Pukehina | |
|---|---|
 Pukehina Beach | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°48′S 176°31′E / 37.800°S 176.517°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Western Bay of Plenty |
| Ward | Maketu-Te Puke |
| Community | Maketu Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Western Bay of Plenty District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.57 km2 (0.61 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2023)[2] | |
| • Total | 950 |
| • Density | 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 3189[3] |
Pukehina is a beach and township located in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It consists of a white sandy beach, an estuary, farms and several homes. The area is popular with surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing. There is a campground located at the south-eastern end of the beach, and a boat ramp at the estuary.[4][5]
The beach is dangerous for inexperienced surfers and swimmers due to the strong currents that are often present and steep banks at many places along the six kilometre beach. Offshore winds blow from the south-west, which are quite common since the prevailing wind in New Zealand is westerly. The area also enjoys more sunshine hours than other places in the country.[5][4]
Both sharks and seals have been sighted at the beach.[6][7] Several dead seals washed up on the beach in August 2019.[8]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Areawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "worldpostalcodes". Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Pukekina". westernbay.govt.nz. Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
- ^ a b "Pukekina Beach". pukehinabeach.co.nz. Pukehina Beach Ratepayers & Residents Association.
- ^ Hunter, Zoe (24 December 2017). "Shark sighting at Pukehina Beach scares family out of the water". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ Evans, Aisha (13 September 2019). "Seal enjoys lazy afternoon nap". Sun Media. Sun Live.
- ^ Staff reporter (28 August 2019). "Graphic: Dead seals on Pukehina Beach". Sun Media. Sun Live.