Porirua Harbour Patterns and Rates of Sedimentation Report

PATTERNS AND RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR
Report prepared for Porirua City Council
JULY 2009 C.R. 2009/1
200Rangitane Road RD1, Kerikeri 0294 New Zealand Telephone (64) 09 401 6493 Mobile 021 150 0754 Facsimile (64) 09 401 6463 Email jgibbcmc@ihug.co.nz
PATTERNS AND RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR

by Jeremy G Gibb, PhD, BSc (Hons), TIPENZ Managing Director Coastal Management Consultancy Limited, Kerikeri, New Zealand and Gregory J Cox, IHO Cat A Managing Director Discovery Marine Limited, Tauranga, New Zealand
DISCLAIMER Coastal Management Consultancy Limited & Discovery Marine Limited (the Service Providers) shall have no liability; i. to any person other than the client to whom the Service Providers report is addressed; nor, in the event that the Service Providers report is used for any purpose other than the specific purpose stated in the report.
ii.
Jeremy G Gibb & Gregory J Cox 2009 All rights reserved. This work is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 to the authors. No part of this work covered by the authors' copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, recording taping, or information retrieval systems) without the written permission of the authors. It is accepted that the client is able to copy any report in its entirety for internal purposes and distribution to its consultants.
ISBN 978-1-877548-00-0 (print) ISBN 978-1-877548-01-7 (online)
COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD
II
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In May 2009, CMCL and DML were commissioned by PCC (acronyms attached) to determine the pattern and rate of sedimentation on the Porirua Harbour area seafloor over the last 160 years. The study was exclusively based on a comparison of hydrographic surveys made in 1849, 1950, 1965-67, 1974, 1991 and 2009. Previous work on sedimentation rates, tectonics of the area, sea level trends since the first survey by HMS Acheron in 1849, set the context. Compared to the 2009 survey by SMB Discovery, past hydrographic surveys were limited to a greater or lesser degree by their coverage and accuracy, an important factor that we took into account. Over approximately the last 9,500 years, both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet of Porirua Harbour have progressively shoaled from the deposition of sand and mud at a net average rate of 1.0-1.5mm/year, with relatively short-term rates ranging from 0.5-11.7mm/year over this period. The steady infilling of the arms of Porirua Harbour has occurred in the context of rising global sea-levels at 10-15mm/year up to about 7,300 years ago with relative stability over the last 7,300 years. Since 1849, GMSL has risen some 210mm of which about 152mm has occurred since 1931 at 1.95mm/year. The tectonically active Ohariu Fault bisects the Harbour and on the upthrown side W of the Fault the land has risen at about 0.5m/1,000 years tapering to about 0.2m/1,000 years at Karehana Bay. In contrast, the land on the downthrown side E of Ohariu Fault has remained relatively stable. During both the 1848 Marlborough Earthquake (Magnitude 7.4-7.5) and the 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake (Magnitude 8.0-8.2), there was no detectable coseismic uplift or down drop of the Porirua Harbour area and the faults that bound and dissect the area did not rupture. There has been no detectable interseismic deformation after these events so that the area has remained tectonically stable over the last 160 years. During the period of human occupation involving the clearing of native forest and development of the surrounding land, all previous studies reveal that rates of sedimentation have progressively accelerated with time. Our measurements show that from 1974-2009, net average deposition rates have increased to 5.7mm/year (13,500-14,000m3/year) in the Onepoto Arm and 9.1mm/year (42,000-43,000m3/year) in Pauatahanui Inlet. Since 1974, the tidal prism has reduced by 1.7% in the Onepoto Arm and by 8.7% in the Pauatahanui Inlet. Allowing for uncertainties, at current deposition rates Pauatahanui Inlet will have ceased to exist over the next 145-195 years (A.D. 2155-2205) and the Onepoto Arm over the next 290-390 years (A.D. 23002400). Although both marine and terrestrial sources supply the sand and mud to Porirua Harbour, the stream catchments draining into both arms appear to be the dominant source. It is recommended that PCC, after due consideration of the findings of this study: 1. Adopt Action Plans that effectively reduce the current net average rates of deposition of sand and mud of 5-10mm/year within both the Pauatahanui Inlet and Onepoto Arm of Porirua Harbour, to the geologic rate of 1.0-2.0mm/year, to preserve both arms of the Harbour as estuaries. 2. Consolidate and enhance the re-vegetation and silt-trap programmes within the catchments draining into Porirua Harbour to permanently reduce the volume of terrestrial-derived sediment entering the Harbour. Where marine-derived sand may be extracted from time to time from both the ebb and flood tide deltas, and throat area around Mana Marina, the first priority use for this sand should be for replenishment of depleted updrift recreational beaches such as Plimmerton Beach, coupled with the construction of appropriate retention structures to both retain and prevent the sand from being washed back into the Harbour.
3.
III
ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT

Local & Central Government Agencies, Companies and Boating Clubs CMCL CSIRO DML DoC GWRC HMS IGNS MCC Coastal Management Consultancy Ltd Commonwealth Science & Industrial Research Organisation Discovery Marine Ltd Department of Conservation Greater Wellington Regional Council Her Majestys Ship Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Mana Cruising Club NIWA PBC PCC RNZN RRL SMB LINZ National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Plimmerton Boating Club
Porirua City Council Royal New Zealand Navy Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory Survey Motor Boat Land Information New Zealand
Sea & Tide Levels PMT GMSL MSL SLR HAT LAT Surveying GIS DTM DGPS NZTM Geographic Information System Digital Terrain Model Differential Global Positioning System New Zealand Traverse Mercator NZMG RTK SEB WVD NZ Map Grid Real Time Kinematic Sounding Error Budget Postglacial Marine Transgression Global Mean Sea Level Mean Sea Level Sea Level Rise Highest Astronomical Tide Lowest Astronomical Tide MWHS MHWN MLWN MLWS CD Mean High Water Springs Mean High Water Neaps Mean Low Water Neaps Mean Low Water Springs Chart Datum
Wellington Vertical MSL Datum 1953
True (T) Compass Directions N NE E SE North @ 0000/3600 T Northeast @ 0450 T East @ 0900 T Southeast @ 1350 T S SW W NW South @ 1800 T Southwest @ 2250 T West @ 2700 T Northwest @ 3150 T
Note: The wind blows FROM these directions and tidal streams & ocean currents flow TO these directions.
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 2 3 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 METHODS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 3.1 3.2 3.3 4 DESKTOP ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 CONSULTATION.................................................................................................................................................................. 3 HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING..................................................................................................................................... 3
FACTS FOUND............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1 TECTONIC DEFORMATION........................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1.1 Active Faults ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1.2 Uplift Rates............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 4.1.3 Major Earthquakes............................................................................................................................................................ 9 4.1.4 Coseismic Versus Interseismic Deformation ...................................................................................................10 4.2 4.3 SEA-LEVEL TRENDS ........................................................................................................................................................10 TIDES......................................................................................................................................................................................12 4.3.1 Tidal Streams .....................................................................................................................................................................15 4.4 SEAFLOOR............................................................................................................................................................................16 4.4.1 Sediment Sources............................................................................................................................................................18 4.5 SEDIMENTATION RATES AND PATTERNS..........................................................................................................20 4.5.1 Previous Work ...................................................................................................................................................................20 4.5.2 Tidal Prism Trends ..........................................................................................................................................................22 4.5.3 Porirua Harbour Approaches.....................................................................................................................................23 4.5.4 Entrance Bar.......................................................................................................................................................................26 4.5.5 Throat.....................................................................................................................................................................................27 4.5.6 Onepoto Arm ......................................................................................................................................................................29 4.5.7 Pauatahanui Inlet............................................................................................................................................................31
5 6 7 8 9 10
FORECAST INFILLING ...........................................................................................................................................................................34 SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................................................................................35 CONCLUSIONS ...........................................................................................................................................................................................36 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................37 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................................................................................................................37 REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................................................................................38
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A: Tables of Data...-1- to -5APPENDIX B: Historical Erosion and Deposition Rates 1849-2009.-1- to -13-.
FIGURES
Figure 1: Map showing the location and extent of Porirua Harbour including place names and Mana Island. 1
Figure 2: Map showing the location of the Pukerua, Ohariu and Moonshine Faults that dissect the Porirua Harbour area after Stevens (1974), Healy (1980), Begg & Mazengarb (1996), & Heron et al. (1998).....................7 Figure 3: A global mean sea-level (GMSL) curve 1870-2007 clearly showing an accelerating rise in MSL from about 42mm (1870-1930) to about 148mm (1930-2007) over the last 137 years. (Provided courtesy of Dr J.A. Church, CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania)..............................................................................................12
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council Figure 4: Diagram illustrating tidal terms (Adopted from LINZ 2009). ........................................13 Figure 5: Time curves for a flood tide wave moving from seaward into Porirua Harbour based on tidal measurements at the 4 tide gauge sites shown. The curves are relative to the site at Mana Cruising Club................15 Figure 6: Map showing the bathymetry of Porirua Harbour derived from the 2009 survey by DML. 17
Figure 7: Sketch map of Pauatahanui Inlet showing the location of profiles 1-9 across the intertidal flats monitored by Pickrill (1979); two deep cores, (#1 & 2) by Mildenhall (1979) and 9 shallow cores (BRN, BAS4, etc) by Swales et al. (2005). 20
Figure 8: Chart of the approaches to Porirua Harbour and entrance bar showing the location of the representative areas of seafloor used to assess sedimentation rates (1967-2009) and locations of named transects with sites for comparison of spot soundings (1849-2009)...................................................................................................................................25
Figure 9: Chart showing the sedimentation pattern in the Throat area of Porirua Harbour from 1974-2009. Figure 10: Chart showing the sedimentation pattern within the Onepoto Arm from 1974-2009. Figure 11: Chart showing the sedimentation pattern in the Pauatahanui Inlet from 1974-2009 30 33
28
Figure 12: The Approaches to Porirua Harbour from Karehana Bay. Photo by JG Gibb 13 December 2004.
37
TABLES
Table 1: Example Sounding Error Budget for the inshore area of Porirua Harbour (Mana, Onepoto Arm, Pauatahanui Inlet) prepared by DML (Mana Tide Gauge Reduced Data for inshore areas)........................................4 Table 2: Tectonic uplift or down drop rates for the Porirua Harbour area calculated from selected data from Table A-2, Appendix A. Eustatic sea-level is for the New Zealand region after Gibb (1986) and is metres above the 1975-1985 average sea-level. 8
Table 3: Porirua Harbour tide levels derived from tide gauges during the 2009 Survey. All levels are in relation to CD where the gauge zero was set at 2.55m below LINZ Mark C1K1 at MCC. Manual tide readings by DML during the course of the survey confirmed that gauge readings were accurate to 0.01m...................................................13
Table 4: Sediment deposition rates in millimetres per year (mm/yr) over the last 9,267 Calendar years BP (1950) within Pauatahanui Inlet based on radiocarbon dated marine silt layers (Cores 1 & 2) and shell in 4 cores. All levels given are normalised to MSL Datum using the 2009 bathymetry. Rates were calculated by dividing the amount of sediment accumulation by the time interval between Calibrated Ages. ............................................................20
Table 5: Sedimentation rates in Pauatahanui Inlet, determined in millimetres per year (mm/year) by NIWA (Swales et al. 2005) from 0.4m-long cores at 9 sites (Figure 7) sampled from 27-29 April 2004 for 3 periods spanning human occupation of the Inlet area over the last 150 years........................................................................................................22
Table 6: Tidal prism calculations in cubic metres for both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet with an uncertainty value of 3%. Tidal data are from the 2009 survey. Volumes of seawater were calculated between the surveyed seabed in 1974 and 2009 and the levels of MHWS and MLWS above CD. Tidal prisms were determined by subtracting MLWS volumes from MHWS volumes.22
Table 7: Net Rates of deposition (+) or erosion (-) of the seabed within the Porirua Harbour area. Data derived from Table A-3, Appendix A, Columns B, D, G, H & I. Average uncertainty values of 3% apply to the 1974 & 2009 DTMs and 5-10% to the 1967 & 1991 DTMs. .............................................................................................................................24
Table 8: Indicative projection [Column ( E )] for the infilling of the arms of Porirua Harbour determined by dividing Column ( B ) by Column ( D ) and allowing an uncertainty value of approximately 15%. Columns ( A ) & ( B ) were determined from the 2009 survey and Column ( C ) from Table 7, representing net deposition from 1974-2009. Column ( F ) allows for the uncertainty value of approximately 15% for Column ( E ). ................................................................35
VI
PATTERNS & RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR

by
Jeremy G Gibb and Gregory J Cox
1. INTRODUCTION
In May 2009 Coastal Management Consultancy Ltd (CMCL) and Discovery Marine Ltd (DML) were jointly commissioned by Porirua City Council (PCC) to analyse and report on historical seabed changes in the Porirua Harbour area based largely on a comparative study of hydrographic surveys made in 1849, 1950, 1965-67, 1974, 1991 and 2009. PCC requested that the results of the comparative study be placed in the context of earlier studies and compared with earlier results. This study builds on the work of MetOcean Solutions Ltd (MetOcean 2009) for PCC involving the digitizing and georeferencing of the 1849-1991 historic charts. Their analysis was limited in that the 2009 hydrographic survey by SMB Discovery was not available at the time. A full description of the 2009 survey is provided in a separate report by DML (2009). Note, that although there are historical differences of opinion regarding place names in the Porirua Harbour area, we have adopted those currently favoured by PCC (Keith Calder, pers. comm. July 2009). A list of acronyms used in this study is provided with the Executive Summary. The study area is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Map showing the location and extent of Porirua Harbour including place names and Mana Island.
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The main purpose of this study is to determine patterns and rates of sedimentation within Porirua Harbour over the last 160 years (1849-2009). The method of comparing earlier soundings of the seabed with a precise survey made in 2009 (DML 2009) is, however, not without inherent problems (MetOcean 2009). The problems arise from the combination of deficiencies in the historic data and physical processes which unless understood can give rise to unreliable and misleading patterns and rates of sedimentation. To resolve potential problems, we have adopted the following conceptual framework. i. Over time, the seafloor of Porirua Harbour may remain either static, shallow from deposition of sediment, or deepen from erosion of sediment. Relative to a common stable vertical datum, change in elevation of the Harbour seafloor can be quantified by comparing soundings and levels of the Porirua Harbour area that were surveyed at discrete time intervals (e.g. 1974-2009). Unreliable results can arise from the effects of historic trends in sea-level and/or tectonic deformation of the land surface. For a trend of sea-level rise (SLR) deepening of the seabed may be detected over time which is not the result of erosion. Conversely, a fall in sea-level may result in a shoaling of the seabed over time which is not the result of deposition of sediment. Tectonic uplift or down drop of the land surface may occur which can equally result in the same problems as trends in sea-level. Such deformation may either be coseismic, aseismic or interseismic. Coseismic movements of the order of decimeters or metres are instantaneous and are directly associated with significant earthquakes and ruptures along active faults. In response to earthquake shaking, such events may also cause a relative deepening of the seabed in thick sequences of waterlogged unconsolidated sediments from compaction and water loss. The southern North Island is located on the plate boundary between the Australian and Pacific Plates. The interface between these two lithospheric plates dips W underneath the Wairarapa and Wellington regions. Interseismic elastic deformation of the crust occurs due to strain accumulation on this plate boundary in between large plate interface-rupturing earthquakes. Interseismic uplift of the crust may result in an apparent shoaling that is not the result of deposition of sediment and interseismic subsidence of the crust may result in an apparent deepening which is not a consequence of erosion. Finally, vertical and horizontal errors are inherent in the various survey methods adopted over the last 160 years. With the passage of time and improvements in precision of survey techniques, there is a progressive increase in the reliability of surveys from 1849 to 2009.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
3. METHODS
Data were gathered for this project from a combination of desktop research, computer analysis of hydrographic surveys, and hydrographic surveying in February to April 2009 (DML 2009) of the Porirua Harbour area. For this project DML carried out the hydrographic survey and computer analysis of historical charts and CMCL the desktop research, interpretation of results, and production of the report.
3.1
DESKTOP ANALYSIS
As a first step, 16 relevant published and unpublished reports were identified from a literature review of Porirua Harbour and its catchment (Blaschke et al. 2009) and supplied to CMCL. As the study progressed the list grew to more than 40 reports which are alphabetically listed in Section 9 (References) of this report. References cited in the text are by the authors name and date of publication.
3.2
CONSULTATION
During the course of research, specialist staff were consulted at LINZ and CSIRO on historic sea-level change and on tectonics and sedimentation rates in geologic time at IGNS and the Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory. Specialists that contributed are acknowledged in Section 8 (Acknowledgements) of this report. Where appropriate, tables of data (see Appendix A) and sections of the report were reviewed by the specialists and the draft report by the Porirua Harbour Science Group. This report is the final version of those reviews.
3.3
HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING
i. A tide gauge network was established before the start of the survey. This network comprised four automatic tide gauges which were installed by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) in consultation with PCC and DML. Three gauges were of a temporary nature, whilst the primary gauge located within Mana Marina is a permanent device with data being logged by GWRC via a telemetry link. This gauge was levelled to the nearby LINZ survey Mark C1K1, being a known height above Chart Datum (CD). The height value of this mark was derived from historic RNZN surveys. Data from all four gauge sites were provided by GWRC and was analysed using Sea Level and Information System (SLIMs) software which is a tidal software package endorsed and used by LINZ. From the analysis, a series of tide levels at each site was derived which has enabled a co-tidal model to be developed for Porirua Harbour. However, for the purposes of comparing the latest survey results with historic data, only tide readings from the Mana Marina tide gauge have been used for the reduction of raw depths for tide. Whilst this single point tide reduction method has created vertical errors in the 2009 data, particularly at distance from Mana due to tidal constriction, our research indicates that all historic surveys have been reduced using a single location tide station centrally located at Mana. Thus, for comparisons to be as accurate as possible, the same methodology has been used for data reduction. The final accuracy of soundings for any survey can only be determined with some degree of certainty by inspection of cross-lines or overlapping depths within the same survey dataset. A lack of dense overlapping data makes accuracy assessments very difficult. Unfortunately, this is the case with all the Porirua Harbour historic data sets due to the scale of sounding sheets and lack of availability of raw data. However, an element of confidence can be derived by comparing two separate surveys over flat seabed areas. Consistent agreement (or consistent discrepancy) provides an element of assurance that surveys have been internally well controlled and may therefore provide worthwhile information. Repeatability is the key factor and unfortunately, the lack of regular surveys undertaken to similar standards and density has made the task of comparing historic datasets very difficult. Taking account of typical survey methods used at the time of the early survey (e.g. 1849), extensive research and recent knowledge of the local tidal regime, the estimated errors for each survey have been listed in Table A-1, Appendix A.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Much effort has gone into ascertaining and confirming the vertical origin for each survey. However, whilst vertical datum is of utmost importance, it should also be remembered that there are many other sources of error that must be considered. For the 2009 survey, the estimated accuracy of soundings was calculated via a Sounding Error Budget (SEB), taking into consideration all sources of error. Table 1 provides an example of the SEB for the approaches to Porirua and the inner harbour areas produced at the 95% (2-sigma) confidence level.
Example Sounding Error Budget for the inshore area of Porirua Harbour (Mana, Onepoto Arm, Pauatahanui
Table 1:
Inlet) prepared by DML (Mana Tide Gauge Reduced Data for inshore areas). Source of Error Depth Independent Error 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.20% d 0.000 d 0.01 0.0007 d 0.0006 d 0.0025 d 0.01 0.08 a 2 + b2 + c2 . Depth Dependent Error Note Depth 2m Depth 5m Depth 10m
Vessel Draught Setting Variation of Vessel Draught Vessel Settlement & Squat Echo Sounder Instrument Accuracy Roll Error Heave Error Sound Velocity Measurement SV Spatial Variation SV Temporal Variation Tide Readings Application of Tides (no co-tidal) Combined Total
A B C D E F G H I J K
0.01 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.088
0.01 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.090
0.01 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.08 0.095
Notes: A B C D E F G H I J K
Set by daily bar check Minimal due to nil significant changes in fuel state during period of each survey Minor squat in shallow water minimised by operating at slow speeds Manufacturer rated accuracy No vessel roll encountered Nil significant heave effects experienced inside the Mana throat region SV determined by daily bar check and verified with SVP Sounding kept to small distinct survey areas each day. Negligible fresh water effects Surveys undertaken during high water periods minimal time delays from SV observations Accuracy of tide gauge readings as proven via pole/gauge comparison Worst case accuracy of co-tidal model for maximum distance from tidal site
vi.
The current chart of Porirua Harbour (NZ4623) is derived from a number of historic RNZN surveys. However, the latest edition of this chart, published in 2000 contains depth data derived from an RNZN survey of 1967 and PCC surveys of 1991. The specific coverage areas are indicated on the source data diagram. The RNZN surveys were undertaken to CD at Mana (details of which have been confirmed) and the 1991 survey was undertaken by a land survey company for PCC with Mean Sea Level (MSL) as the reference datum. Initially, it was believed that a MSL-CD adjustment of 0.80m was undertaken to incorporate this data into the chart. However, further advice from LINZ has confirmed that an adjustment of 1.0m was used, being
the 0.8m MSL/CD offset plus a 0.2m safety margin. It should be noted however, that this shift is of no consequence with respect to survey comparisons, as it is a nautical charting issue only. vii. We know that MSL is affected by topography, particularly in confined waters and bays due to constriction. Whilst Wellington Vertical Datum 1953 (WVD) is a fixed geodetic datum, a review of tidal data gathered at all sites confirms that MSL varies throughout the project area due to tidal restriction - as expected. Furthermore, the Porirua Harbour tidal regime is rather complex and will of course be a major contributor to sounding error for all surveys undertaken in the past. The magnitude of error will largely depend on the state of tide at which the data were gathered. DMLs digital depth analysis has shown that depth error attributed to tides can be in the order of 0.26m or more within the upper reaches of Pauatahanui and Onepoto Arms. As well as the vessel positioning accuracy at the time of the survey, the conversion and/or transformation of older surveys to modern datum and grid can also incorporate errors - such as distortion in old sheets, errors in digitizing and also software errors due to outdated transformation parameters between relative datums. However, the latter is a minor concern since most GIS and survey packages use transformation packages that have been rigorously tested. Whilst positional errors of less than 10m for example may not create issues when comparing depths over flat seabed areas, problems do arise when comparing data sets over rugged terrain or steeply sided channels or near-shore slopes. For example, an error in position of 2.0m or more in a channel environment can manifest itself as a vertical depth error of metres. Hence, positional errors must be considered when inspecting datasets over shallow inshore areas. A key factor in these comparisons has been to ensure that historic data (acquired on various reference surfaces and origins) has been adjusted correctly. The recent study carried out by MetOcean Solutions Ltd (MetOcean 2009) for PCC involved the normalising of all historic data to a common datum. MetOcean digitised soundings from historic sounding fairsheets and then converted data to the New Zealand Map Grid (NZMG) with depths vertically adjusted to CD (Mana). Excel spreadsheets containing xyz data for each historical survey were received by DML via PCC. Adjustment computations (vertical shifts) within the spreadsheets were checked for correctness. This was achieved by DML reviewing hard copies of historic sounding plans and reports held within the LINZ data repository at Upper Hutt. Discussions were also held with LINZ staff as well as surveyors involved in previous surveys. The MetOcean report (MetOcean 2009) was also reviewed. Since the 2009 hydrographic and topographic surveys by DML have been undertaken in terms of New Zealand Transverse Mercator (NZTM) projection, the historic data (digitized and converted to NZMG by MetOcean) have been further converted by DML to NZTM via a standard 7- parameter datum transformation. As far as we could ascertain, the adjustments to historic data undertaken by MetOcean (2009) appear to be correct. The only issue that came to light pertained to the 1974 and 1991 surveys where the sounding plans refer to depths being reduced to MSL - using survey mark BM14 as origin, being 4.837m above MSL. In fact, this BM (correctly known as L14) was upgraded in a geodetic levelling network in 1958 and is a first order vertical survey mark in terms of WVD. Therefore, the 1974 and 1991 surveys have in fact been referenced to WVD and not MSL. From our own geodetic observations undertaken at the beginning of the survey, we found that WVD is approximately 0.05m above MSL at Mana (0.85m above CD). However, a block
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
xii.
xiii.
adjustment of 5cm cannot be made to the 1974 and 1991 data as the WVD-MSL relationship is not fixed over the entire project area. The datum offset was therefore taken into account when deriving volume calculations. xiv. All historic data was imported into Terramodel software as individual layers and inspected manually. Various combinations of layers were interrogated for data overlaps to determine depth differences. Due to a large range in depth differences and sporadic nature of the seabed coverage between surveys, tangible results could not be gleaned from any data sets older than 1974, although the 1950 survey which includes a portion of Pauatahanui inlet does provide some worthwhile data with respect to ascertaining general trends. For the arms of Porirua Harbour, DTM grids could only be derived from the 1974, 1991 and 2009 surveys. A series of 1:2000 A1 size plans were generated from the 1974-2009 and 19912009 survey comparisons to illustrate the magnitude of depth differences. Inspection of these plans clearly shows better agreement across flat seabed areas, but large discrepancies within the channels. This is mainly due to positioning errors and sparse sounding density in the historic data, such that sporadic lines of sounding have not adequately delineated the true shape and depth of some of the key channels. Spot depth comparisons between combinations of older surveys and the 2009 data indicate large depth differences in overlapping data. This is due to varying depth and position errors from each survey and accurate assessments as to seabed trends have not been possible for all harbour areas. The fact that past surveys have not been undertaken at regular intervals and have been conducted using different technologies means that an element of caution must be exercised when delivering findings on sediment trends. Establishing rates of sedimentation based on dubious survey data and where other supporting physical or actual evidence is not available could result in dubious results.
xv.
xvi.
FACTS FOUND
The following are the facts that we found from the combination of previous research and survey and the hydrographic survey in 2009.
4.1
TECTONIC DEFORMATION
1. The proximate cause of tectonic deformation of the Wellington and Wairarapa regions is the convergence of the Australian and Pacific lithospheric plates at about 40mm/year where the former to the W is being obliquely underthrust from the E by the Pacific Plate, the interface reaching about 30km beneath Porirua Harbour (Begg & Johnston 2000; Heron et al. 1998)
4.1.1 Active Faults

2. Within the region, most of the strike-slip component of plate motion is taken up by faults of the North Island Dextral Fault Belt. The Porirua Harbour area is bounded by 3 active fault lines, ruptures along which largely drive tectonic deformation of the area. All three faults are dextral strike-slip faults with the upthrown side to the W and the downthrown side to the E. The active faults are the Pukerua Fault which strikes 0350True and intersects Hongoeka Bay passing up through the Pukerua Corridor; the Ohariu Fault which strikes 0200True through Porirua Harbour, the entrance to Pauatahanui Inlet, passing up through the Kakaho Valley, and the Moonshine Fault which strikes 0550True at Judgeford passing along the Moonshine Road (Healy 1980). Figure 2 shows the location of the 3 faults.
3.
Figure 2: Map showing the location of the Pukerua, Ohariu and Moonshine Faults that dissect the
Porirua Harbour area after Stevens (1974), Healy (1980), Begg & Mazengarb (1996), & Heron et al. (1998).
4.
The last movement on the Pukerua Fault occurred more than 1,200 years ago. For a Magnitude 7.60.3 earthquake triggered by a single-event fault displacement of 2.3-4.0m a recurrence interval of 2,500-5,000 years has been estimated (Begg & Mazengarb 1996). Relative to the Ohariu and Pukerua Faults the Moonshine Fault may not be as active as most of the fault features are rounded and eroded. There is some evidence for displacement during the Last Glacial period about 20,000 years ago (Begg & Mazengarb 1996). The Ohariu Fault is one of the major active dextral strike-slip faults in the Wellington Region, the last movement occurring 1,070-1,130 years ago during which the average horizontal surface displacement was estimated to be 3.7m and the estimated earthquake Magnitude M 7.1-7.5. A recurrence interval of 1,530-4,830 years was determined for similar magnitude events along this fault (Heron et al. 1998). Taupo Swamp just N of Plimmerton and about 2km NW of the Ohariu Fault has been tectonically uplifted by a series of surface rupture earthquakes associated with movements on the Fault about 700-1,300, 2,000-2,600 and 2,800-3,900 years ago (Cochran et al. 2007).
5.
6.
7.
8.
Along the Ngatitoa Domain foreshore there is a stranded gravel beach about 1.0m above the present-day forming feature. The difference in crest heights is consistent with the tectonic uplift of the Taupo Swamp-Plimmerton Beach area W of the Ohariu Fault (Gibb 1993). At Camborne, there is a sequence of 6 undated beach ridges which increase progressively in height inland to about 2.7m above the present-day ridge suggesting uplift (McFadgen 2007). Further W at Karehana Bay, there was a transition from an estuarine environment to a peaty freshwater swamp about 3,356-2,947 calendar years ago (Table A-2, Appendix A). The age of transition coincides with the earliest rupture recorded in the Taupo Swamp that was associated with movements on the Ohariu Fault and may have resulted in a small amount of uplift in this area. Equally, eustatic sea-level was slightly higher at that time and has fallen about 0.2m since (Gibb 1986).
9.
4.1.2 Uplift Rates

10. Estimated uplift rates are provided for the Porirua Harbour area in Table 2. Rates are determined by comparing the formation height of a radiocarbon dated paleosea-level marker with an estimated sea-level that existed when the marker was laid down. For Table 2, eleven of the most reliable dated markers are used which were carefully selected from the 26 dated markers listed in Table A-2, Appendix A. For the upthrown side to the W of Ohariu Fault, including the Plimmerton-Mana coast, a net average tectonic uplift rate of about 0.5m/1,000 years is determined here tapering to about 0.2m/1,000 years at Karehana Bay (Table 2). Evidence of Holocene uplift along the coastline at Whitireia Park and the W shores of the Onepoto Arm (Adkin 1921; Eiby 1990; Walton 2002; McFadgen 2007) suggests a similar uplift rate. More than 80% of Pauatahanui Inlet is located on the downthrown side (E) of Ohariu Fault. For the Inlet, Gibb (1986) calculated an uplift rate of 0.30.04m/1,000 years from 8 radiocarbon dated paleosea-level markers spanning a period from about 9,300 to 3,000 years ago. One of these dates was from the Taupo Swamp, another from Motukaraka Point and the rest from 2 cores in the central mud basin of the Inlet (Table A-2, Appendix A). For this area, new data gathered since Gibb (1986) from shoreline sites around the Inlet including Pauatahanui Stream valley, Ration Point, Motukaraka Point and the Kakaho Stream valley generally indicate very low rates of uplift (Table 2). As the rates are all within the uncertainty limits of both the formation heights and eustatic sea-levels (Table 2) we interpret the data to indicate relative tectonic stability to very low uplift of the Porirua Harbour area E of the Ohariu Fault over the last 7,500 years.
11.
12.
13.
Table 2:
Tectonic uplift or down drop rates for the Porirua Harbour area calculated from selected data from Table A-2,
Appendix A. Eustatic sea-level is for the New Zealand region after Gibb (1986) and is metres above the 1975-1985 average sea-level.
14C
Number
Location
Dated Sample
Depositional Environment
Formation Height (m)
Mid Range Calibrated Age (cal. years BP) 3152205
Eustatic Sea Level (m) 0.20.5
Uplift (+) or Down drop (-) Rate (m/1,000 years) 0.24
Tectonics
NZ 7379
Karehana Bay
Shell
Lower tidal Flat
0.96
Uplift
NZ 4866 WK 8095 WK 8353 NZ 7387 NZ 7393 NZ 7421 NZ 3118 NZA 29687 NZ 7381 NZ 7383
Taupo Swamp S Taupo Swamp N (TS 971) Taupo Swamp N (TS 982) Kakaho Stream W Kakaho Stream W Kakaho Stream W Motukaraka Point W Ration Point (Core RPA) Pauatahanui Stream Pauatahanui Stream
Shell Organic Mud Organic Sand Shell Shell Shell Shell Shell Shell Shell
Tidal Flat Upper tidal Flat Upper tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat Upper tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat
1.90.8 1.75 1.90 0.0 to 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.241.0 -1.4 -0.15 -0.66
4224178 2540210 3150700 5457183 3122209 3410215 7113118 7094126 7498192 7588196
0.31.0 -0.20.5 0.20.5 -0.31.0 0.10.5 0.51.0 0.01.0 -0.11.0 -0.51.0 -1.01.0
0.45 0.77 0.54 0.05 0.16 0.03 0.17 -0.18 0.05 0.04
Uplift Uplift Uplift Stable Stable Stable Stable Stable Stable Stable
14.
We consider the 11 dated marine silt layers in the 2 cores from the central mud basin to be unreliable on the grounds that they are not paleosea-level markers and if they were, they would indicate a confusion of tectonic uplift rates up to 0.56m/1,000 years and down drop rates up to -2.08m/1,000 years within the same cores (Table A-2, Appendix A). Having considered the available evidence at this point in time, we are of the opinion that the Porirua Harbour area W of the Ohariu Fault is undergoing coseismic tectonic uplift at about 0.5m/1,000 years tapering to about 0.2m/1,000 years at Karehana Bay. In contrast, the arms of the Harbour E of the Fault appear to be either tectonically stable or subject to very low tectonic uplift.
15.
4.1.3 Major Earthquakes

16. Major ruptures on the largest active faults dissecting the Wellington region give rise to equally major earthquakes. Such events are accompanied by coseismic uplift or down drop of the foreshore and seabed. Furthermore, the possibility exists that between such major events interseismic deformation of the land surface may occur. Since 1840, four moderate to large earthquakes have occurred on 16 October 1848, 23 January 1855, 24 June 1942 and 2 August 1942 (Begg & Mazengarb 1996). In 1848, rupture along the Awatere Fault in Marlborough produced a magnitude M 7.4-7.5 earthquake. In 1855, rupture along the Wairarapa Fault produced the well documented magnitude M 8.0-8.2 Wairarapa Earthquake (Grapes & Downes 1997; Begg & Johnston 2000). The 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake caused the Wellington region to tilt W, with coseismic uplift of the order of 6m near Cape Turakirae and up to 13.5m horizontal movement along the W Wairarapa Fault (Begg & Johnston 2000). Uplift associated with W tilting generally tapered from several metres along the fault, to 2.1m along the eastern shores of Wellington Harbour, to 1.5m in the Wellington City area, tapering to zero at Cape Terawhiti (Stevens 1974). In the Porirua Harbour area, perception of coseismic uplift during the 1848 and 1855 events is controversial. During the 1848 event the ground shook for 3 days at Paremata. During the 1855 event, parts of the Porirua Harbour were as dry beds. The seabed in the Onepoto Arm was lifted to such an extent that the tidal flow at the harbour entrance was reduced and the original shoreline at Parramatta Point was gradually lost (Kay 1996). Adkin (1921) interpreted uniform uplift of 0.9m of the Porirua Harbour coast from the 1855 event, but Eiby (1990) refuted this claim suggesting zero uplift of the coast. Others reported
17.
18.
19.
20.
differential subsidence of the foreshore and seabed in response to compaction of soft sediment whilst still others reported uplift of 0.3-0.9m of the tidal flats in the upper reaches of Pauatahanui Inlet (Grapes & Downes 1997). 21. According to a report by a local registered surveyor, Mr K.E. Wynne, there is no conclusive survey evidence of raised beaches or rock areas around Porirua Harbour that can be attributed to the 1855 event (Wynne 1981). Healy (1980) in the comprehensive multidisciplinary PEP scientific study of Pauatahanui Inlet surmised that the Pauatahanui region was neither uplifted or downwarped during the event.
4.1.4 Coseismic Versus Interseismic Deformation

22. Whilst there is good evidence for coseismic uplift of the Porirua Harbour area W of the Ohariu Fault, recent research by IGNS indicates no evidence of coseismic uplift or down drop E of the Fault (Cochran et al. 2007; Wilson et al. in prep 2009). Furthermore, the available geologic evidence suggests that coseismic uplift and W tilting of the Wellington region during the 1855 event did not extend to Porirua Harbour. In addition, there is no known reliable evidence of either uplift or down drop since the 1855 event. However, interseismic recovery of any 1855 uplift or subsidence is not expected because it was an upper plate fault earthquake, rather than a plate interface event (Wilson & Berryman, pers. comm. IGNS, June 2009). Having considered the above evidence, we adopt zero vertical tectonic deformation of the entire Porirua Harbour foreshore and seabed over the 160-year period of hydrographic survey (1849-2009) utilized in this study.
23.
24.
4.2
SEA-LEVEL TRENDS
25. Sea-level rise (SLR) is caused by the combination of both thermal expansion of ocean waters as they warm plus an increase in ocean mass from meltwater from land-based sources of ice such as valley glaciers and ice caps, and the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Global warming is the proximate cause of both factors (Church et al. 2008). Global cooling results in the reverse. At the peak of the Last Glaciation about 20,000 years ago, eustatic (global) sea-level around New Zealand stood at about 130-135m below present-day sea-level (Gibb 1980). In the Porirua Harbour area, the shoreline at that time lay about 2km W of Mana Island. With the onset of global warming of some 4-50C the Last Glaciation ice sheets disintegrated and eustatic sea-level rose on average at about 10mm/year (1.0m per century) (Gibb 1986; Church et al. 2008 ) with peak rates of about 50mm/year (5.0m per century) (Rohling et al. 2007). The global rise is widely known as the Postglacial Marine Transgression (PMT) and was punctuated by a number of stillstands. During the latter part of the PMT, two stillstands occurred about 10,500-9,500 and 8500-8000 years ago at about -24.02.9m and 9.02.8m, below present-day sea-level, respectively. Both stillstands were followed by rapid marine transgressions of about 1.5m per century (15mm/year) (Gibb 1986). In New Zealand the PMT culminated at the present sea-level about 7,300100 calendar years ago (cal. Years B.P.). During the last 7,300 years, eustatic fluctuations on the order of a few decimeters have occurred with a regression minimum of about -0.41.0m at about
26.
27.
28.
29.
10
5,300 years ago and a transgression maximum of about 0.51.0m at about 3600 years ago (Gibb 1986). There has been little net change in eustatic sea-level from 2,000 years ago until the start of the 19th century (Gibb 1986: Church et al. 2008). The period of relative sea-level stability is known as the Present Interglacial. 30. The Present Interglacial contrasts with the Last Interglacial when global sea-level stood about 3.00.3m higher than modern sea-level about 124 to 119,000 years ago around New Zealand (Gibb 1986). During the Last Interglacial global mean surface temperatures were at least 20C warmer than present and relatively short-term rates of SLR averaged 1.61.0m per century (16mm/year). A 1.6m per century SLR would correspond to the disappearance of an ice sheet the size of Greenland (Rohling et al. 2007). Figure 3 shows that from 1870 to about 1930 global mean sea-level (GMSL) rose at about 0.70mm/year, accelerating to about 1.95mm/year from 1930 to 2007, averaging 1.4mm/year over the 137-year period (Church et al. 2008). These scientists noted that there were significant regional variations in the rate of SLR and that the rate of rise is not uniform around the globe. The most recent analysis of tidal records for New Zealand (Hannah 2004) revealed that regional sea-level rose on average at 1.610.24mm/year last century, with a rise at 1.78mm/year being recorded at Wellington from 1891-2001, the closest port to Porirua Harbour with the longest tidal records. Hannah disclosed a linear trend finding no evidence of an acceleration in the rate of SLR last century. For New Zealand an analysis of combined tidal data from Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton, showed no significant SLR trend until 1931, with an increase to 1.90.1mm/year after then (Gibb 1991), showing excellent agreement with the global trend established by Church et al. (2009). Using linear regression, Gibb established a net rate of 1.60.1mm/year showing excellent agreement with Hannah (2004). The slightly higher rate of SLR for Wellington above the New Zealand average is thought to be the result of interseismic subduction for which there is no evidence at Porirua (Wilson & Berryman, IGNS, pers. comm., June 2009). As there is no long-term tidal record for Porirua Harbour to derive a trend, we must infer a rate from elsewhere for this area.
31.
32.
33.
34.
11
Figure 3:
A global mean sea-level (GMSL) curve 1870-2007 clearly showing an accelerating rise in MSL from about
42mm (1870-1930) to about 148mm (1930-2007) over the last 137 years. (Provided courtesy of Dr J.A. Church, CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania).
35.
Having considered the available evidence, we adopt rates of SLR of 0.7mm/year (1849-1931) and 1.95mm/year (1931-2009) from Figure 3 for the Porirua Harbour area for the study of historic sedimentation from 1849 to 2009.
4.3
TIDES
36. The periodic rise and fall of sea-level, known as the tide, is caused by the gravitational interactions of the Moon and Sun on the oceans of Planet Earth. While gravity provides the driving force, the rotation of the Earth, the size and shape of the ocean basins and local coastal circumstances ultimately determine the magnitude and frequency of the tide at a particular place (LINZ 2009). Around the 18,000km-long New Zealand coastline, the tidal regime is semi-diurnal. This means that on most days 2 high and 2 low tides will occur at any given location including the Porirua Harbour area (LINZ 2009). Standard tidal terms used in this study are defined in the New Zealand Nautical Almanac (LINZ 2009) and shown on Figure 4. Highest and lowest astronomical tide (HAT & LAT) are
37.
38.
12
the highest and lowest tidal levels which can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions over 18 years (LINZ 2009). Modern CDs are set at the approximate level of LAT (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Diagram illustrating tidal terms (Adopted from LINZ 2009).
39.
Table 3 shows that high tide arrives first at the jetty at Plimmerton Boating Club (PBC) and 20 minutes later at Mana Cruising Club (MCC). About 45-50 minutes later high tide reaches the inland extent of both Pauatahanui Inlet and the Onepoto Arm (Figure 5; Table 3).
Table 3:
Porirua Harbour tide levels derived from tide gauges during the 2009 Survey. All levels are in relation to CD
where the gauge zero was set at 2.55m below LINZ Mark C1K1 at MCC. Manual tide readings by DML during the course of the survey confirmed that gauge readings were accurate to 0.01m. GAUGE SITE Mean Time Differences HW LW Mean Spring, Neap and Sea Level Heights (metres) MHWS MHWN MLWN MLWS MSL
13
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council MCC PBC Onepoto Arm Pauatahanui Inlet 0000 -0020 +0020 +0022 0000 -0017 +0034 +0032 1.769 1.693 1.722 1.728 1.170 1.142 1.183 1.190 1.033 0.918 0.968 0.948 0.434 0.366 0.429 0.410 1.101 1.030 1.075 1.069
Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) MCC PBC Onepoto Arm Pauatahanui Inlet 1.848 1.863 1.954 1.954
Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) 0.248 0.273 0.345 0.330
40.
Relative to Mana Marina there is negligible difference (0.97-0.99) in tidal range ratios at all 4 tide stations (Figure 5) during typical spring tidal periods and average meteorological conditions. Across all 4 sites the Spring Tide range is 1.293-1.335m and the Neap Tide Range is 0.137-0.224m (Table 3). Highest astronomical tide (HAT) ranges from 0.079m above MHWS at Mana Marina up to 0.232m at the head of Onepoto Arm. In contrast, lowest astronomical tide (LAT) ranges from 0.08m below MLWS at the head of Pauatahanui Inlet up to 0.186m at Mana Marina (Table 3). During severe storms from the W-NW quadrant the combination of wind setup and the inverted barometer effect associated with such storms can create a pronounced increase in sea-level known as a storm tide. Such phenomena are known to flood low-lying areas such as Grays Road from time to time for several hours at high water. During a severe storm on 11-13 September 1976 that produced 11-13m swells and sustained NW winds of 50 knots in the western Approaches to Cook Strait, a storm tide of 0.72m above normal High Water was observed in Pauatahanui Inlet (Gibb 1978). These conditions were generated by a Mid-Latitude Depression with a central pressure of 970hpa and recurrence interval of some 30-50 years.
41.
42.
43.
14
Figure 5:
Time curves for a flood tide wave moving from seaward into Porirua Harbour based on tidal
measurements at the 4 tide gauge sites shown. The curves are relative to the site at Mana Cruising Club.
4.3.1 Tidal Streams

44. The configuration of the coastline and the seafloor topography directly affects the pattern and rate of flow of tidal streams (currents) in and out of Porirua Harbour. The strongest flows are experienced along the centerline of the Harbour throat where velocities up to 1.76m/second (3.42 knots) have been measured during Spring tides and 0.74m/second (1.43 knots) during Neaps (Wynne 1981).
15
45.
At the N end of the throat just inside the entrance bar, maximum ebb flow velocities of 0.61-0.7m/second (1.19-1.36 knots) were measured (Wynne 1981). The flow velocities in the Harbour throat are more than capable of transporting sand and mud both into and out of Porirua Harbour. During flooding tides, dye tests in March & April 1980, revealed that about 60% of the tide entered Pauatahanui Inlet and 40% into the Onepoto Arm. During ebbing tides, the relatively stronger flow from Pauatahanui Inlet deflected the flow from the Onepoto Arm against the western shore of the entrance channel (Wynne 1981). Our measurements in 2009 revealed a total area of the arms of Porirua Harbour below MHWS of 714.04ha, comprised of about 469.97ha (Pauatahanui Inlet) and 244.07ha (Onepoto Arm). As the rise and fall of the tide affects both arms, it follows that about 66% of the tidal streams entering and leaving the Harbour are controlled by Pauatahanui Inlet and 34% by the Onepoto Arm which is in close agreement with the dye tests in 1980. Little is known about tidal streams within the Onepoto Arm. Observations during the 2009 survey suggest that there are insignificant topographic deflections during both ebb and flood tides and that flows across the flood-tide delta are fairly uniform (DML 2009). It is highly likely that there is either a clockwise or anticlockwise low velocity circulation within the central basin of this arm. In contrast, a mobile bed hydraulic model of Pauatahanui Inlet constructed in 1977 revealed significant topographic deflections during both ebb and flood tides. Although most of the ebb-tide flow was concentrated through the main channel, significant streams occurred across the flood-tide delta with higher velocities through the 2 shallow channels bisecting the delta (Bewick 1977). Although high flood tide velocities were mostly concentrated in the main channel, the Harbour topography contributed to a clockwise circulation in Browns Bay producing a back eddy along Moorehouse Point. In the muddy basins to the N and E of the flood-tide delta and spit, there were anticlockwise low velocity circulations (Bewick 1977). For the approaches to Porirua Harbour, the RNZN measured the direction and velocity of tidal streams in about 16m CD depth. Flood tides were observed to generally flow NNE-NW at about 0.26-0.57m/second (0.5-1.1 knots) during Springs and 0.15-0.31m/second (0.3-0.6 knots) during Neaps. Ebb tides generally flowed SW at similar velocities (RNZN Chart NZ4632). The relatively higher tidal velocity areas of Porirua Harbour, appear to be associated with coarser bedload sediments (sand, gravel, shell banks, etc.). In contrast, the relatively lower tidal velocity areas such as the central basins of both arms of the Harbour appear to be associated with finer suspended load sediments such as silt and clay (mud).
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
4.4
SEAFLOOR
53. Figure 6 highlights the important bathymetric features of the seafloor of Porirua Harbour. Sampling and particle size analyses have been made in the past of seafloor sediments by a number of workers including McDougall (1976); Wynne (1981); Lewis (1988), & Swales et al. (2005).
16
Figure 6:
Map showing the bathymetry of Porirua Harbour derived from the 2009 survey by DML.
54.
Approaching the Harbour from seaward, the seafloor shallows uniformly from about 15-18m CD between Te Rewarewa Point to the N and Te Paokapo Point to the S to about 10m CD by Tokaapapa Reef (Figure 6). RNZN Chart NZ4632 shows that the seafloor in this area is composed of Fine Sand & Broken Shell (F.S.bk.Sh). Tokaapapa Reef (Grandfather Rocks) have a drying height of 0.3-0.9m above MHWS (NZ4632) acting as a natural offshore breakwater reducing wave energy in its lee resulting in the formation of a shore-connected sub-tidal tombolo to the E (Figure 6). A line intersecting the apex of the tombolo with the reef indicates that the dominant wave approach is from about 2800True (WNW).
55.
17
56.
The sand tombolo anchors the N end of the entrance bar, an ebb-tide delta defined by the 2m CD depth contour (Figure 6) to seaward. Ebb-tide discharges via the Harbour throat together with the sheltering effect of the Whitireia coast anchor the ebb-tide delta at its S end, the throat petering out near Goat Point. The seafloor landward of Tokaapapa Reef including the entrance bar is composed of a uniform Very Well Sorted Very Fine Sand (V.f.S). Jet probing of the bar revealed a minimum thickness of V.f.S of at least 4m, thinning to about 2.4m over rock closer to shore (Wynne 1981). Wynne found no mud in the sand samples analysed. The sand coarsens slightly moving inshore to Well Sorted Fine Sand along Karehana Bay and Plimmerton Beach. Between these two beaches the sand overlying the rock platforms and within small pocket beaches is Well Sorted Medium to Fine Sand (Med.F.S) (Lewis 1988). Lewis found no mud in the sand samples analysed. In 2009 a maximum depth of 18.7m CD was recorded in the throat channel adjacent to the northern breakwater of Mana Marina (Figure 6). The floor of the throat right through to Moorehouse Point (Pauatahanui Inlet) is armoured with a mix of very coarse gravel and shells (Irwin 1976; Healy 1980). Prior to excavation for Mana Marina, the tidal flat was composed of Moderately Well Sorted Fine Sand (Lewis 1988). Within both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet, the throat channels peter out into flood-tide deltas defined to the S and E, respectively, by the 0.75m CD depth contour (Figure 6). The deltas exhibit drying banks composed principally of Fine Sand (F.S) (Healy 1980) capped in places by mobile banks of dead estuarine shells (Irwin 1976). Although the flood-tide delta is reasonably well defined in the Onepoto Arm, it is rather complex in Pauatahanui Inlet (Figure 6). Within the Inlet the delta takes the form of a generally sub-tidal spit that is breached in 2 places by shallow N-S trending channels through which the flood tide flows. In a qualitative study of vertical aerial surveys, Irwin (1976) found that the position and shape of the banks and main channel within Pauatahanui Inlet had remained very stable over a 31 year period (1942-1973). The only exception was the sub-tidal spit off Moorhouse Point (Figure 6) which had become a narrow tail. Beyond the flood-tide deltas are the central relatively deeper basins of both arms of Porirua Harbour (Figure 5) with maximum depths in 2009 of 1.68m CD in the Onepoto Arm and 1.32m CD in Pauatahanui Inlet. Within both basins the seafloor is composed of mud with less than 10% sand (Healy 1980). The tidal flats bordering the Inlet shorelines are generally composed of Poorly Sorted Muddy Sands (M.S). At the top of the flats the narrow shorelines are composed of either rock, gravel, dead shell or Well Sorted Sand (Irwin 1976; Pickrill 1979).
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
4.4.1 Sediment Sources

65. The similarity in colour, particle size and composition of the sand comprising the ebb and flood-tide deltas of Porirua Harbour with the sediment comprising the seafloor out to about 20m CD depth in the approaches to the Harbour strongly suggests the seafloor to be an important source area for the deltaic sand.
18
66.
Under low, long period swell conditions coupled with flooding tides, sand on the seafloor is moved shoreward by mass transport to weld on to the Plimmerton beaches as low, flat bars. Under WNW wave conditions the beach sand is then transported S into the Harbour entrance by wave generated longshore currents coupled with flooding tides (Lewis 1988; Gibb 1993). The 315m-long by 30-50m-wide dune barrier complex at the N end of Ngatitoa Domain is also a source area. From 1900-1960 the dune line advanced at 0.3m/year from accretion of sand supplied from the seafloor via a wide stable sand beach (Wynne 1981; Gibb 1993). Historical photographs confirm the presence of a wide sand beach prior to 1960 (Calder 2009). From 1960-1979 the dune line trend reversed to erosion at -0.32 to -1.16m/year (Wynne 1981). Sand eroded from the dune complex has been transported into Porirua Harbour where in more recent years it has accumulated at the Mana Marina site since dredging commenced in 1963 (Gibb 1993). Based on timing and observations, the most likely causes for the trend reversal from duneline advance to retreat are thought to be firstly, the reclamation of 1.71ha of seabed at Goat Point by NZ Railways in the 1950s, and secondly, dredging and removal of sand at the Marina site since 1963 disrupting the natural tidal circulation of sand to and from the Ngatitoa Beach (Wynne 1981; Stirling 1983; Gibb 1993). Sand within the seafloor source area is not being naturally replenished and is regarded as a finite non-renewable resource (Gibb 1993). Many thousands of years ago the sand was originally supplied to the area at a lower sea-level from the Kapiti Coast S littoral drift system that bypassed Pukerua Bay S to Plimmerton. When the rising sea-level reached its present level about 7,300 years ago, the sand supply was effectively terminated and the flow of sand directed offshore at Pukerua Bay to be lost down one of the arms of Cook Strait canyon near Mana Island (Gibb 1993). In 2006-07, the formation of an artificial gravel beach by PCC adjacent to the 315m-long Ngatitoa dune complex has significantly reduced erosion rates, with erosion of sand only occurring during severe WNW wave storms capable of overtopping the gravel beach crest (PCC, pers. comm. Aug 2009). As a consequence sand from this relatively small supply source area to the Harbour has also significantly diminished. No mud is present in the marine sands of the outer seafloor and entrance bar so that the muddy basins in both areas of the Harbour are not derived from this source. The most obvious sources of mud are the streams draining into both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet. The relatively larger streams have well developed birds-foot deltas at their mouths which dissect the tidal flats. From the stream mouths the coarser sediments are spread a limited distance laterally by wave action to form the narrow beaches (Pickrill 1979). Although the streams discharging into the Harbour deliver some sand to the nearby intertidal flats, we have found no evidence to indicate that stream-derived sand crosses either the muddy basins or moves laterally around the intertidal flats to nourish the predominantly sandy flood-tide deltas. On the basis of available evidence we are of the opinion that the dominant source supplying sand to both the ebb-tide and flood-tide deltas is the seafloor W of the Harbour
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
19
entrance. In contrast, the dominant source supplying mud to the central basins and mud, sand and gravel to the intertidal flats beyond the flood-tide deltas are the streams draining into both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet.
4.5
SEDIMENTATION RATES AND PATTERNS

77. Sedimentation rates from previous research are summarized in Tables 4 & 5. Our research reveals that all previous work has concentrated on Pauatahanui Inlet to the exclusion of the Onepoto Arm.
4.5.1 Previous Work

78. In April 1976, 2 deep cores were recovered from the central mud basin of Pauatahanui Inlet (Figure 7), Core 1 penetrating 12.83m of soft muddy sediments and Core 2, 7.55m of similar sediments before striking a bed of ancient stream gravels deposited during the Last Glacial Period when eustatic sea-level was relatively lower (Mildenhall 1979; Healy 1980).
Figure 7:
Sketch map of Pauatahanui Inlet showing the location of profiles 1-9 across the intertidal flats
monitored by Pickrill (1979); two deep cores, (#1 & 2) by Mildenhall (1979) and 9 shallow cores (BRN, BAS4, etc) by Swales et al. (2005).
Table 4:
Sediment deposition rates in millimetres per year (mm/yr) over the last 9,267 Calendar years BP
(1950) within Pauatahanui Inlet based on radiocarbon dated marine silt layers (Cores 1 & 2) and shell in 4 cores. All levels given are normalised to MSL Datum using the 2009 bathymetry. Rates were calculated by dividing the amount of sediment accumulation by the time interval between Calibrated Ages.
CORE
Calibrated Age (Cal.years B.P.)
Depth below MSL (m) 14.38 12.05 10.85 9.45
Sedimentation Rate (mm/year)
Net rate (mm/year)
Data Source
1 (R26/696100)
9267248 8732295 8925442 7973192
4.4 11.7 1.6
20
8017291 5669233 3810256 1131160 Seabed 2009 2 (R26/701100) 8414224 6029254 2108209 Seabed 2009 BAS 4 (R26/690103) BRN (R27/681097) 193431 Seabed 2009 202131 Seabed 2009
9.45 8.25 6.35 2.35 1.55 7.85 4.83 1.61 0.3 4.17 1.85 2.05 0.65 0.7 0.7 1.1 NIWA 2005 Pauatahanui Inlet NET AVERAGE SEDIMENT DEPOSITION RATE 1.2 1.2 NIWA 2005 1.3 0.8 0.6 0.9 Mildenhall 1979 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.7 1.4 Mildenhall 1979
79.
A total of 11 radiocarbon dated marine silt layers in the 2 cores allow sedimentation rates to be calculated (Table 4). In Core 1, 12.83m of silt have accumulated over the last 9267248 calendar years BP at a net rate of 1.4mm/year. In Core 2, 7.55m of silt have accumulated over the last 8414224 cal. years BP at a net rate of 0.9mm/year. In both cores, sedimentation rates have ranged from 0.5mm/year up to 11.7mm/year (Table 4). In relative terms, the higher rate is associated with a shorter time frame of a few hundred years and the lower rates with timeframes of a few thousand years (Table 4). In 1978, 2 short cores were recovered in the central mud basin between the Kakaho Stream mouth and Moorehouse Point and sedimentation rates calculated using radionuclide methods. Mean deposition rates were found to increase after 1967-69 from 1.30.2kg/m2/year up to 8.10.8kg/m2/year (Whitehead et al. 1998). Adopting an average wet density of 2.60g/cm3 for greywacke-derived F.S. after Gibb (1977), indicates deposition rates increasing from 0.5mm/year (pre-1968) to 3.1mm/year after 1968. Cores BAS4 and BRN in Table 4 were recovered by NIWA in April 2004 (Figure 7) and 2 radiocarbon dates obtained from estuarine shells (Swales et al. 2005). In BAS4 a net sedimentation rate of 1.2mm/year was recorded over the last 2,000 years or so and in BRN a net rate of 0.7mm/year over the same period (Table 4). Table 4 shows that over the entire seafloor of Pauatahanui Inlet the net average sediment deposition rate over the last few thousand years was 1.1mm/year, ranging from 0.7mm/year (BRN) up to 1.4mm/year (Core #1) (Table 4). Table 5 provides sedimentation rates for post 1850, post 1950 and post 1985 from 9 x 0.4m-long cores sampled from Pauatahanui Inlet in April 2004. The rates were determined by Swales et al. (2005) from a combination of radioisotope and pollen time zones within each core.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
21
Table 5:
Sedimentation rates in Pauatahanui Inlet, determined in millimetres per year (mm/year) by
NIWA (Swales et al. 2005) from 0.4m-long cores at 9 sites (Figure 7) sampled from 27-29 April 2004 for 3 periods spanning human occupation of the Inlet area over the last 150 years.
PERIOD BRN Post 1850 Post 1950 Post 1985 2.7 5.9 2.9 Average Post 1850 Post 1950 Post 1985 2.32mm/year 3.38mm/year 4.62mm/year DUK 1.7 2.6-3.0 1.6 PAT 2.8 3.8 5.5 Range
Deposition Rates (mm/year) HRK 3.2-3.7 3.2 10.0 KAH 2.0-2.5 3.6-4.1 5.0 BAS1 1.5-1.7 2.4-3.0 5.0 BAS2 3.4 3.5-3.6 2.4 BAS3 1.0 1.8-2.3 3.9 BAS4 1.9 2.3-2.8 5.3
1.0-3.7mm/year 1.8-5.9mm/year 1.6-10.0mm/year
85.
For the post-1850 period, the average rate was 2.32mm/year ranging from 1.0mm/year (BAS3) up to 3.7mm/year (HRK). For the post-1950 period, the average rate increased to 3.38mm/year, ranging from 1.8mm/year (BAS3) up to 5.9mm/year (BRN). For the post 1985 period, the average rate increased yet again to 4.62mm/year, ranging from 1.6mm/year (DUK) up to 10.0mm/year (HRK) (Table 5). Sedimentation rates in the very short term were measured at 9 sites (Figure 7) on the intertidal flats of Pauatahanui Inlet over a 15-month period starting 15 March 1976. Although a net trend of deposition at 2.9mm/year was recorded, the net rate ranged from maximum erosion of -64mm/year and maximum deposition at 47mm/year on various profiles (Pickrill 1979). Pickrill (1979) observed that that the surface of the intertidal flats was very stable with monthly changes generally not exceeding 20mm. Of the suspended sediment (mud) introduced to the Inlet from streams, Pickrill inferred that more than two-thirds is flushed through to the open sea. In summary, in geological time sedimentation rates in Pauatahanui Inlet have averaged around 1mm/year, ranging up to about 12mm/year over shorter time frames in localized areas. Over the last 150 years, rates of sedimentation have progressively increased from about 2.32mm/year up to an average of about 4.6mm/year since 1985. In the very short-term, maximum erosion of -64mm/year and maximum deposition at 47mm/year was recorded at selected sites.
86.
87.
88.
4.5.2 Tidal Prism Trends

89. To determine trends we have measured the tidal prisms for both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet by subtracting the volume of seawater between the seafloor and MLWS from the volume at MHWS. The two most reliable hydrographic surveys made in 1974 and 2009 that have the most extensive coverage were compared to determine the general trends (Table 6). The other surveys made in 1849, 1950, 1965-67 and 1991 either had inadequate coverage or were unreliable.
Table 6:
Tidal prism calculations in cubic metres for both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet with an uncertainty
value of 3%. Tidal data are from the 2009 survey. Volumes of seawater were calculated between the surveyed
22
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council seabed in 1974 and 2009 and the levels of MHWS and MLWS above CD. Tidal prisms were determined by subtracting MLWS volumes from MHWS volumes.
SURVEY YEAR
TIDAL DATA
TIDAL PRISM (m3)
NET REDUCTION 1974-2009 (m3)
RATE (m3/year)
ONEPOTO ARM Water Volumes (m3) 2009 PAUATAHANUI INLET Water Volumes (m3) 2009 TOTAL PORIRUA HARBOUR 1974 2009 SUMMARY VOLUMES 1974
MHWS 1.44m 1974 5,331,375 4,709,139 MHWS 1.45m 1974 8,994,177 7,269,692
MLWS 0.15m 2,448,884 1,876,291 MLWS 0.14m 3,579,071 2,327,352 5,415,105 4,942,340 8,297,597 7,775,188 -522,408 Onepoto Pauatahanui -14,926 36.43% 63.57% 6.30% -472,765 -13,508 8.70% 2,882,491 2,832,848 -49,643 -1,418 1.70%
Onepoto Pauatahanui
34.74% 65.26%
2009
90.
Over the last 35 years (1974-2009), the tidal prism of Porirua Harbour has reduced in volume by 6.3%. Of this reduction, 8.7% has occurred in Pauatahanui Inlet and 1.7% in the Onepoto Arm (Table 6). In 1974, 65.26% of the spring tidal flow was into Pauatahanui Inlet and 34.74% into the Onepoto Arm. By 2009, the balance had changed to 63.57% into Pauatahanui Inlet and 36.43% into the Onepoto Arm (Table 6). The progressive reduction in volume of the tidal prism is consistent with sediment deposition recorded on the intertidal flats (Pickrill 1978; Healy 1980; Swales et al. 2005). Note that the reduction in tidal prism is not related to sedimentation of the seafloor below MLWS such as in the channels and central mud basins.
91.
92.
4.5.3 Porirua Harbour Approaches

93. The approaches to Porirua Harbour is generally the area of seafloor seaward of Tokaapapa Reef and the 7m depth contour. Tentative rates of sedimentation for this area were determined by firstly, comparing DTMs (1967 & 2009) of a representative area of seafloor of about 236.4ha and secondly, by comparing spot soundings surveyed in 1849 and 2009 along 2 transects at 8-11 sites (Figure 8) in about 16-7m water depth. For the period 1967-2009, a net average rate of erosion of the 236.4ha seafloor of -24.4mm/year was determined, equating to a loss of some 57,700m3/year of Fine Sand (Table 7).
94.
23
Table 7:
Net Rates of deposition (+) or erosion (-) of the seabed within the Porirua Harbour area. Data
derived from Table A-3, Appendix A, Columns B, D, G, H & I. Average uncertainty values of 3% apply to the 1974 & 2009 DTMs and 5-10% to the 1967 & 1991 DTMs.
Area
Survey Interval
Average Seabed Area (m2)
Volume Change (m3) -2,423,960 -51,222 380,244 225,843 209,525 463,877 1,388,087 -249,160 1,431,719
Net Erosion (-) or Deposition (+) (m) -1.02542 -0.05501 0.97681 0.10310 0.09578 0.19883 0.35215 -0.06386 0.31705
Net Rates of Deposition (+) or Erosion (-) (mm/year) -24.4 -1.3 27.9 6.1 5.3 5.7 20.7 -3.6 9.1 (m3/year) -57,713 -1,220 10,864 13,285 11,640 13,254 81,652 -13,842 40,906
Approaches Entrance Bar Harbour Throat Onepoto Arm
1967-2009 1967-2009 1974-2009 1974-1991 1991-2009 1974-2009
2,363,870 931,154 389,271 2,190,521 2,187,560 2,333,032 3,941,748 3,901,667 4,515,750
Pauatahanui Inlet
1974-1991 1991-2009 1974-2009
95.
For the period 1849-2009, we recorded an average erosion rate of -1.5mm/year along the transect N of the Reef (Figure 8), ranging from maximum erosion at -8.3mm/year (Site 5) up to maximum deposition at 4.6mm/year (Site 1) over the last 160 years. For the transect S of the Reef, we recorded an average deposition rate of 3.2mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion at -4.6mm/year (Site 1) up to maximum deposition at 13.3mm/year (Site 11) over the last 160 years (1849-2009) (Figure 8). The large conflicting range in net rates (-23.8mm/year erosion to 3.2mm/year deposition) indicates that both the trends and rates should be viewed with caution as they may reflect unknown inherent errors in the surveys, notwithstanding the fact that we have applied corrections that also allow for the effects of SLR. The fact that the approaches seafloor has been identified as a non-renewable source area of Fine Sand for the Porirua Harbour strongly suggests a long-term trend of erosion of the order of a few millimeters per year.
96.
24
Figure 8:
Chart of the approaches to Porirua Harbour and entrance bar showing the location of the
representative areas of seafloor used to assess sedimentation rates (1967-2009) and locations of named transects with sites for comparison of spot soundings (1849-2009).
25
4.5.4 Entrance Bar

97. The entrance bar is the ebb-tide delta of sand that plugs the entrance to Porirua Harbour (Figure 8). Tentative rates of sedimentation for the bar were firstly determined by comparing DTMs (1967 & 2009) of a representative 93.1ha area of seafloor and secondly, by comparing spot soundings along 3 transects at 5-6 sites (Figure 8) surveyed in 1849, 1950 and 2009 in about 6-1m CD water depth. For the period 1967-2009, a net average rate of erosion of the 93.1ha seafloor of -1.3mm/year was determined, equating to a loss of some 1,220m3/year of Fine Sand (Table 7). Along the Karehana Bay transect (Figure 8), that is slightly N of the bar, we recorded a very low average rate of erosion of -0.4mm/year from 1849-2009, ranging from maximum erosion of -3.4mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 3.3mm/year (Site 1) over the last 160 years.
98.
99.
100. Along the Plimmerton Beach transect, a very low average rate of erosion of -0.2mm/year was recorded for the period 1849-1950, ranging from maximum erosion of -5.1mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition at 5.5mm/year (Site 2) over the 101-year survey period. 101. In contrast, for the period 1950-2009, there was a reversal to an average rate of deposition of 1.8mm/year along this transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -9.2mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition at 6.0mm/year (Site 5) over the 59-year survey period. 102. For the entire 160-year period (1849-2009), a very low average rate of erosion of -0.1mm/year was recorded along the Plimmerton Beach transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -4.7mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition of 4.8mm/year (Site 2). 103. The Goat Point Leads transect (Figure 8) crosses the bar at the point where vessels navigate to and from Porirua Harbour. Relative to CD, we recorded minimum bar depths of 1.02m (1849), 1.32m (1950), 0.43m (1967), and 0.94m (2009). Allowing for unknown seasonal variability of depths, minimum bar depths have remained remarkably constant over the last 160 years with a slight tendency toward shoaling. 104. For the period 1849-1950, an average rate of deposition of 11.2mm/year was recorded on the Leads transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -6.6mm/year (Site 3), up to maximum deposition of 32.6mm/year (Site 2) over the 101-year survey period. For the period 1950-2009, the average rate of deposition dropped to 3.1mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -6.5mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition of 18.1mm/year (Site 6) over the 59-year survey period. 105. For the entire 160-year period (1849-2009), an average rate of deposition of 8.9mm/year was recorded along the Goat Point Leads transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -4.3mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition of 20.5mm/year (Site 2). 106. With a reduction in tidal prism of 6.3% of Porirua Harbour from 1974-2009, we would expect a small increase in the volume of the entrance bar over this period in proportion to the progressive unknown drop in ebb-tide velocities. Averaging the net rates over the 3 transects and 93.1ha of seafloor provides an overall average rate of deposition of Fine Sand on the entrance bar of 1-2mm/year. We believe this value to be a reasonable best estimate of both trend and rate.
26
4.5.5 Throat
107. The throat area of Porirua Harbour covers the main channel of the Harbour including Mana Marina, and where the channel bifurcates into Pauatahanui Inlet and the Onepoto Arm. For the throat, DTMs were compared from the 2 most reliable surveys made in 1974 and 2009 to determine the pattern and rate of sedimentation (Figure 9). 108. The 1974 survey was undertaken prior to construction of Mana Marina (1980s), hence the sedimentation patterns in the vicinity of the marina are greatly affected by this man-made structure. 109. Table 7 shows that over the last 35 years (1974-2009) there was a net trend of deposition at 27.9mm/year, equating to a gain of some 10,860m3/year of Fine Sand over an area of seafloor of 38.9ha. 110. Figure 9 shows the pattern of sedimentation since 1974. Most rapid deposition has occurred along the seaward side of the W Mana Marina breakwater and to a lesser extent along the S breakwater and within the Marina basin entrance. Some of this deposition may have been affected by dumping of spoil from the Marina (PCC, pers. comm. July 2009). 111. Whilst most of the seafloor of the throat has tended to deepen from erosion since 1974, especially where it leads into Pauatahanui Inlet, the E side of the channel leading into the Onepoto Arm has shoaled by about a metre or so. The deepening in the Marina basin is the result of dredging in the 1980s to form Mana Marina. 112. Areas of erosion depicted within the main N-S channel are not entirely due to a general deepening, as the seabed coverage of the 1974 survey was not of sufficient density in places to accurately determine the deepest part of the channel. 113. Prior to the establishment of Mana Cruising Club (MCC) in 1959 and the commencement of dredging in front of the Club in 1963 coupled with construction of Mana Marina in the 1980s, the intertidal bank dredged for the Marina was a natural deposition area for Fine Sand. During flooding tides a low velocity anticlockwise gyre formed over the bank reversing to a clockwise gyre during ebbing tide (Stirling 1983), promoting sand deposition during both phases of the tide. 114. From 1963-1980 about 20,000-70,000m3 of Fine Sand accumulated in the basin left by dredging at rates of about 1,200-4,100m3/year. The W breakwater of the Marina was constructed along the axis of an actively S growing sand spit across the dredged basin (Gibb 1993). Currently, less than 1,000m3 of sediment are dredged from the Marina area each year (PCC, pers. comm. July 2009). 115. Figure 9 shows the same pattern of sand accumulation is occurring today as occurred during dredging from 1963-1980. According to Wynne (1981) the bulk of this sand is probably derived from the coast and seafloor outside the Harbour entrance, including the eroding dunes of Ngatitoa Domain. The sand is transported to the site by flood tide flows through the throat which lose velocity near the breakwaters promoting deposition. We concur with the views of Mr Wynne.
27
Figure 9:
Chart showing the sedimentation pattern in the Throat area of Porirua Harbour from 1974-2009.
28
116. Whilst most of the sand entering the Harbour is deposited both within Mana Marina and against both breakwaters, Figure 9 also shows that a portion of this sand is being transported into both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet, thus contributing to the continued growth of the flood-tide deltas.
4.5.6 Onepoto Arm

117. For the study of both sedimentation patterns and rates within the Onepoto Arm, DTMs were compared for 1974 and 2009 covering almost all of the Arm. In addition, rates were determined along 3 transects at 4-6 sites carefully selected to include comparative soundings from the 1974, 1991 and 2009 surveys. Within Appendix B, the transects are shown on Figure B-1 and rates for sites in Table B-3. 118. Table 7 and Figure 10 summarise sedimentation patterns and rates from 1974-2009. For the 35-year period, a net average rate of deposition over the 233.3ha seafloor was recorded at 5.7mm/year, equating to a gain of some 13,250m3/year of mud and sand. Over the 35-year period (1974-2009) net rates of deposition have remained reasonably constant, averaging 6.1mm/year from 1974-1991 and 5.3mm/year from 1991-2009 (Table 7). 119. Along the N transect at the entrance to the Onepoto Arm (Figure B-1), an average deposition rate of 1.9mm/year was recorded from 1974-1991, ranging from maximum erosion of -3.9mm/year (Sites 1 & 5) up to maximum deposition at 13.7mm/year (Site 2). From 1991-2009, average deposition rates increased to 5.4mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -40.8mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition at 46.4mm/year (Site 1) (Table B-3, Appendix B). 120. For the entire 36-year period (1974-2009), the average deposition rate along the northern transect was 2.2mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion (Site 4) of -11.9mm/year up to maximum deposition (Site 3) of 11.3mm/year (Table B-3, Appendix B). 121. Along the Mid transect at the S end of the flood-tide delta (Figure B-1), an average deposition rate of 3.4mm/year was recorded from 1974-1991, ranging from maximum erosion of -3.9mm/year (Site 2), up to maximum deposition of 13.7mm/year (Site 1). From 1991-2009, average deposition rates increased to 4.2mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -5.3mm/year (Site 3), up to maximum deposition at 18.6mm/year (Site 2) (Table B-3, Appendix B). 122. For the entire 35-year period (1974-2009), the average deposition rate along the Mid transect was 2.3mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -1.1mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition at 4.9mm/year (Site 1) (Table B-3, Appendix B). 123. Along the S transect across the central mud basin (Figure B-1), an average deposition rate of 7.8mm/year was recorded from 1974-1991, ranging from maximum erosion at -3.9mm/year (Site 1) up to maximum deposition at 13.7mm/year (Sites 3 & 4). From 1991-2009 there was a reversal to an average erosion rate of -2.2mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -6.4mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition at 3.1mm/year (Site 2) (Table B-3, Appendix B).
29
Figure 10:
Chart showing the sedimentation pattern within the Onepoto Arm from 1974-2009.
124. For the entire 35-year period (1974-2009), the average deposition rate along the S transect was 1.6mm/year, ranging from -2.8mm/year maximum erosion (Site 1) up to 3.9mm/year maximum deposition (Site 3) (Table B-3, Appendix B). 125. The pattern of sedimentation in the Onepoto Arm from 1974-2009 reveals that the greatest rates of sedimentation (20-30mm/year) occur mostly on the flood-tide delta and to a lesser
30
degree at the mouth of the Porirua Stream (Figure 10). As there are significant areas of erosion on the delta, it is highly likely that the eroded sand is being redistributed by tidal currents to accumulate in the areas shown. 126. An erosion trend is evident around much of the shoreline (Figure 10) and this may be associated with wave reflection off the armoured railway embankment and general retreat of the Whitireia Park shoreline in response to SLR. 127. Unfortunately, neither the 1991 or 1974 surveys completely covered the intertidal part of the Porirua Stream delta so that the very low rates of sedimentation here are indicative only. Notwithstanding, it appears that bedload discharged from this stream during floods is deposited along the E side of the Inlet. Suspended load from Porirua Stream is likely to mostly be accumulating within the central mud basin at about 5mm/year (Figure 10). 128. In summary, since 1974 most if not all of the 244.07ha Onepoto Arm has silted up at 5.7mm/year on average from about 13,500-14,000m3/year of sand and mud with annual rates ranging from maximum erosion of -40.8mm/year up to maximum deposition at 46.4mm/year at various sites.
4.5.7 Pauatahanui Inlet

129. For the study of both sedimentation patterns and rates with Pauatahanui Inlet, DTMs were compared for 1974 and 2009 that covered almost the entire Inlet. In addition, rates were determined along 5 transects at 5 to 9 sites carefully selected to include comparative soundings from the 1950, 1974 and 2009 surveys. Within Appendix B, the transects are shown on Figure B-2 and rates for sites in Table B-4. 130. Table 7 and Figure 11 summarise sedimentation patterns and rates from 1974-2009. For the 35-year period, a net average rate of deposition over the 451.6ha seafloor was recorded at 9.1mm/year, equating to a gain of some 40,900m3/year of mud and sand (Table 7). 131. Over the last 35 years (1974-2009), Table 7 shows net rates have varied from 20.7mm/year deposition from 1974-1991 to -3.6mm/year erosion from 1991-2009. These rates should be treated with caution as we believe they reflect unknown inherent errors in the 1991 survey. As the geologic trend has been consistent deposition (Table 4) within Pauatahanui Inlet, it is highly unlikely that there has been a widespread reversal to erosion from 1991-2009. 132. Along the Mana transect that crosses the western part of the flood-tide delta (Figure B-2, Appendix B), an average rate of erosion of -7.0mm/year was recorded for the period 1950-1974, ranging from maximum erosion of -18.9mm/year (Sites 3 & 4) up to maximum deposition at 15.3mm/year (Site 1). For the period 1974-2009, the average erosion rate reduced to -2.6mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -11.8mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 2.2mm/year (Site 4) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 133. For the entire 59-year period (1950-2009), an average rate of erosion of -4.4mm/year was recorded along the Mana transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -7.2mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 3.0mm/year (Site 1). Net erosion is a departure from the overall trend of deposition and may reflect the fact that a large part of this transect lies along shallow channels or that there has been a significant reduction of sand transported to this area since dredging commenced at MCC in 1963.
31
134. Along the Camborne transect that mostly runs along the crest of the flood-tide deltaic spit (Figure B-2, Appendix B), an average deposition rate of 0.6mm/year was recorded for the period 1950-1974, ranging from maximum erosion of -6.4mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition at 6.1mm/year (Sites 1 & 5). For the period 1974-2009, the average deposition rate reduced to 0.1mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -11.2mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 10.5mm/year (Site 5) (Table B-4, Appendix B). Once again the reduction in deposition rates may reflect the effects of dredging at MCC since 1963. 135. For the entire 59-year period, the average deposition rate on the Camborne transect was 0.3mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion of -5.9mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 8.7mm/year (Site 5). The very low average deposition rate from 1950-2009 compared to relatively high contrasting rates at each of the 9 sites may suggest no new sediment supply but reworking of sediments along the crest of the spit. 136. Along the Moorehouse Point transect that crosses the western part of the central mud basin (Figure B-2, Appendix B), a very high average deposition rate of 21.0mm/year was recorded for the period 1950-1974, ranging from maximum erosion of -10.1mm/year (Site 2) up to maximum deposition at 109.0mm/year (Site 5) on the edge of the main channel. For the period 1974-2009, there was a reversal to an average erosion rate of -4.4mm/year along this transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -29.5mm/year (Site 5) up to maximum deposition at 14.8mm/year (Site 2) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 137. For the entire 59-year period, a relatively high deposition rate of 8.0mm/year was recorded along the Moorehouse Point transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -3.1mm/year (Site 4) up to maximum deposition at 26.9mm/year (Site 5) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 138. Along the Browns Bay transect that parallels the S shore of the Inlet (Figure B-2, Appendix B), an average erosion rate of -1.9mm/year was recorded for the period 1950-1974, ranging from maximum erosion of -10.5mm/year (Site 1) up to 6.1mm/year maximum deposition (Site 3). For the period 1974-2009, there was a reversal to an average erosion rate of -4.3mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion at -10.3mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition at 12.8mm/year (Site 5) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 139. For the entire 59-year period, an average deposition rate of 1.8mm/year was recorded along the Browns Bay transect, ranging from maximum erosion of -3.6mm/year (Site 3) up to maximum deposition at 4.7mm/year (Site 2) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 140. Along the Motukaraka Point transect that runs N-S through the central mud basin (Figure B-2, Appendix B), an average erosion rate of -3.3mm/year was recorded for the period 1950-1974, ranging from maximum erosion of -26.8mm/year (Site 5) up to maximum deposition at 11.1mm/year (Site 4). For the period 1974-2009, there was a reversal to an average deposition rate of 2.9mm/year, ranging from maximum erosion at -0.1mm/year (Site 5) up to maximum deposition at -5.9mm/year (Site 1) (Table B-4, Appendix B). 141. For the entire 59-year period, an average deposition rate of 0.4mm/year was recorded along the Motukaraka Point transect, ranging from maximum erosion at -10.9mm/year (Site 5) up to maximum deposition at 6.2mm/year (Site 1) (Table B-4, Appendix B).
32
Figure 11:
Chart showing the sedimentation pattern in the Pauatahanui Inlet from 1974-2009
33
142. Of the 5 transects (Figure B-2, Appendix B), 4 recorded deposition over the last 59 years (1950-2009) at average net rates of 0.4-8.0mm/year and one transect erosion at an average net rate of -4.4mm/year. Maximum short-term variability for both erosion and deposition generally exceeded 20mm/year at specific sites. 143. Figure 11 reveals that most of the seafloor of Pauatahanui Inlet has shoaled from sedimentation over the last 35 years (1974-2009) at varying amounts ranging from less than 0.2m (5mm/year) to greater than 1.0m (30mm/year). The few areas not silting up include the main channel around Golden Gate Peninsula, a very small area of the central mud basin, and localized areas of intertidal flats especially W of the Kakaho Stream, between Duck Creek and the Pauatahanui Stream, and channel areas dissecting the flood-tide delta (Figure 11). 144. The greatest areas of deposition lie in the western and eastern parts of the central mud basin (Figure 11). As no mud enters Pauatahanui Inlet from the open sea, the accumulating mud must be directly supplied from streams discharging into the Inlet such as the Pauatahanui, Ration Point, Horokiri, Duck and Kakaho streams. Maximum deposition is occurring where tidal flows are relatively weak and gently rotating gyres and counter currents are set-up by ebb and flood tides. 145. Other areas undergoing relatively rapid sedimentation from fluvial supply include the intertidal deltaic areas at the mouths of the Pauatahanui and Horokiri streams and to a lesser degree, Kakaho Stream. Browns Bay appears to be a natural sink for sediments along with the distal tip of the flood tide formed spit around Moorehouse Point and the S edge of the main channel. 146. Whilst Browns Bay is known to have received a considerable locally derived deposition of mud in the mid 1970s (Swales et al. 2005), the Bay also appears to be a sediment trap for other sources outside the Bay. In contrast, spit growth of the flood-tide delta is more likely related to both Fine Sand being transported to the area from the open sea by flooding tides coupled with reworking of sediments along the spit. 147. Although sedimentation of the intertidal flood-tide delta to the W of Mana is occurring the rates are less than those in the central mud basin (Figure 11) perhaps largely as a consequence of dredging for Mana Marina basin. If we accept that the dominant supply source of sediment for the flood-tide delta is from outside Pauatahanui Inlet, then the sedimentation pattern in Figure 11 clearly implies that streams discharging into the Inlet are the dominant supply source. 148. In summary, since 1974 almost all of the 469.9ha Pauatahanui Inlet has silted up at 9.1mm/year on average from about 41,000-42,000m3/year of sand and mud with annual rates ranging from maximum erosion of -29.5mm/year up to maximum deposition at 109.0mm/year at various sites.
FORECAST INFILLING
149. Based on data from this study, a best estimate is provided in Table 8 for the complete infilling of both Pauatahanui Inlet and the Onepoto Arm to the 2009 level of MHWS. As there are many uncertainties in factors such as future rates of SLR, sedimentation and tectonics over the next few centuries, we have adopted a tentative uncertainty value of approximately 15% for this forecast.
34
Table 8:
Indicative projection [Column ( E )] for the infilling of the arms of Porirua Harbour determined by
dividing Column ( B ) by Column ( D ) and allowing an uncertainty value of approximately 15%. Columns ( A ) & ( B ) were determined from the 2009 survey and Column ( C ) from Table 7, representing net deposition from 1974-2009. Column ( F ) allows for the uncertainty value of approximately 15% for Column ( E ).
PORIRUA HARBOUR
(A) Full Area @ MHWS (m2)
(B) Volume @ MHWS (m3) 7,269,692 4,709,139
(C) Net Deposition (m) 0.31705 0.19883
(D) Net Rate (m3/year) 42,573 13,865
(E) Projection (years) 145-195 290-390
(F) Forecast Infilling from 2009 (years) A.D. 2155 - 2205 A.D. 2300 - 2400
Pauatahanui Inlet Onepoto Arm
4,699,693 2,440,699
150. Table 8 shows that based on quantified trends over the last 35 years (1974-2009) it is highly likely that Pauatahanui Inlet will cease to be an estuary within the next 145-195 years (A.D. 2155-2205) and the Onepoto Arm within the next 290-390 years (A.D. 2300-2400). A steady transition from tidal estuaries to brackish swamps, similar to the outcome of evolution of the Taupo Swamp, is the most likely outcome.
SUMMARY
151. At the level of MHWS surveyed in 2009 the total surface area of the arms of Porirua Harbour determined by DTM was 714.04ha, made up of the 244.07ha Onepoto Arm and 469.97ha Pauatahanui Inlet. The 2009 shoreline length at MHWS was 9,028.30m (9.03km) around the Onepoto Arm and 13,241.49m (13.24km) around Pauatahanui Inlet. 152. West of the Ohariu Fault, Porirua Harbour and its approaches are subject to coseismic tectonic uplift at about 0.5m/1,000 years tapering to about 0.2m/1,000 years at Karehana Bay. In contrast the arms of the Harbour E of the Fault appear to be either vertically tectonically stable or subject to very low, almost undetectable, tectonic uplift. 153. Coseismic uplift W of the Ohariu Fault is associated with surface rupture earthquakes on the Fault the most recent occurring about 700-1,300, 2,000-2,600 and 2,950-3,360 years ago. The recurrence interval for severe earthquakes of Magnitude M 7.1-7.5. is estimated to be 1,530-4,830 years. 154. During both the Magnitude M 8.0-8.2 Wairarapa Earthquake of 23 January 1855 and M 7.4-7.5 Marlborough Earthquake of 16 October 1848, the Pukerua, Ohariu and Moonshine Faults that dissect the Porirua Harbour area did not rupture and no measurable vertical deformation of the Harbour occurred, particularly during the 1855 event. 155. Although there has been little change in both global (eustatic) sea-level and regional sea-level around New Zealand from 2,000 years ago until the start of the 19th century, GMSL rose at about 0.70mm/year from 1870-1931, accelerating to about 1.95mm/year from 1931-2007, showing excellent agreement with the New Zealand trend. 156. Notwithstanding historical SLR, the seafloor of the approaches to Porirua Harbour, composed of Fine Sand and Broken Shell, appears to be eroding at an unknown rate of the order of a few millimeters per year and is supplying sand to Porirua Harbour that is mostly
35
being deposited within the throat and on both the ebb-tide delta and flood-tide deltas, thus contributing to the progressive reduction in tidal prism. 157. Although there has been little change in minimum depths along the Goat Point Leads at the entrance to Porirua Harbour between 1849 (1.02m CD) and 2009 (0.94m CD), an overall average rate of deposition of Fine Sand is inferred to have occurred on the ebb-tide delta over the last 160 years (1849-2009) at about 1-2mm/year. 158. Within the Harbour throat, a net average rate of deposition of Fine Sand of 27.1mm/year has occurred from 1974-2009, a large proportion of which is being trapped against the breakwaters and entrance to Mana Marina since construction in the 1980s. 159. In consideration of both tectonic deformation coupled with SLR, a net average rate from 1974-2009 of deposition of sand and mud at 9.1mm/year (41,000-42,000m3/year) has occurred in Pauatahanui Inlet and 5.7mm/year (13,500-14,000m3/year) within the Onepoto Arm. At localized sites sedimentation rates typically exceeded 40mm/year. 160. The tidal prism has reduced in volume by 8.7% in Pauatahanui Inlet and 1.7% in the Onepoto Arm from 1974-2009 as a direct consequence of sedimentation of intertidal areas. Although this trend is consistent with the overall net infilling of Porirua Harbour, it does not take into account the deposition that has occurred below the 2009 level of MLWS over the last 35 years. 161. Based on sedimentation trends over the last 35 years (1974-2009) over the entire seafloors of both arms of Porirua Harbour, it is highly likely that both Pauatahanui Inlet and the Onepoto Arm will change from tidal estuaries to brackish swamps within 145-195 years (A.D. 2155-2205), and 290-390 years from now (A.D. 2300-2400), respectively. 162. Within both arms of the Harbour the dominant supply sources contributing to increasing sedimentation rates are discharges of both bedload and suspended load from streams such as the Porirua Stream within the Onepoto Arm, and the Kakaho, Horokiri, Ration, Pauatahanui, Duck and Browns streams within Pauatahanui Inlet.
CONCLUSIONS
163. During the evolution of the arms of Porirua Harbour from stream valleys at a lower sea-level some 10,000 years ago to the tidal estuaries of today, persistent deposition of sediment has occurred at about 1mm/year. Since human occupation and development of the catchments draining into the Harbour, sedimentation rates have increased to 5-10 times above the geologic rate. 164. Unless human intervention takes place immediately to reduce average sedimentation rates from the current 5.7-9.1mm/year down to the geologic rate of 1.0-1.5mm/year, both the Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet will inevitably finish up as brackish swamps. 165. At current sedimentation rates we estimate Pauatahanui Inlet will cease to function as an estuary within the next 145-195 years (A.D. 2155-2205) and the Onepoto Arm within the next 290-390 years (A.D. 2300-2400).
36
Figure 12:
The Approaches to Porirua Harbour from Karehana Bay. Photo by JG Gibb 13 December 2004.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that PCC after due consideration of this report: 166. Adopt Action Plans that effectively reduce the current net average rates of deposition of sand and mud of 5-10mm/year within both the Pauatahanui Inlet and Onepoto Arm of Porirua Harbour, to the geologic rate of 1.0-2.0mm/year, to preserve both arms of the Harbour as estuaries. 167. Consolidate and enhance the re-vegetation and silt-trap programmes within the catchments draining into Porirua Harbour to permanently reduce the volume of terrestrialderived sediment entering the Harbour. 168. Where marine-derived sand may be extracted from time to time from both the ebb and flood tide deltas, and throat area around Mana Marina, the first priority use for this sand should be for replenishment of depleted updrift recreational beaches such as Plimmerton Beach, coupled with the construction of appropriate retention structures to both retain and prevent the sand from being washed back into the Harbour.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Keith Calder, Porirua Harbour Strategy Coordinator, Strategy & Policy Group, Porirua City Council, had the vision to commission and support this project.
37
The Porirua Harbour Science Group, provided helpful comments on the original draft. Drs Kate Wilson, Geoscientist, Ursula Cochran, Paleoecologist, & Kelvin Berryman, Principal Scientist, IGNS, kindly provided useful input on tectonics and reviewed relevant sections of our report. Dr John A. Church, Principal Scientist, CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania, for permission to use his latest information on global sea-level rise. Dawn Chambers, Rafter Radiocarbon laboratory, Gracefield, kindly reviewed and updated all the Carbon 14 dates. Glen Rowe, Senior Tidal Office, LINZ, provided supporting advice on the tides and sea-level trends. Lastly our wives, Sally Cox and Anne Gibb fully supported our work and produced the report.
10 REFERENCES
The following published and unpublished reports were reviewed for this study. Adkin, G.L., 1921: Porirua Harbour; A study of its shoreline and physiographic features. Transaction and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 53:144-156pp Begg, J. & Mazengarb C., 1996: The Geology of the Wellington Area. Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd 1:50,000. Geological Map 22. 1 Sheet + 128p. Begg, J. & Johnston, M., 2000: The Geology of the Wellington Area. Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd 1:250,000. Geological Map 10. 1 Sheet + 64p. Bewick, D.J., 1977: Hydraulic model studies of Pauatahanui Inlet. Prediction of physical changes caused by reclamation and dredging, Ministry of Works and Development, Central Laboratories Report No. 3-77/5. December 1977. 25p + Appendices Blaschke, P., Woods, J. & Forsyth, F., 2009: The Porirua Harbour and its Catchment: A literature summary and review. Unpublished Consultancy Report prepared for Porirua City Council, March 2009. 122p. Calder, K., 2009: Historical Images of Porirua Harbour. Unpublished internal compilation for Porirua City Council. Church, J.A., N.J. White, T. Aarup, W.S. Wilson, P.L. Woodworth, C.M. Domingues, J.R. Hunter & K. Lambeck 2008:, Understanding global sea levels: past, present and future. Sustainability Science, 3(1):9-22. Cochran, U.A., 2000: Paleoenvironmental analysis of uplifted coastal lake and wetland sequences in Wellington Region. Wellington, New Zealand, School of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Report to the Earthquake Commission Research Foundation Project No 991324.
38
Cochran, U.A., 2002: Detection of large Holocene Earthquakes in the sedimentary Record of Wellington, New Zealand, using Diatom Analysis. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington. Cochran, U., Hannah, M., Harper, M., van Dissen, R., Barryman, K. & Begg, J., 2007: Detection of large, Holocene earthquakes using diatom analysis of coastal sedimentary sequences, Wellington, New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007), 1129-1147pp. DML 2009: Porirua Harbour Survey. Report of Survey. Unpublished Survey Report prepared for Porirua City Council. June 2009. 31p. Eiby, G., 1990: Changes to Porirua Harbour in about 1855: historical tradition and geological evidence. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 20(2) 233-248pp. Gibb, J.G. 1977: Sediment data for beaches and rivers, North Island, New Zealand. Victoria University of Wellington, Geology Department publication No.7, August 1977: 24p. Gibb, J.G. 1978: The problem of coastal erosion along the "Golden Coast", western Wellington, New Zealand. Water and Soil Technical Publication 10: 20p. Gibb, J.G. 1980: Late Quaternary shoreline movements in New Zealand. Unpublished PhD thesis lodged in the library, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington. 217p. Gibb, J.G., 1986: A New Zealand regional Holocene eustatic sea-level curve and its application to determination of vertical tectonic movements. A contribution to IGCP-Project 200. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Recent Crustal Movements of the Pacific Region. Wellington, New Zealand. 9-14 February 1984. Royal Society of New Zealand Bulletin 24: 377-395pp. Gibb, J.G., 1991: Implications of Greenhouse-Induced Sea-Level Rise for Coastal Management. Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Conference on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand, 2-6 December 1991. 8p. Gibb, J.G., 1993: A Strategic Plan to solve the problems of Coastal Erosion at Ngatitoa Domain and Deposition of Sand near Mana Marina. Consultancy Report C.R. 93/1 prepared for Porirua City Council. December 1993. 36p. Grapes, R. & Downes, G., 2007: The 1855 Wairarapa, New Zealand, Earthquake Analysis of Historical Data. Bulletin of the New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering, 30, 271-368pp. Hancox, G.T., Dellow, G.D., Perrin, N.D., & McSaveney, M.J., 2005: Western Corridor Transportation Study: Review of geological hazards affecting the proposed Coastal Highway Upgrade and Transmission Gully Motorway route. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd for Porirua City Council, Client Report 2005/161. Hannah, J., 1990: Analysis of Mean Sea Level Data from New Zealand for the Period 1899-1988. Journal of Geophysical Research 95(B8): 12,399-12,405. Hannah, J., 2004: An updated analysis of long-term sea level change in New Zealand. Geophysical Research Letters, 31, L03307. 4p.
39
Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T., 2008: Formaminiferal Evidence for Holocene History of Pauatahanui Inlet. Unpublished Geomarine Research Report BWH 115/08, August 2008. 10p + Appendices Healy, W.B., 1980: Pauatahanui Inlet: An environmental study. DSIR Information Series 141, Wellington, New Zealand, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research. Heron D., van Dissen, R., & Sawa, M., 1998: Late Quaternary movement on the Ohariu Fault, Tongue Point to Mackays Crossing, North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 41:419-440pp. Irwin, J., 1976: Morphological stability of Pauatahanui Inlet, Porirua Harbour. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. 10(4):641-50pp. Irwin, J., 1978: Porirua Harbour Bathymetry, New Zealand. NZ Oceanographic Institute Chart, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 1:10,000. Miscellaneous Series No 49. Kay, Barbara, 1996: Anthony Wall, Settler of Porirua. The Papakowhai Story. Kerslake Billens & Humphrey Ltd, Levin, New Zealand. 231p. Leamy, M.L., 1958: Pleistocene shorelines at Porirua Harbour, near Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 1:95-102p. Lewis, K.B. 1988: Preliminary Feasibility Study for Beach Replenishment at Plimmerton. Unpublished Consultancy Report prepared for Department of Conservation, NZ Oceanographic Institute, DSIR, Wellington: 19p. + Appendices LINZ 2009: New Zealand Nautical Almanac 2009/10 Edition. NZ204. 260p. McDougall, J.C., 1976: Distribution of surface sediments of Pauatahanui Inlet. NZOI Oceanographic Field Report 7. McFadgen, B. 2007: Hostile Shores. Auckland University Press, University of Auckland, New Zealand. 298p. MetOcean 2009: Historical Charts of Porirua Harbour. Unpublished Consultancy Report prepared for Porirua City Council, March 2009. 78p. Page, M., Heron, D., & Trustrum, N., 2004: Pauatahanui Inlet Analysis of historical catchment land use and land use change. Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Ltd Client Report 2004/169, December 2004 prepared for Porirua City Council. 16p + maps Pickrill, R.A., 1979: A micro-morphological survey of intertidal estuarine surfaces in Pauatahanui Inlet, Porirua Harbour. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research 13(1):5969. Rohling, E.J., Grant, K., Hemleben, C.H., Siddal, M., Hoogakker, B.A.A., Bolshaw, M. & Kucera, M., 2007: High rates of sea-level rise during the last interglacial period. Letters. Nature Geoscience, Advance Online Publication. 5p. Stevenson, G., & Mills, G.N., 2006: Porirua Harbour long-term baseline monitoring programme: Sediment chemistry and benthic ecology results from the October 2005 survey. Consultancy report prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council. 107p.
40
Stirling, J.J., 1983: Mana Marina: An environmental impact assessment. Wellington, New Zealand. Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd. 49p + Figures. Swales, A., Bentley, S.J., McGlone, M.S., Ovenden, R., Hermanspahn, N., Budd, R., Hill, A., Pickmere, S., Haskey, R., Okey, M.J., 2005: Pauatahanui inlet: effects of historical catchment land cover changes on inlet sedimentation. National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd Client Report HAM2004-149, April 2005 prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council and Porirua City Council. 135p. Walton, A., 2002: An archaeological survey of Whitireia Park, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand. Department of Conservation Internal Report Series 62. Whitehead, N., Ditchburn, R.G., McCabe, W.J., Mason, W.J., Irwin, J., Pickrill, R.A. & Fish, G.R., 1998: Application of natural and artificial fallout radionuclides to determining sedimentation rates in New Zealand lakes. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 32:489-503. Williamson, B., Olsen, G., Green, M., 2005: Greater Wellington Regional Council Long-Term Baseline Monitoring of Marine Sediments in Porirua Harbour. National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd Client Report HAM2004-128, Revised September 2005 prepared for Greater Wellington Regional Council. 63p. Wilson, K., Haward, B., Cochran, U., Grenfell, H., Hemphill-Haley, E., Mildenhall, D., HemphillHaley, M., Wallace, L., (Unpublished in prep. 2005): Elusive evidence for paleocoseismic subsidence across a highly coupled plate boundary, southern Hikurangi margin, New Zealand. GNS Science, Lower Hutt, Geomarine Research, Auckland, Department of Geology, CA, USA. Wynne, K.E., 1981: Porirua Harbour Authority Harbour Investigation May 1981. Unpublished Consulting Report prepared for the Porirua Harbour Authority. 37p.
41
APPENDIX A
Tables of Data
TABLE A-1: Estimated errors by DML for hydrographic surveys made in 1849, 1950, 1965-67, 1974, 1991 and 2009. TABLE A-2: Radiocarbon dated potential paleosea-level and other markers from the Pauatahanui Inlet to Plimmerton area. 9282-971 calendar years Before Present (BP 1950). TABLE A-3: Net rates of deposition (+) or erosion (-) of the seabed within the Porirua Harbour 1967-2009.
TABLE A-1: Estimated errors by DML of all hydrographic surveys made between 1849 and 2009.
-1-
Survey Year
General Comments
Estimated Horizontal Accuracy 100m+ offshore 3050m or greater inshore
Estimated Vertical Accuracy
1849
HMS Acheron survey, controlled by sextant (running fixes) and lead line. Sparse data density. Soundings in fathoms reduced to 1ft below MLWS. Probably based on short term tidal observations. Some areas of agreement with 2009 survey within 0.2m, but up to 5m in deeper waters due to positioning and lead-lining. This survey is of little no value due to its age and known positioning errors. Used selectively in digital depth comparisons. HMNZS Lachlan survey. Depths in ft reduced to BM on Paremata Road Bridge. Believed to be close to CD. Poorly controlled survey with running fixes, however some data within Pauatahanui Arm that is of interest. Depths over some shoal areas in Pauatahanui indicate a shoaling of between 0.4-0.6m from 1950-2009. Other areas indicate 0.2-0.3m shoaling. Insufficient data to create useable DTM. Used selectively in digital depth comparisons. RNZN surveys. First controlled survey of approaches to Porirua and Onepoto Arm. Soundings in fathoms reduced to RNZN BM at Mana. Level confirmed. Positioning via Hifix 6 (offshore) and sextant and transits inshore. Depths gathered with early echo sounder. Digital comparisons with 2009 data show large range in discrepancies. Possible heave/swell offshore and tide errors inshore. This, together with 1:12,000 scale (sparse data) did not allow for accurate digital depth comparisons or creation of useable DTM. Used selectively in digital depth comparisons. Large scale survey of small area in Hongoeka Bay. Probably an investigation survey for a proposed development. Data of little value. Used selectively in digital comparisons. Truebridge, Callender & Beach surveys for PCC - encompassing Mana, Onepoto and Pauatahanui Arms. No survey report to assess. No other details available. Survey sheets depict good coastline detail but rather sparse sounding coverage. However, overall area coverage has enabled a reasonable DTM to be derived from digitized data and compared to 2009 survey. Truebridge, Callender & Beach surveys for PCC - encompassing Mana, Onepoto and Pauatahanui Arms. No survey report to assess but details received from surveyors. Depths were gathered by NIWA and reduced for tide observed at Mana. Vessel positioning via Microfix. Topographic work via Total Stn and theodolite. Survey mark network around inlets based on MSL. Consistent sounding coverage throughout Mana and the two inlets but no data for upper reaches. DTM derived from digitized data and compared to 2009 survey. Modern hydrographic survey undertaken by DML for PCC. Encompassing all harbour areas and approaches with high density sounding lines (10-20m) within the Mana Confluence and inlet areas. Greater line spacing offshore. Depths reduced to CD at Mana. Positioning via DGPS and RTK systems.
1m or greater offshore 0.3m or greater Inshore
1950
30-50m
0.5m or greater offshore 0.25m within Pauatahanui
1965-1967
5-30m offshore 10m or better inshore
0.5m - offshore 0.35m or better inshore (dependant on tide station)
1966
Not assessed
Not assessed
1974
5-10m
0.35m or better (dependant on distance from tide station).
1991
5m or better for boat work. 3m or better for topographic work
0.30m or better (dependant on distance from tide station). Topo work 0.15m or better
2009
1.5m or better
0.05m - 0.26m dependant on location & distance from Mana tide station
-2-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (C.R. 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council TABLE A-2: Radiocarbon dated potential paleosea-level markers from the Pauatahanui Inlet-Plimmerton area. All original levels given have been adjusted from MSL Wellington Vertical Datum 1953 to new formation heights using the 2009 tidal data. Radiocarbon dates were checked and updated by Dawn Chambers, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory in June/July 2009.
14C
Number
R Number
Location
Grid Reference
Dated Sample
Depositional Environment
Formation Datum
Formation Height (m)
14C
Age Old T
CRA*
Calibrated Age Years BP (95%)
Calibration Note
With respect to which standard
Eustatic Sea Level (Gibb 1986)
Reference
NZ 7379 NZ 4866 NZA 9275 WK 8095 NZA 10568 WK 8353 NZ 7387 NZ 7393 NZ 7421 NZ 3118 NZA 29687 NZA 29752 NZA 30261 NZ 4399 NZ 4400 NZ 4401 NZ 4388 NZ 4389 NZ 4390 NZ 4391 NZ 4392 NZ 4393 NZ 4394 NZ 4395 NZ 7381 NZ 7383
11331/1 5962/2 24359
Karehana Bay Taupo Swamp S Taupo Swamp N (TS 97-1) Taupo Swamp N (TS 97-1)
R26/661132 R26/672123 R26/674129 R26/674129 R26/672129 R26/672129 R26/690118 R26/690118 R26/690118 R26/695112 R26/705105 R26/705105 R26/704102 R26/701100 R26/701100 R26/701100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R26/696100 R27/711091 R27/711091
Shell Shell Wood Organic Mud Shell Organic Sand Shell Shell Shell Shell Shell Peat Shell Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Marine silt Shell Shell
Lower tidal Flat Tidal Flat Estuarine Upper tidal Flat Lower tidal Flat Upper tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat Tidal Flat Upper tidal Flat Tidal Flat Swamp Tidal Flat Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Swamp Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Estuarine Tidal Flat Tidal Flat
MLWS MSL MHWS MHWS MLWS MHWS MSL MSL MSL MHWS MSL MSL MLWS MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL MSL
0.96 1.90.8 -1.23 1.75 -0.11 1.90 0.0-0.3 0.6 0.6 1.241.0 -1.4 -5.4 -1.0 -4.83 -7.85 -1.61 -14.38 -12.05 -10.85 -9.45 -9.45 -8.25 -6.35 -2.35 -0.15 -0.66
295070 378050 498456
329078 412132 498055 246080
3356-2947 4351-4096 5502-5823** 2750-2330 5462-5128 3850-2450 5640-5274 3331-2913 3623-3195 7230-6995 7220-6968 8416-8047 8063-7916 6282-5775 8638-8190 2316-1899 9282-8623 9026-8437 8985-8305 8165-7781 8308-7726 5901-5436 4066-3554 1291-971 7689-7306 7784-7392
1 1 2 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NZ Marine shell NZ Marine shell 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic ?? 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic ?? NZ Marine shell NZ Marine shell NZ Marine shell NZ Marine shell 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine flesh NZ Marine shell NZ Marine shell
0.20.5 0.31.0 0.01.0 -0.20.5 0.01.0 0.20.5 -0.31.0 0.10.5 0.51.0 0.01.0 -0.11.0 -9.02.8 -9.02.8 0.01.0 -11.82.0 -0.10.5 -19.42.5 -15.12.5 -13.82.5 -7.72.0 -8.72.0 0.01.0 0.51.0 0.00.5 -0.51.0 -1.01.0
JG Gibb unpublished Gibb (1986) Cochran et al. (2007) Cochran et al. (2007) Cochran et al. (2007) Cochran et al. (2007) NIWA (2005) NIWA (2005) NIWA (2005) McFadgen (1980) Wilson et al. in press Wilson et al. in press Wilson et al. in press Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) Mildenhall (1979) JG Gibb unpublished JG Gibb unpublished
24860/4
Taupo Swamp N (TS 98-2) Taupo Swamp N (TS 98-2)
494060
494055 3010230
11396/3 11396/4 11396/5 4844/1 29832/3 29832/4 29948/2 5430/12 5430/13 5430/14 5430/1 5430/2 5430/3 5430/4 5430/5 5430/6 5430/7 5430/8 11331/2 11331/3
Kakaho Stream W Kakaho Stream W Kakaho Stream W Motukaraka Point W Ration Point (Core RPA) Ration Point (Core RPA) Ration Point (Core RPC) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 2) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 2) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 2) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Inlet (Core 1) Pauatahanui Stream Pauatahanui Stream
474080 292070 315070 625060 654745 752185 749525 5410130 7750110 2230100 8160130 7970130 7870160 7280110 7310160 5060130 3610110 1360100 665095 672095
507990 325878 348788 656641 654745 752185 749525 5615117 793199 243289 8360115 8194114 8072145 748091 7517143 5262110 381296 156779 6985106 7058107
-3-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council Notes for Table A-2: * Cal Note 1 Cal Note 2 Cal Note 3 ** P1 Core 1 P1 Core 2 CRA with respect to 0.95 N.B.S. Oxalic Standard. Conventional Radiocarbon Age (CRA) years before present (1950). (years BP) GNS Science Winscal 5.0 Marine data from Hughen et al (2004) - Regional Delta-R = -3013. Calibrated age in calendar years (cal. years BP) (1950) GNS Science Winscal 5.0 Southern Hemisphere Atmospheric data from McCormac et al (2004). Calibrated age in calendar years (cal.years BP) (1950) Program & which calibration curve? Three possible age ranges in this period All levels increased by 1.55m, to normalise levels to MSL WVD. All levels increased by 0.3m, to normalise levels to MSL WVD.
TABLE A-3: Net rates of deposition (+) or erosion (-) of the seabed within the Porirua Harbour area determined by precisely comparing hydrographic surveys made between 1967 and 2009 that were nomalised to a common vertical datum. A sea-level rise (SLR) correction of 1.95mm/year was applied after Church et al. (2008). The total areas of both Onepoto Arm and Pauatahanui Inlet are determined at the 2009 MHWS elevation. Note that for the total harbour areas, sedimentation rates were extrapolated from the 1974-2009 rates. Volumes for Area 5 - Pauatahanui based on the 1991 survey are
-4-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council distorted due to incomplete survey coverage. Excluding the throat, bar and outer approaches, the areas of the inner Porirua Harbour measured at MHWS in 2009 are about 244ha (Onepoto Arm) and 470ha (Pauatahanui Inlet), totalling about 714ha.
D Average Seabed Area (m )

2
E Uncorrected Volumetric change (m )

3
G Corrected Volume Change (m )

3
H Corrected Net Erosion (-) or Deposition (+) (m)
I Net Rates of Deposition (+) or Erosion (-) (mm/year) (m /year)

3
Area
Survey Interval
Survey Period (years)
SLR Correction (m)
Trends
AREA 1 Approaches 1967-2009 42 2,363,870 -2,617,569 -0.0819 -2,423,960 -1.02542 -24.4 -57,713 Possible erosion
AREA 2 Entrance Bar 1967-2009 42 931,154 -127,481 -0.0819 -51,222 -0.05501 -1.3 -1,220 Slight erosion or static
AREA 3 Harbour Throat 1974-2009 35 389,271 406,813 -0.06825 380,244 0.97681 27.9 10,864 Deposition
AREA 4 Onepoto Arm 1974-1991 1991-2009 1974-2009 17 18 35 2,190,521 2,187,560 2,333,032 317,474 304,838 622,312 -0.03315 -0.0351 -0.06825 225,843 209,525 463,877 0.1031 0.09578 0.19883 6.1 5.3 5.7 13,285 11,640 13,254 Deposition Deposition Deposition
AREA 5 Pauatahanui Inlet 1974-1991 1991-2009 1974-2009 17 18 35 3,941,748 3,901,667 4,515,750 1,724,486 -442,696 1,724,485 -0.03315 -0.0351 -0.06825 1,388,087 -249,160 1,431,719 0.35215 -0.06386 0.31705 20.7 -3.6 9.1 81,652 -13,842 40,906 Deposition Unlikely erosion Deposition
-5-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (C.R. 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council
APPENDIX B
Historical Erosion and Deposition Rates 1849-2009
TABLE B-1: Area 1 Approaches to Porirua Harbour TABLE B-2: Area 2 Entrance Bar TABLE B-3: Area 4 Onepoto Arm TABLE B-4: Area 5 Pauatahanui Inlet
TABLE B-1: Area 1 - Approaches to Porirua Harbour. Sedimentation rates (1849-2009) of erosion (-) or deposition (+) on the seafloor of the approaches to Porirua Harbour along 2 transects (see Figure 8).
-1-
North Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 South Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1849 Depth (m CD) 16.56 14.74 14.74 11.08 9.25 9.71 7.88 6.05 1849 Depth (m CD) 14.74 14.74 14.74 14.74 12.91 11.08 11.08 9.25 9.25 9.25 9.25
2009 Depth (m CD) 16.03 15.35 14.26 12.32 10.79 9.46 8.18 7.24 2009 Depth (m CD) 15.69 15.05 14.47 13.71 12.89 11.71 10.46 9.28 8.86 8.22 7.34
Difference 1849-2009 (mm) -530 610 -480 1240 1540 -250 300 1190 Difference 1849-2009 (mm) 950 310 -270 -1030 -20 630 -620 30 -390 -1030 -1910
SLR Correction (mm) -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 SLR Correction (mm) -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 Sum (mm) 740 100 -480 -1240 -230 420 -830 -180 -600 -1240 -2120 Rate (mm/y) -4.63 -0.63 3.00 7.75 1.44 -2.63 5.19 1.13 3.75 7.75 13.25 3.22 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -740 400 -690 1030 1330 -460 90 980 Rate (mm/y) 4.62 -2.50 4.31 -6.44 -8.31 2.88 -0.56 -6.13 -1.52 Av Rate (mm/y)
TABLE B-2: Area 2 - Entrance Bar. Sedimentation rates of erosion (-) or deposition (+) on the seafloor along 3 transects (see Figure 8) from 1849-2009.
Karehana Bay Transect
1849 Depth
2009 Depth
Difference 1849-2009
SLR Correction Sum Rate Av Rate
-2-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 6.96 4.68 4.22 2.85 1.92 (m CD) 6.64 5.44 4.46 3.30 2.14 (mm) -320 760 240 450 220 (mm) -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 (mm) -530 550 30 240 10 (mm/y) 3.31 -3.44 -0.19 -1.50 -0.06 -0.38 (mm/y)
Plimmerton Beach Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plimmerton Beach Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plimmerton Beach Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6
1849 Depth (m CD) 5.59 4.22 1.93 1.02 0.56 1950 Depth (m CD) 5.59 3.76 2.54 1.32 1.32 1849 Depth (m CD) 5.59 4.22 1.93 1.02 0.56
1950 Depth (m CD) 5.59 3.76 2.54 1.32 1.32 2009 Depth (m CD) 5.45 3.66 2.41 1.98 1.08 0.95 2009 Depth (m CD) 5.45 3.66 2.41 1.98 1.08 0.95
Difference 1849-1950 (mm) 0 -460 610 300
SLR Correction (mm) -95 -95 -95 -95 Sum (mm) -95 -555 515 205 Rate (mm/y) 0.94 5.50 -5.10 -2.03 -0.17 Av Rate (mm/y)
Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -140 -100 -130 660 -240 Difference 1849-2009 (mm) -140 -560 480 960 390
SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 SLR Correction (mm) -210 -210 -210 -210 -210 Sum (mm) -350 -770 270 750 180 Rate (mm/y) 2.19 4.81 -1.69 -4.69 -1.13 -0.10 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -255 -215 -245 545 -355 Rate (mm/y) 4.32 3.64 4.15 -9.24 6.02 1.78 Av Rate (mm/y)
Goat Pt Leads Transect 1 2 3 4 5
1849 Depth (m CD) 8.33 7.88 2.39 1.48
1950 Depth (m CD) 5.90 4.68 3.15 1.63 1.32
Difference 1849-1950 (mm) -2430 -3200 760 -160
SLR Correction (mm) -95 -95 -95 -95 Sum (mm) -2525 -3295 665 -255 Rate (mm/y) 25.00 32.62 -6.58 2.52 Av Rate (mm/y)
-3-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council 6 Goat Pt Leads Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 Goat Pt Leads Transect 1 2 3 4 5 6 1.48 2.39 2.39 1950 Depth (m CD) 5.90 4.68 3.15 1.63 1.32 2.24 1849 Depth (m CD) 8.33 7.88 2.39 2.24 2009 Depth (m CD) 5.85 4.81 3.29 2.13 1.14 1.29 2009 Depth (m CD) 5.85 4.81 3.29 2.13 1.14 1.29 -340 -1100 -210 -210 -550 -1310 3.44 8.19 8.93 -150 Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -50 130 140 500 -180 -950 Difference 1849-2009 (mm) -2480 -3070 900 -95 SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 SLR Correction (mm) -210 -210 -210 Sum (mm) -2690 -3280 690 Rate (mm/y) 16.81 20.5 -4.31 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -165 15 25 385 -295 -1065 Rate (mm/y) 2.80 -0.25 -0.42 -6.53 5.00 18.05 3.11 Av Rate (mm/y) -245 2.43 11.20
-4-
Figure B-1: Area 4 Plan showing 3 transects across the Onepoto Arm.
-5-
TABLE B-3: Area 4 - Onepoto Arm. Sedimentation rates of erosion (-) or deposition (+) on the seafloor of the Onepoto Arm along 3 transects (Figure B-1) from 1974-2009.
North Transect
1974 Depth (m CD)
2009 Depth (m CD) 1.50 2.25 0.10 1.37 0.75 -0.84 1991 Depth (m CD) 2.30 2.40 0.70 0.60 0.50 -1.0 2009 Depth (m CD) 1.50 2.25 0.10 1.37 0.75 -0.8
Difference 1974-2009 (mm) -700 -350 -600 770 350 160 Difference 1974-1991 (mm) 100 -200 0 0 100 0 Difference 1991-2009 (mm) -800 -150 -600 770 250 160
SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -33 -33 -33 -33 -33 -33 SLR Correction (mm) -35 -35 -35 -35 -35 -35 Sum (mm) -835 -185 -635 735 215 125 Rate (mm/y) 46.39 10.28 35.28 -40.83 -11.94 -6.94 5.37 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) 67 -233 -33 -33 67 -33 Rate (mm/y) -3.94 13.71 1.94 1.94 -3.94 1.94 1.94 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -768 -418 -668 702 282 92 Rate (mm/y) 13.02 7.08 11.32 -11.90 -4.78 -1.56 2.20 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 5 6 North Transect
2.20 2.60 0.70 0.60 0.40 -1.00 1974 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4 5 6 North Transect
2.20 2.60 0.70 0.60 0.40 -1.0 1991 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4 5 6
2.30 2.40 0.70 0.60 0.50 -1.0
Mid Transect
1974 Depth (m CD)
2009 Depth (m CD)
Difference 1974-2009 (mm)
SLR Correction (mm) Sum (mm) Rate (mm/y) Av Rate (mm/y)
-6-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council 4.88 4.54 -1.05 0.64 2.25
1 2 3 4 Mid Transect
0.30 0.60 0.50 0.20 1974 Depth (m CD)
0.08 0.40 0.63 0.23 1991 Depth (m CD) 0.10 0.70 0.50 0.20 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.08 0.40 0.63 0.23
-220 -200 130 30 Difference 1974-1991 (mm) -200 100 0 0 Difference 1991-2009 (mm) -20 -300 130 30
-68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -33 -33 -33 -33 SLR Correction (mm) -35 -35 -35 -35
-288 -268 62 -38
Sum (mm) -233 67 -33 -33
Rate (mm/y) 13.71 -3.94 1.94 1.94
Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 Mid Transect
0.30 0.60 0.50 0.20 1991 Depth (m CD)
3.41
Sum (mm) -55 -335 95 -5
Rate (mm/y) 3.06 18.61 -5.28 0.28
Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4
0.10 0.70 0.50 0.20
4.17
South Transect
1991 Depth (m CD)
2009 Depth (m CD) 0.63 1.68 1.44 1.15 1991 Depth (m CD) 0.50 1.70 1.40 1.00 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.63 1.68 1.44 1.15
Difference 1991-2009 (mm) 130 -20 40 150 Difference 1974-1991 (mm) 100 -100 -200 -200 Difference 1974-2009 (mm) 230 -120 -160 -50
SLR Correction (mm) -35 -35 -35 -35 SLR Correction (mm) -33 -33 -33 -33 SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 Sum (mm) 162 -188 -228 -118 Rate (mm/y) -2.75 3.19 3.86 2.00 1.58 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) 67 -133 -233 -233 Rate (mm/y) -3.94 7.82 13.71 13.71 7.83 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) 95 -55 5 115 Rate (mm/y) -5.28 3.06 -0.28 -6.39 -2.22 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 South Transect
0.50 1.70 1.40 1.00 1974 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4 South Transect
0.40 1.80 1.60 1.20 1974 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4
0.40 1.80 1.60 1.20
-7-
Figure B-2: Area 5 Plan showing 5 transects across Pauatahanui Inlet.
-8-
TABLE B-4: Area 5 - Pauatahanui Inlet. Sedimentation rates of erosion (-) or deposition (+) on the seafloor of the Pauatahanui Inlet along 5 transects (Figure B-2) from 1950-2009.
Mana Transect
1950 Depth (m CD)
1974 Depth (m CD) 2.22 0.56 1.00 1.00 0.85 0.70 2009 Depth (m CD) 2.48 1.04 1.00 0.99 0.97 0.80 2009 Depth (m CD) 2.48 1.04 1.00 0.99 0.97 0.80
Difference 1950-1974 (mm) -320 60 500 500 350 200 Difference 1974-2009 (mm) 260 480 0 -10 120 100 Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -60 540 500 490 470 300
SLR Correction (mm) -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 Sum (mm) -175 425 385 375 355 185 Rate (mm/y) 2.97 -7.20 -6.53 -6.36 -6.02 -3.14 -4.38 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) 192 412 -68 -78 52 32 Rate (mm/y) -5.49 -11.77 1.94 2.23 -1.49 -0.91 -2.58 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -367 13 453 453 303 153 Rate (mm/y) 15.29 -0.54 -18.88 -18.88 -12.63 -6.38 -7.00 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 5 6 Mana Transect
2.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1974 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4 5 6 Mana Transect
2.22 0.56 1.00 1.00 0.85 0.70 1950 Depth (m CD)
1 2 3 4 5 6
2.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
-9-
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council Camborne Transect 1950 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Camborne Transect 0.10 0.10 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 1974 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Camborne Transect 0.00 0.10 0.70 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.10 0.10 0.20 1950 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.10 0.10 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 1974 Depth (m CD) 0.00 0.10 0.70 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.10 0.10 0.20 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.12 0.56 0.68 0.44 0.10 0.48 0.35 0.10 0.15 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.12 0.56 0.68 0.44 0.10 0.48 0.35 0.10 0.15 Difference 1950-1974 (mm) -100 0 200 100 -100 100 0 0 100 Difference 1974-2009 (mm) 120 460 -20 -160 -300 280 250 0 -50 Difference 1950-2009 (mm) 20 460 180 -60 -400 380 250 0 50 SLR Correction (mm) -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 Sum (mm) -95 345 65 -175 -515 265 135 -115 -65 Rate (mm/y) 1.61 -5.85 -1.10 2.97 8.73 -4.49 -2.29 1.95 1.10 0.29 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) 52 392 -88 -228 -368 212 182 -68 -118 Rate (mm/y) -1.49 -11.20 2.51 6.51 10.51 -6.06 -5.20 1.94 3.37 0.10 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -147 -47 153 53 -147 53 -47 -47 53 Rate (mm/y) 6.13 1.96 -6.38 -2.21 6.13 -2.21 1.96 1.96 -2.21 0.57 Av Rate (mm/y)
Moorehouse Point Transect
1950 Depth (m CD)
1974 Depth (m CD)
Difference 1950-1974 (mm)
SLR Correction (mm) Sum (mm) Rate (mm/y) Av Rate (mm/y)
- 10 -
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council -2.21 -10.13 1.96 6.13 109.04 20.96
1 2 3 4 5 Moorehouse Point Transect
0.10 0.71 1.02 0.10 4.07 1974 Depth (m CD)
0.20 1.00
100 290
-47 -47 -47
53 243 -47 -147 -2617
0.00 1.50 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.04 0.55 0.63
-100 -2570 Difference 1974-2009 (mm) -160 -450
-47 -47 SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68
Sum (mm) -228 -518 -68 332 1032
Rate (mm/y) 6.51 14.80
Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 5
0.20 1.00
0.00 1.50
0.40 2.60
400 1100
-68 -68
-9.49 -29.49 -4.42
Moorehouse Point Transect
1950 Depth (m CD)
2009 Depth (m CD) 0.04 0.55 0.63 0.40 2.60
Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -60 -160 -390 300 -1470
SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 Sum (mm) -175 -275 -505 185 -1585 Rate (mm/y) 2.97 4.66 8.56 -3.14 26.86 7.98 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 5
0.10 0.71 1.02 0.10 4.07
Browns Bay Transect
1950 Depth (m CD)
1974 Depth (m CD) 0.40 0.40
Difference 1950-1974 (mm) 300 0
SLR Correction (mm) -47 -47 Sum (mm) 253 -47 Rate (mm/y) -10.54 1.96 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2
0.10 0.40
- 11 -
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council 3 4 5 Browns Bay Transect 0.10 1.32 1.02 1974 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 Browns Bay Transect 0.40 0.40 0.00 1.30 1.30 1950 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 0.10 0.40 0.10 1.32 1.02 0.00 1.30 1.30 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.07 0.24 0.43 1.32 0.92 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.07 0.24 0.43 1.32 0.92 -100 -20 280 Difference 1974-2009 (mm) -330 -160 430 20 -380 Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -30 -160 330 0 -100 -47 -47 -47 SLR Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 Sum (mm) -145 -275 215 -115 -215 Rate (mm/y) 2.46 4.66 -3.64 1.95 3.64 1.81 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -398 -228 362 -48 -448 Rate (mm/y) 11.37 6.51 -10.34 1.37 12.80 4.34 Av Rate (mm/y) -147 -67 233 6.13 2.79 -9.71 -1.87
Motukaraka Point Transect
1950 Depth (m CD)
1974 Depth (m CD) 0.30 0.60 1.10 1.10 1.10 2009
Difference 1950-1974 (mm) -110 190 80 -220 690 Difference
SLR Correction (mm) -47 -47 -47 -47 -47 SLR Sum (mm) -157 143 33 -267 643 Rate (mm/y) 6.54 -5.96 -1.38 11.13 -26.79 -3.29 Av Rate (mm/y)
1 2 3 4 5 Motukaraka Point
0.41 0.41 1.02 1.32 0.41 1974
- 12 -
Patterns & Rates of Sedimentation within Porirua Harbour Consultancy Report (CR 2009/1) prepared for Porirua City Council Transect Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 Motukaraka Point Transect 0.30 0.60 1.10 1.10 1.10 1950 Depth (m CD) 1 2 3 4 5 0.41 0.41 1.02 1.32 0.41 Depth (m CD) 0.16 0.56 1.01 1.13 1.17 2009 Depth (m CD) 0.16 0.56 1.01 1.13 1.17 1974-2009 (mm) -140 -40 -90 30 70 Difference 1950-2009 (mm) -250 150 -10 -190 760 Correction (mm) -68 -68 -68 -68 -68 SLR Correction (mm) -115 -115 -115 -115 -115 Sum (mm) -365 35 -125 -305 645 Rate (mm/y) 6.19 -0.59 2.12 5.17 -10.93 0.39 Av Rate (mm/y) Sum (mm) -208 -108 -158 -38 2 Rate (mm/y) 5.94 3.09 4.50 1.09 -0.06 2.91 Av Rate (mm/y)
- 13 -

Porirua Harbour Patterns and Rates of Sedimentation Report

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Porirua Harbour Patterns and Rates of Sedimentation Report

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PATTERNS AND RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR

Report prepared for Porirua City Council

JULY 2009 C.R. 2009/1

PATTERNS AND RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR

ISBN 978-1-877548-00-0 (print) ISBN 978-1-877548-01-7 (online)

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT

Wellington Vertical MSL Datum 1953

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

PATTERNS & RATES OF SEDIMENTATION WITHIN PORIRUA HARBOUR

Jeremy G Gibb and Gregory J Cox

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.1.1 Active Faults

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.1.2 Uplift Rates

Formation Height (m)

Mid Range Calibrated Age (cal. years BP) 3152205

Eustatic Sea Level (m) 0.20.5

Uplift (+) or Down drop (-) Rate (m/1,000 years) 0.24

Lower tidal Flat

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.1.3 Major Earthquakes

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.1.4 Coseismic Versus Interseismic Deformation

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

Figure 4: Diagram illustrating tidal terms (Adopted from LINZ 2009).

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) 0.248 0.273 0.345 0.330

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.3.1 Tidal Streams

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

4.4.1 Sediment Sources

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

SEDIMENTATION RATES AND PATTERNS

4.5.1 Previous Work

Calibrated Age (Cal.years B.P.)

Depth below MSL (m) 14.38 12.05 10.85 9.45

Sedimentation Rate (mm/year)

Net rate (mm/year)

9267248 8732295 8925442 7973192

4.4 11.7 1.6

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

Sedimentation rates in Pauatahanui Inlet, determined in millimetres per year (mm/year) by

1.0-3.7mm/year 1.8-5.9mm/year 1.6-10.0mm/year

4.5.2 Tidal Prism Trends

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

TIDAL PRISM (m3)

NET REDUCTION 1974-2009 (m3)

4.5.3 Porirua Harbour Approaches

COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LTD

Average Seabed Area (m2)