Castles in the Sand

Description

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Our glorious coastline—with its beaches and breakers, rockpools and cliffs, estuaries and river mouths—is dear to the hearts of all New Zealanders. The source of many of our earliest memories, formative experiences, natural history lessons and recreation, the coast is imprinted on our psyche—but it’s increasingly under threat.

Castles in the Sand tells the story of the New Zealand coast—what it means to New Zealanders and what we need to do to care for it for future generations. It describes the natural history of the coast, the ways it was utilised by Maori and European settlers, and the extraordinary post-war era of bach-building. Author Raewyn Peart sets out the social, political and economic factors that have fuelled the more recent development of the coastline, and she looks at the tension between private and public interests, Maori and Pakeha, environmental preservation and development, and the responsibilities of central and local government.

A timely evaluation and call to action, Castles in the Sand concludes that it is not too late to change our management of the coast to ensure continued access for all New Zealanders, the protection of our natural heritage, and responsible, sustainable development.

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