Story: Coastal erosion

The coastline is always changing. Cliffs, constantly lashed by wind and rain, may be hollowed into caves, arches and pillars, then topple into the sea. Sandy shores may lose their sand to the waves, or the waves may bring even more sand to them.

Story by Willem de Lange
Main image: Collapsed cliff at Ōmokoroa Point, Bay of Plenty

Story summary

All images & media in this story

What is coastal erosion?

Coastal erosion happens when wind, waves and water currents wear away the shoreline.

Shorelines erode in different ways, depending on whether they are sandy (soft) or rocky (hard).

Sandy beaches

The flow of water and wind on sandy beaches constantly shifts the sand from one place to another. This means that sand can be lost from a beach, or it can be washed or blown there.

Waves are the main cause of erosion, and may be storm waves, boat wakes, tsunamis or tides. High waves take sand away, while flatter waves can deposit it.

Rocky beaches

Shorelines made of rock take thousands of years to wear away. When rocky beaches erode, they form cliffs.

How quickly cliffs erode depends on their strength. Cliffs full of closely spaced cracks wear away quickly, and form sea caves, arches, and eventually rock pillars. Rock can be weakened by earthquakes, heavy rain, or the constant crashing of waves. Waves hitting the base of a cliff can undermine it and cause it to collapse.

Houses

New Zealanders love to live by the sea, but coastal erosion can be a big problem if houses are built on low-lying sand, or on cliffs. A zoning system has been set up to prevent buildings being put up in areas which are likely to flood or erode.

Controlling erosion

One way that people have tried to make the coast stable and protect buildings is to build sea walls. There are many around the Waitematā Harbour in Auckland and the Wellington waterfront. Beaches can be restored by bringing in sand from somewhere else. Planting native grasses that trap sand can stop sand dunes from being blown or washed away.

How to cite this page:

Willem de Lange, 'Coastal erosion', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/coastal-erosion (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Willem de Lange, published 12 June 2006