Should cars be banned on beaches to protect native species?

Variable oystercatchers at Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Vehicle at Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

A Muriwai seal, deceased (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Dotterel/tūturiwhatu on Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Vehicle driving through dunes in contravention of local bylaws (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Dotterel/tūturiwhatu amongst tyre tracks on Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Four wheel drives on Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

A Kororā, little blue penguin, sitting in tyre tracks on Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Tyre tracks on protected sand dunes, Muriwai Beach (PHOTO: Graham, Muriwai local)

Forest and Bird wants Auckland's Muriwai Beach to close to vehicles to protect precious native species and fragile ecosystems. The organisation would also like to see the Land Transport Act's definition of a road be amended, so that beaches are longer designated as roads. Muriwai is one of two Auckland beaches where driving is allowed, but Forest and Bird says vehicles are causing harm to some of the country's most vulnerable and at-risk species and damaging delicate sand dunes. The beach is home to species such as kororā / little blue penguins, fur seals, and the Muriwai gecko, and is a nesting site for shorebirds like Caspian terns, white-fronted terns and variable oyster catchers. Last year, data from January to November shows more than 54,000 vehicles were recorded driving along Muriwai Beach - but Forest and Bird says that only measures vehicles at one of the beach's entry points and the number could be much higher. Kathryn speaks with Forest & Bird's Auckland regional conservation manager Carl Morgan.