case, the goal of restoration was to restore the dynamic potential of a transgressive
dune system that had been stabilized by the introduction of marram grass. Some
planting of native species has occurred, but this was not the main activity or goal.
The third case involves an isolated dune system in a national park setting with no
history of direct human use.
5.2 Case Study 1: Foredune Restoration, Oakura Beach
Oakura Beach (New Plymouth, Taranaki Region, North Island, New Zealand) is a
moderate to high wind and wave energy coastal system that has a very limited, if
not zero to negative, sediment supply. It comprises a wide, rocky, predominantly
sub-tidal reef that is thinly overlain by sand in the surf zone. The intertidal beach is
relatively narrow at high tide and also has a low sediment volume. The entire
Holocene (10,000 years to present) dune system comprises one low, narrow
foredune, which indicates either that the sediment supply to this beach has always
been extremely small, or that significant erosion has taken place in the past.
Fig. 5.1 Map of New
Zealand indicating the dune
restoration sites mentioned
in the text
5 Restoration of Foredunes and Transgressive Dunefields
69