Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Gisborne District Council are looking to their surfing communities to help in a study of the regions' surf breaks.

The councils have organised two workshops in January to talk to surfers about their favourite surf breaks and what makes them good.

These workshops are connected with a study being undertaken by Lincoln University's Bailey Peryman, who is attempting to determine what is most important about the breaks.

The study also aims to increase understanding about the value of all types of recreation associated with surf breaks and where those values may be threatened by other uses of the coast.

This comes after the best of the country's surf breaks were protected under law in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which came into effect earlier this month.

No Bay of Plenty surf breaks are currently included.

'This study gives us an opportunity to better understand the place of surf breaks in the Bay,” says Bailey.

'We know that surfers are protective of their favourite breaks, but we hope they are willing to be involved.

'We need their help in understanding the values and issues associated with surf breaks, which are part of the natural character of the coast.”

He says the study aims to get surfers and all beach goers thinking about the processes and dynamics that make our coastal environment.

'Raising awareness about coastal policy and defining people's values can help everyone take some responsibility for their own patch.

'This is an important step in protecting what we value about any environment.”

The workshops are being held at Mount Maunganui Surf Club on January 12 and at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council offices in Whakatane on January 13.