John Kerehoma of the Te Rangatapu Reservation Trust speaks to a motorist he was turning away from Ohawe Beach at the blockade on Wednesday.

A six-week blockade at the entrance to a popular South Taranaki beach has been lifted, allowing visitors to return.

Members of the Te Rangatapu Reserve Trust put up signs and cones closing Ohawe Beach beach to anybody who did not live in the settlement of about 680 people, 8.3 kilometres from Hāwera, after the country went into level 4 lockdown in March.

But beachgoers who tried to visit after Tuesday's move to level 3, which allows for wider recreational activity, found themselves aggressively driven off.

However, following talks between South Taranaki District mayor Phil Nixon and trust representives on Thursday, the barrier is to be removed and people will be able to walk or cycle to the beach.

READ MORE:

* Coronavirus: Full coverage

* Visitors go home: Locals build cordon to keep outsiders away during lockdown

* Family who gifted Marlborough beach slams possible quad bike ban

However, given that boating, freedom camping and gatherings are still not allowed, South Taranaki District Council (STDC) and the trust agreed a temporary road barrier will be put in place to traffic at the top of the hill leading to the beach.

Catherine Groenestein Cones and signs block the access to Ohawe Beach.

"Trust members told the council they were concerned about people trying to access the Trust-owned campground under Alert Level 3, despite the rules that campgrounds remained closed," STDC communications manager Gerard Langford said.

"Reports had also been made about people doing wheelies around the carpark, and so some Trust members decided the safest option would be to close the beach access altogether."

A Hāwera couple who tried to go for a beach walk on Wednesday morning said they were confronted and abused by a man on a quad bike.

"This man on a four wheeler motorbike came burning up, saying you're not entitled to be here, go away, you're not one of my people, you are on my land, now get the f... off," Deborah Quaadgras said.

SUPPLIED Poet Eriq Quaadgras from Hawera penned his feelings about being shut out of Ohawe Beach on Wednesday.

He was revving the bike engine and at one point during the ensuing argument, drove it towards her and she feared being run over, Quaadgras said.

"We are all one region, we are all South Taranaki. He was saying 'you are not one of my people'. I said what do you mean, we are all in this together."

They didn't stay to talk to the police because her husband Eriq, who suffers social anxiety, had had enough, Quaadgras said.

On Wednesday, John Kerehoma, a former trustee, who was running the blockade, said he had been turning would-be walkers, surfers and fishermen away throughout the level 4 lockdown and was maintaining level 4 on the trust land.

"We don't need to go to level 3, why would we? Because the Government says so? Can we not choose to be safe? "

Catherine Groenestein John Kerehoma and Phoebe Parata, who is the custodian of the Ohawe camping ground, at the blockade. Kerehoma was turning people away because he says the access to the beach crosses private land.

He said he had received support from community members for his actions.

Catherine Groenestein The Te Rangatapu Reservation Trust has closed Ohawe Beach to anyone from outside the coastal village.

Police patrols had visited several times, including Wednesday after the confrontation with Eriq and Debra Quaadgras, Kerehoma said.

Police media communications said they had received "a handful of complaints" about the road being closed.

In an emailed statement, assistant commissioner districts Sue Schwalger said police were working with local communities, including Ohawe Beach, to ensure the public had access to the beach on public access ways.

During level 4 it had been appropriate for these to be closed to the public, she said.