More than 1500 people completed the survey on reserves and beaches, providing valuable feedback for Council to consider.
Council is looking at whether rules are needed to keep reserves and beaches safe and enjoyable for everyone. The online survey asked a small number of targeted questions, to help Council understand community views on vehicles, motorbikes and horse-riding on reserves and beaches. The survey was open for four weeks from 13 October 2025 to 14 November 2025.
“It was great to see so many people taking the time to complete the survey,” says Glyn Morgan, Open Spaces Services Manager. “It shows how much people care about our reserves and beaches, and how they are used. This feedback is really valuable in helping us understand what the issues are and what the community thinks.”
In total, Council received 1523 responses to the survey, with 687 from within the Waikato district, 266 from within the Waikato region and 569 from outside the region.
“We know that people come from far and wide to use our beaches and reserves, and they have an interest in how they are used,” says Morgan.
Since the survey, Council staff have collated the responses and analysed the feedback. This analysis was presented to Council on 18 February alongside comprehensive feedback from mana whenua and key stakeholders including police and horse riding groups. A second workshop is planned for 31 March.
People were asked whether vehicles (including dirt bikes) should be allowed on beaches and reserves, and whether they would support a permit system enabling vehicle access to beaches. There were also three questions aimed to clarify community sentiment for potential rules for horses: whether horse riding should be allowed on beaches, if it should be restricted and, if so, when restrictions should apply.
The following responses were received:
- Should vehicles (including dirt bikes) be allowed on the beach?
454 answered yes, 771 answered yes but with restrictions, 288 did not think they should be allowed on the beach. - Should vehicles (including dirt bikes) be allowed on our reserves?
336 thought vehicles should be allowed on reserves, 715 said they partially supported it and 457 thought they should not be allowed. - Would you support a permit system to allow vehicles to be on our beaches?
679 said they supported a permit system, 384 partially supported it and 438 did not support it. - Should horse riding be allowed on our beaches?
792 thought horse riding should be allowed on beaches, 647 supported it in part, and 68 were opposed to it. - Where should horse riding be restricted?
The responses indicate broad support for location-based restrictions, particularly in areas where horse riding may conflict with other beach users or sensitive environments. Nesting and wildlife sites received the strongest support for restrictions, followed by dunes, vegetation zones, and high-use public areas such as swimming zones and picnic spots. Only a small proportion of respondents felt no location-based restrictions were necessary. - When should horse riding be restricted?
Most respondents favoured time- or season-based restrictions during periods of heightened environmental sensitivity or high public use. Breeding and nesting seasons were the most selected option, followed by school holidays and peak visitor periods. Far fewer respondents supported limiting riding to specific times of day, and around one-fifth felt that no seasonal or time-based restrictions should apply.
Where can I find more information about the survey responses?
The full report to Council can be found here, at the bottom of the page under 'Most recent events'.
- Name: Workshop: Reserves & Beaches Bylaw Revew
- Date/Time: 18/02/2026 9.30AM.
This includes a recording of the workshop.
