Earthsea Gallery

On a curving sheltered shore-line and golden sand beach east of Pohara, lies the sleepy coastal settlement of Ligar Bay. It was the scene of an emotive battle as the community debated the future of 8 iconic kiwi baches built in the 1940s on a strip of public reserve between the sea and the road. In 1989 the owners of eight little cottages, were granted licenses to occupy the council owned road reserve for 25 years, due to expire in 2014. By contrast, on the other side of the road lies one of the fastest-growing communities of Golden Bay where modern homes, kerb and channel pavements and suburban street lights have sprung up almost overnight. There are about 50 new homes and another 50 sections waiting to be built on. Many of these residents purchased their land believing the baches would be removed by 2014 and the Reserve would return to public use. The fate of the coastal cottages was sealed in February 2011 when Tasman District councillors voted unanimously not to renew the licences to occupy when they expire in March 2014. These historic wee baches will go. Ten months later devastating floods have changed the face of Ligar Bay. Thankfully, over the years, little has changed in the sheltered estuary between Ligar Bay and Tata Beach where a few yachts & old boats remained moored.