Piha : New Zealand (NZ)

You don't see New Zealand, you DO New Zealand !!!!

Piha Beach is considered one of New Zealand's most adventurous playgrounds for keen surfers, trampers and beach lovers. Piha is a hugely popular part of New Zealand Tourism

Piha Voted Best Beach in NZ - read about it here

Piha on Surfline.com .......

How many drownings are there at Piha Beach?  We've all seen Piha Rescue and now, as if we need it, the Best of Piha Rescue.  It is surely a sad thing that so many Aucklanders and NZers have this totally inaccurate picture of Piha as seen through the dramatisation of a TV show, namely Piha Rescue.

So lets look at some some figures 2008:

• 96 people drowned in NZ for 2008
• 148 people drowned in NZ in 1998 - ten years ago.
• The 2008 number of drownings in NZ equates to 2.4 per 100,000 and the third highest cause of accidental death behind road vehicle crashes and falls.
• Of the 96 drownings in NZ 2008
  • 60 were recreational drownings
  • 29 were non-recreational drownings (this is where there was no intention to be in the water for recreational purposes
  • 7 were suicides or road accidents
• There have been 31 drownings in the wider Piha area in the period 1980-2004 - that is a 14 year period:  United North Piha Lifeguard Service & Piha Surf Club (inc Piha, Lion Rock, North Piha Beach, Whites Beach & The Gap)
  • 1 was an immersion accident - (falling off the rocks into the water, (but would excluded intentionally jumping off)driving a car off a bridge and being trapped inside it
  • 2 were shellfishing
  • 15 were swimming (outside flagged area)
  • 11 were angling
  • 2 were rescuing others

Piha is not a 'killer beach'.  It is a west coast beach and for that reason alone is not as safe as  east coast beaches - the Firth of Thames is pretty dangerous!   All beaches are dangerous if not respected or the guidelines of SLS Clubs are not followed.  So: swim between the flags, do keep checking you're inside the flags, put your hand up before you're worn out and enjoy!

Piha POPULATION (Usually resident in Piha population count): 1945 Census (including Air Force Camp - 76; 1951 Census - 73; 1996 - 672;  2001 - 756 and 2006 - 822     Piha Post Code : 0772

    Black Sands Lodge - 1/2 a minute to the Beach

Time and Date - World Clock

The road to Piha Beach, through the protected rain forest of the Waitakere Ranges, is sealed all the way and great quality if a little windy in places.  Keep well to the left, driving to Piha, especially on the corners.

Part of a blogg I have borrowed:  "Under an hour out of Auckland, Piha Beach manages to remain flawlessly beautiful and uncrowded. About a half-hour out of the city, the tropical rain forest starts and so does the beauty of New Zealand (at least for me). The drive was one of the most memorably of my life. The rugged terrain, the green, the open ocean, the waves, and the small town of Piha all took my breath away."   It says it all.  The Link

Umanga | All Blacks Haka

Kapa o pango haka

Piha in the 2001 census boasted a population of 603 and 261 dwellings. Many of these houses are still good old Kiwi Baches with 'long drops' but there are also modern homes now or baches that have been renovated for permanent living. There is no 'town supply' water in Piha but rather water tanks which makes water rather precious during the dry summer season - January through to April.

Crowded House's Guide to New Zealand

Facilities in Piha Beach (NZ)

There is no Motel or Hotel in Piha, however visitor accommodation and 'Holiday Rentals' offering a range of accommodation with relaxed hospitality.   Piha Beach has many facilities for locals, daily visitors and holiday makers.

NIWA Tide Forecaster (NZ)

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