2000 TO 2005

Prior to April 2002 the beach along the coast at Haumoana was covered in shrubs, toitoi, pine, macrocarpa, ngaio, lupins and asters. There were several walkways meandering through the vegetation. The beach crest was strong and stable.
3 - 4 April 2002: About 20 Haumoana residents were forced to leave their homes as high seas threatened a dozen properties near the corner of East and Clifton Roads and waves overtopped the gravel barrier along other parts of the coast. The vegetation is gone.
22 April 2002:  Haumoana residents attend a public meeting to air their concerns about coastal erosion. The idea of a field of groynes 400 metres apart is floated again; there’s also a request for a sea wall. Councils tell residents groynes remain an option but they’ll have to pay for them. HBRC opposes residents attempting to build their own protection. 
June 2002: McGlashan reported 1000 cubic metres of shingle were uplifted from Haumoana Beach during the April storm, lowering the crest by 70cm.
June 2002: A HBRC and HDC working party to develop a long-term strategy for the coastline between Clifton and the mouth of the Tukituki River agree on soft engineering options, including $10,000 for replenishment and planting and $25,000 on consultants for options for the Regional Coastal Plan.
19 June 2002: Richard Rienen-Hamill of Tonkin Taylor, the HBRC consultant, determines that further groynes set 400m apart would be the most effective means of preventing further erosion. The estimated cost was $137,000 each.
28 June 2002:  Tonkin & Taylor, suggest seaside homes might have to be demolished or relocated. Their report, asked to identify coastal issues, said there were “no other practicable solutions” for the beachfront properties. 
May 2003: Five years after the original groyne application expired, a review stated “the groyne appears to be acting as intended”. Consent was given for a further 25 years (31 May 2028). 
27 July 2003: Storms and high seas destroy on house and make four uninhabitable at the corner of East Rd-Clifton Rd, severe structural damage to others. Beach walkways demolished and sea damage to other private properties. 
2004: Tonkin & Taylor report on Regional Coastal Hazard Assessment and Hazard Zone Definitions identifies zones of properties at risk by 2060 and by 2100. 
17 March 2005: Swells up to 6 metres hit the Cape Coast, causing six homes to be evacuated and tipping an old bach into the sea. Several homemade sea walls are swept away.
31 March 2005: The controversial HBRC coastal hazard assessment report is released, listing 750 properties in Haumoana-Te Awanga and Clifton within the new hazard zone. 
September 2005: Consultants Tonkin & Taylor report to HBRC that more gravel is being taken from the Cape Coast beach areas by commercial companies and northward drift than is being replaced naturally. Recommends reducing the amount of gravel taken at Awatoto and embarking on a beach replenishment programme.