Kaikōura residents, from left, Sharon Rayner, Hannah Timms and Miriama Teahipuhia Allen have camped out near Kiwa Rd to protest new roadworks.

A peaceful occupation has started on the Kaikōura coast to stop new works near culturally significant sites.

The breakaway occupiers, who were previously part of community group Protect Our Unique Kaikōura Coast (POU), have set up camp about 15 kilometres north of the Kaikōura township.

Sharon Rayner, of Ngati Kuri, is leading the stand to protect sites near the Māngamāunu urupā, as North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) begins safety upgrades at the intersection of Kiwa Rd and State Highway 1.

STUFF Kaikōura locals are ready for battle as they feel ongoing road works are spoiling the "raw beauty" of the once-rugged coastline.

​NCTIR said cultural monitors and archaeologists would be on site during the five weeks it took to carry out the work.

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"This occupation is to protect our Kaikōura coast and whenua, tīpuna ... and wildlife from any more desecration," Rayner said.

She intended to occupy the site until the works stopped.

ALICE ANGELONI/STUFF Miriama Teahipuhia Allen at the State Highway 1, Kiwa Rd intersection where roadworks began on Monday.

A NCTIR spokeswoman said work was due to start at Kiwa Rd on Monday, and had been agreed upon with the Māngamāunu Marae and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.

A blessing was planned to take place before works began, but "it was not considered appropriate in the current circumstances", she said.

"There have been numerous hui held over this safety work to ensure everyone knew what was planned and was in agreement."

ALICE ANGELONI/STUFF The urupā on Kiwa Rd.

They had invited the individuals occupying to talk, she said.

Miriama Teahipuhia Allen, of Ngati Kuri, said she had ancestors buried beneath the land they were occupying.

"I just want it to stop, that's why I'm here."

Allen had been to Ihumātao, in Auckland, where protesters were trying to stop a housing development on Māori land close to a heritage site and historic reserve.

​"That's when it really opened my eyes as to what's happening here.

"If you can do it, we can.

"It brings up this whole 'this is where I'm from and you're trying to take it away'."

ALICE ANGELONI/STUFF The occupation at the intersection of Kiwa Rd and State Highway 1 in Kaikōura.

According to a NCTIR spokeswoman, in the past 25 years, there had been three deaths and 16 crashes at the Kiwa Rd intersection and bend on State Highway 1.

The safety upgrades included a right turning bay for northbound traffic turning onto Kiwa Rd, to improve drivers' vision and safety, she said.

The state highway area would be widened by approximately one lane to allow for the new right turn.

The intersection would be slightly lifted and widened to create space for the turning bay and to allow for a safer left hand turn into Kiwa Rd from the north.

The existing wooden railing on the seaward side of the bend would remain. On the inland side of the road edge, new concrete kerb and channel would be laid.

RICKY WILSON/STUFF North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery have undertaken significant rebuild works since the earthquake in November 2016.

NCTIR had worked closely with ﻿Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and Māngamāunu Marae on this project, she said.

POU Kaikōura Coast chair Ngaio Te Ua said they were not involved in this occupation, but respected individual's rights to protest and stand up for what they believed in.

Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura was approached for comment.

Shared user path/Whale Trail

Two different groups have been looking into a pathway along the Kaikōura coast.

NCTIR received backlash after its plans to build a 30km shared user pathway were put forward under emergency legislation, which meant local groups were not consulted.

They had decided not to complete the remaining sections of the shared user path, between Irongate Bridge and Ōkiwi Bay, following engagement with Mana Whenua and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.

The Marlborough Kaikōura Trail Trust was separately working on plans to develop a cycleway between Picton and Kaikōura known as the 'Whale Trail'.

At approximately 200km, the cycle trail planned to connect the communities of Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Ward, Kekerengu, Clarence and Kaikōura.

The project received $322,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund in June 2019, to enable a technical study to be completed.

Newly established business association Future Kaikōura undertook a Facebook poll to understand the community's view on the trail between Picton and Kaikōura.

More than 588 people responded to the poll, with 516 in favour of further discussions on how to achieve the shared user pathway while balancing environmental, cultural and community needs.