The rock at Te Ananui is rhyolite, typically horizontally banded and vertically jointed, which makes for extremely positive holds and cracks that provide sound placements. The rock quality is variable: in general where the rock is white, it has weathered to a sandy, often salt encrusted and rounded form. Some routes have gone on this rock, but as a best bet for the newcomer, it should be avoided!
There is a great deal of extremely solid rock, which is typically orange or yellow in colour. Most of the good routes follow cracks and seams on this rock, which is usually close to vertical. There are an abundance of positive holds, so that grades tend to group around 16-18, although most are fairly strenuous. Having raved about how solid the rock is, take care since many of the routes have only been climbed once or twice, and there will be the odd loose rock. It's a very good idea for the belayer, if not the leader as well, to wear a helmet, and to stack the rope somewhere safe.
Jo Haines spotted the cracklines on Pohutukawa cliff in September 1991 and on a subsequent visit with Dave Campbell they put up five routes in an afternoon. These two were responsible for most of the early routes. Various other climbers visited the beach during the summer, and in particular Mark Jones and Ray Hollingsworth added an impressive string of routes.
Access to the top of the cliffs is difficult, so there is little here for the top-roping climber. If you want to climb, bring your rack! There is good bouldering, especially on Echo wall, with good landings on soft sand.
Gear
To climb at Te Ananui you'll need a range of cams and wires of all sizes. Hexes even come in handy. Flexible camming units are especially handy as there are lots of deep horizontal breaks. RP's have even been used on Echo wall where the tight seams allow good placements (although you'll probably need to convince yourself of that!). Slings are needed for runners around trees.
Of the nearly 70 routes at Te Ananui, only a handful use bolts for protection. It would be nice to see this ratio of bolts to natural pro. remain.
The gear you will need - a full rack of cams and wires plus hexes if you have them, and 11 quickdraws.