Locals have stopped a popular tiki bar from being removed from a Hawke’s Bay beach after an “internal miscommunication” at Hastings District Council led to a staff member being dispatched to remove it.
By Linda Hall for Local Democracy Reporting
The driftwood beachfront bar at Te Awanga, a coastal settlement near Cape Kidnappers, was set up on the beach close to a year ago, and local builders have been slowly adding to its basic al-fresco charm.
Recently, some wooden steps down to the bar were added to allow older people to access it safely for a funeral.
Resident Brent Cushing wandered onto the beach last week and came across a council worker. A worker had already removed the steps
“I asked him what he was doing. He said he had been sent out to remove the tiki bar, but he wasn’t that keen on doing it.
“He said it was for safety reasons.”
A spokesperson for the council said a worker was initially dispatched to remove the tiki bar, along with the other materials placed on the beach.
“It was subsequently confirmed that the items for removal were the steps and loose pallets only.”
The spokesperson said the steps were removed because they had been installed on public land without approval.
Tiki bar an 'extension' of a community hub
Richard Brimer, who has lived in the beachside community for 40 years, said the tiki bar had become a social hub for the community, but people gathering at a particular spot had been happening at the beach since he was a kid.
“There are always locals going to the beach to socialise. The tiki bar is just an extension of that,” Brimer said.
He said it was “ridiculous” that the council had come close to taking it down.
“It’s basically four bits of driftwood made into a small table and seats by locals.
“As for the steps, they were put there for a practical reason. To get people onto the beach safely.
“There’s quite a steep gap, we should have a seawall there.”
The steps were built by local qualified builder Luke Ottley and he said he felt they were safe but understood the council taking them away.
Ottley said the tiki bar was a popular place for locals to meet and socialise and he would not support its removal.
Council worker was 'doing their job'
Councillor Hana Montaperto-Hendry, who lives in Haumona, said she was told there was a council worker at the tiki bar “doing their job” and that locals had a “differing view”.
“I had a chat, and we worked together to find an interim solution.
“The bar is still in situ for now.”
The council spokeswoman said the council was aware of “furniture associated with the tiki bar” and it was “monitoring the situation and will address any issues as necessary”.
There had been no complaints about the tiki bar, she said.
Council officers had identified the steps during “routine monitoring of council reserves and public spaces”.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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