Burt Munro may have hooned along Invercargill's Oreti Beach, but modern day visitors are being urged to keep their speed down.

The population of toheroa is being impacted by people driving too fast or doing wheelies along the high tide mark.

Local iwi say there are only four beaches left with a population of toheroa and preserving them is of national importance.

The local council, police and DOC are also pressing visitors to drive and act responsibly on the beach, so it doesn't have to be closed.

Sand dunes are also being damaged by four wheel drives and motorbikes, and discarded rubbish is becoming a problem.