There are many devices that have been or are presently being used to protect the coast. These include seawalls, groynes and artificial headlands, detached breakwaters and submerged reefs, beach nourishment and dune rehabilitation.

Surfing headlands are shallow and exposed coastal features that provide a specific form of breaking wave allowing a board-rider to ride on the unbroken wave face.

The use of large, sand filled geotextile containers (SFC or GSC) for the construction of offshore structures is gaining acceptance as a cost effective method of submerged breakwater construction.

The Kaipara Harbour is the largest harbour and estuary complex in New Zealand. It is nationally significant for its intrinsic and amenity value, natural and physical resources, and cultural and historical importance.

A method for predicting and describing the breaking intensity of plunging surfing waves has been developed.

Offshore submerged structures for coastal protection [22] and artificial reefs for enhancing local marine biodiversity and/or attracting sea life [6] have been utilized for decades if not centuries with respect to the latter

Nearshore submerged structures for coastal protection are being applied in increasing numbers worldwide, with Multi-Purpose Reefs (MPR’s) also becoming a favoured approach.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s environmental management framework recognises surf breaks as coastal resources.

With a worldwide increase in shellfish aquaculture and a growing awareness of the potential environmental impacts there is a clear need to ensure that any possible effects are minimised and mitigated efficiently

With a worldwide increase in shellfish aquaculture and a growing awareness of the potential environmental impacts there is a clear need to ensure that any possible effects are minimised and mitigated efficiently.

In 2018, the Management Guidelines for Surfing Resources were published to guide and support the application of Policy 16 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS).

The current status of multi-purpose surfing reef development is evolving. Projects worldwide are in various stages of completion and lessons have been learned from each. This paper considers continuing developments in reef design and reef engineering

Surf breaks are finite, valuable, and vulnerable natural resources, that not only influence community and cultural identities, but are a source of revenue and provide a range of health benefits.