swimming at the Beach

Surf Life Saving crews patrol at Waikuku Beach, and also cover Woodend Beach and Pegasus Beach during the peak summer season. The public are advised to swim at these locations.


5. The Ashley/Rakahuri Estuary

The Ashley-Rakahuri Estuary is a special place in our district and home to a lot of rare and endangered birdlife.

The Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2016 (amended 2023) is in place to ensure wildlife and the natural environment are not harmed and ensure everyone can enjoy the area's natural beauty.

To protect the estuary, the following are prohibited:

  • Dogs (If walking on the nearby stop bank, please use a leash)
  • Horses
  • Land yachts
  • Drones and model aircraft
  • Taking off and landing microlights and helicopters
  • Vehicles are prohibited from entering the estuary. The vehicle access for whitebait fishing is outside of the estuary and the route prescribed onto and along the beach must be strictly followed.

It is a restricted area for kite surfing and there is a 5 knot speed limit for water craft.

View the access map (pdf, 7.4 MB) for more details on where the prohibitions apply.


6. Camping & Fires

- Camping

Camping, including freedom camping is not allowed in the dunes or beaches of Northern Pegasus Bay. View the map showing where camping is prohibited.

- Fires

Fires are prohibited in a closed fire season and should not be lit if they could possibly put vegetation, property or lives at risk.

7. Kite Surfing & land Yachts

- Kite Surfing

The Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2016 (amended 2023) restricts kite surfing in the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary to a designated area. Within this there is a launch area, transit area and main riding area.

Kite surfing is prohibited in all other Ashley/ Rakahuri and Saltwater Creek estuarine areas.

  • Stay clear of bird feeding areas in shallow water or exposed mudflats at low tide
  • Stay clear of dry shingle, driftwood, sand banks or islands where birds might be nesting or roosting
  • Only use the kite surfing transition area for moving to and from the launch area to the main riding area or the ocean
  • Stay 50 metres away from the north-west bank & 25 metres from the south-west bank of the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary at all times


- Land Yachting

Land yachts are prohibited between the beach entrance of the Waikuku Beach horse float car park access trail and the districts northern boundary. View the land yacht access map pdf, 2.0 MB for more details.


What is the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw?

We want to make sure all our residents and visitors to the beaches in the Waimakariri District know their rights and obligations for carrying out various beach activities. We want everyone to have a great experience on our beaches so we have created the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw to explain what activities are permitted on our beaches and what activities are prohibited. There are also rules and guidelines around some of these activities and how they need to be carried out.

If we all play our part we can ensure our beaches and wildlife stay safe and protected now and for the future.

That's why we would like to hear from you on how these rules are currently affecting how our communities use the beaches.

Please tell us what’s working well and what do we need to look at again.

Reasons for the Bylaw.

  • The significance of Ashley River/Rakahuri and Saltwater Creek Estuarine Areas
  • Protection of Foreshore Habitats
  • Protection of Dune Systems
  • Safety concerns of beach users, conflicts between different types of recreational activity and public nuisance
  • Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri values

Background of the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw

After a lengthy public consultation process the first Bylaw for Northern Pegasus Bay was adopted by the Council and took effect on 1 July 2010. The Bylaw was originally established to give effect to the agreements arising from the Northern Pegasus Bay Coastal Management Plan.

The Council is required to review all Bylaws to ensure they are still fit-for-purpose. An in-depth review with public consultation was conducted in 2015/2016 and a revised Bylaw was approved by the Council on 5 July 2016. An Implementation Plan was also adopted by the Council on 5 December 2017.

The next review of the Bylaw is due and the Council approved an interim Bylaw on 2 May 2023 to meet Local Government Act 2002 requirements, requesting time is allowed for community engagement to understand how the current Bylaw rules are impacting on the recreation and environmental needs of our beaches.

The issues and associated Bylaw rules are split across the following themes:

1. Vehicles on the Beach

- Driving On The Beach

For the safety and enjoyment of all users, and to protect special wildlife areas, there are areas along the northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip where vehicles are prohibited or restricted. Check out the map (pdf, 3.5 MB) to view the areas you can and can’t go.

Here are some of the key rules related to taking your vehicle to the Northern Pegasus Bay beaches:

  • Recreational driving or driving for pleasure is prohibited on any area of the Northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip.
  • To protect our fragile coastal dune system, vehicles are prohibited to drive on any dunes in Northern Pegasus Bay
  • All vehicles must drive below the last high tide mark, unless it’s unsafe to do otherwise, except at the Waimakariri River Mouth or using a specified access route.
  • Vehicles must give way and show consideration to people, horses, other animals and birds at all times
  • Approved four-wheel drive clubs may obtain exemptions which allow them to drive on prohibited or restricted areas of the beach for civil defence or rescue training, and for track, beach or facility maintenance, rubbish removal and pest control
  • No vehicles are to drive through a flagged surf lifesaving patrol area
  • Speed limits apply, you should drive no faster than 30km/h and slow down to 10km/h when within 50 metres of people.
  • Access from the Waimakariri District’s northern boundary at Ashworth’s Beach to the Ashley – Rakahuri Estuary is only for the purpose of boat launching or retrieval, fishing, white baiting and mahinga kai gathering.
  • Access from the Waimakariri River Mouth to the Pines Ocean Outfall is Estuary is for the purpose of boat launching or retrieval, fishing, white baiting and mahinga kai gathering as well as taking recreation equipment to the water's edge and for holders of mobility stickers.
  • Vehicle access is available from the Ashley – Rakahuri River Mouth car park to the Ashley – Rakahuri River mouth during the whitebait season.

And remember, the beach is a road, all the road rules and the law still apply in these areas. Vehicles must be registered and licensed.

- Motorbikes

Two-wheel motorbikes are prohibited from all beaches and dunes along the Northern Pegasus Bay Coastal strip.


- Quad Bikes

Quad bikes are permitted to drive on the beach as they are classified as a motor vehicle. They can't be used for recreational driving or driving for pleasure, they must be legal to drive on the road and follow the earlier rules for Driving On The Beach.


2. Dogs on the Beach

Dogs are welcome on most beaches and areas of the Northern Pegasus Bay coastal strip. However, to protect ecological values and bird habitats around the Ashley River/Rakahuri estuary and wetlands, dogs are not allowed in that area.

Here are the key rules for Dogs on the Beaches:

  • Dogs are not allowed in the areas between surf patrol flags or within 50 metres of the flags
  • Dogs must be under continuous and effective control at all times
  • Dogs which are unable to be under effective voice control around horses must be on a leash
  • Carry plenty of poo bags to pick up after your dog


3. Horse Riding & Training

- Horse Riding

The Pegasus Bay Coastal Reserve track network allows casual horse riding along back dune areas between Kairaki-Pines Beach and Waikuku Beach.


There are horse float parking areas provided at the end of Ferry Road in Woodend Beach, and at the southern end of Waikuku Beach settlement, off Reserve Road. A key to access the horse float gate at Waikuku is available by permit only and available 12 months of the year free of charge.


To view float parking locations, beach access areas, and areas that are prohibited for horse riding and training, view the horse access map (pdf, 4.3 MB).

  • Horse riding is prohibited in the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary area
  • Stick to the designated horse trails and give way to pedestrians
  • Stay below the last high-tide mark when riding on the beach, unless using a designated access trail
  • You should avoid riding through flagged surf patrol areas


- Horse Training

Horse training on Woodend Beach has been restricted to an area extending 3.2km's (2-mile training run) either side of the beach entrance to the Woodend Beach Horse Float Car Park and Access Trail and is subject to a user agreement. Find out more in the user agreement brochure pdf, 4.2 MB


4. Swimming at the Beach

Surf Life Saving crews patrol at Waikuku Beach, and also cover Woodend Beach and Pegasus Beach during the peak summer season. The public are advised to swim at these locations.


5. The Ashley/Rakahuri Estuary

The Ashley-Rakahuri Estuary is a special place in our district and home to a lot of rare and endangered birdlife.

The Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2016 (amended 2023) is in place to ensure wildlife and the natural environment are not harmed and ensure everyone can enjoy the area's natural beauty.

To protect the estuary, the following are prohibited:

  • Dogs (If walking on the nearby stop bank, please use a leash)
  • Horses
  • Land yachts
  • Drones and model aircraft
  • Taking off and landing microlights and helicopters
  • Vehicles are prohibited from entering the estuary. The vehicle access for whitebait fishing is outside of the estuary and the route prescribed onto and along the beach must be strictly followed.

It is a restricted area for kite surfing and there is a 5 knot speed limit for water craft.

View the access map (pdf, 7.4 MB) for more details on where the prohibitions apply.


6. Camping & Fires

- Camping

Camping, including freedom camping is not allowed in the dunes or beaches of Northern Pegasus Bay. View the map showing where camping is prohibited.

- Fires

Fires are prohibited in a closed fire season and should not be lit if they could possibly put vegetation, property or lives at risk.

7. Kite Surfing & land Yachts

- Kite Surfing

The Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2016 (amended 2023) restricts kite surfing in the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary to a designated area. Within this there is a launch area, transit area and main riding area.

Kite surfing is prohibited in all other Ashley/ Rakahuri and Saltwater Creek estuarine areas.

  • Stay clear of bird feeding areas in shallow water or exposed mudflats at low tide
  • Stay clear of dry shingle, driftwood, sand banks or islands where birds might be nesting or roosting
  • Only use the kite surfing transition area for moving to and from the launch area to the main riding area or the ocean
  • Stay 50 metres away from the north-west bank & 25 metres from the south-west bank of the Ashley River/Rakahuri Estuary at all times


- Land Yachting

Land yachts are prohibited between the beach entrance of the Waikuku Beach horse float car park access trail and the districts northern boundary. View the land yacht access map pdf, 2.0 MB for more details.


  • Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw Survey

    Consultation has concluded
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