Flat Rock

Today the settlement, which began in the 1930s, is a small cluster of baches sited in the lee of the Tangoio Bluffs.  The baches are typical of the style of bach that pre-date building consents and resource management guidelines. 

These baches cannot be maintained in a way that does justice to their location, so new planning rules for the area have been created.  The new rules allow the settlement to continue in a way that complies with current engineering and building standards. 

Construction of the new settlement will balance thoughtful planning guidelines with sustainable values and best practice engineering. 

Soon Flat Rock will be a renewed bach community with history and character and an eye to the future. 

Time Changes Everything

In the past individual ownership of baches was not possible but with new planning rules for the area, this is about to change.

In 2006 time ran out for part of the historic community, but in 2008 a new era dawned for the entire settlement.  As the article below describes, part of the bach community was demolished in 2006 to comply with council rulings.  This was a sad end to that era, but was the beginning of a new era that offers renewed opportunities for family holidays at Tangoio beach.

"It was so special, the perfect bach."

An article in NZ House & Garden captures the charm of the Kiwi bach holiday.

"Within 40 minutes of home - but completely different."   "Nobody had gone ritzy. Because nobody had titles there hadn't been any empire building behaviour."   Baches were knocked up out of bits and pieces. No resource consents, no foundations, no fuss.   "The owner was booking appointments to view from 9am so we turned up first - and of course we bought it. Everything came with it: toaster, oven, pillows, spices on the shelf."   For 24 years after a purchase that was too good to be true, the Cookes went on squeezing the Christmas turkey into the oven sideways, beachcombing on the walk to the river mouth, providing day visitors with water for tea, challenging the neighbours to beach volleyball and planning for the annual concert.

Click image to load 1.7MB article from NZ House & Garden 'on holiday' July 2006. Words by Ann Clifford & Photos by Paul McCredie.

The Return Of The Bach

Late in 2008 an amendment to the Hastings District Plan paved the way for the restoration of the bach community.

The new community will leave behind the building guidelines of its past and will meet today's planning rules and will be strongly influenced by sustainable values.  Its rich history and the thoughtful planning requirements of the Hastings District Plan* will help to redefine its future as an important bach community in Hawke's Bay.

*"An area of land has now been zoned to appropriately provide for the continuation of the original settlement.  The intention is to replicate the small scale of the former holiday community, respecting all environmental limitations and with a full range of engineering services reflecting current best practice."