NZ Beach Hazard Assessment
Beach hazards are elements of the beach-surf zone environment that expose the public to danger or harm. Common physical hazards are water depth, breaking waves, surf zone currents (particularly rips), tidal currents, strong winds, rocks and reefs and headlands and water temperature. Beach safety is the mitigation of such hazards and requires a combination of common sense, swimming ability and beach surf knowledge and experience. The beach hazard assessment employs a rating system that rates the beach according to the physical hazards associated with its beach type under modal wave conditions, together with any local physical hazards. The rating ranges from least hazardous (rating 1-3) where the hazards are predominantly water depth and/or tidal currents, to extremely hazardous (rating 9-10) where the hazards are predominantly rip, currents and large breakers. This modal beach hazard rating indicates the type of hazard under typical or modal (most frequently occurring) wave conditions. The rating will changes under different wave conditions and a prevailing beach hazard rating is given for the hazard associated with a larger and small wave conditions.