Author Archive

2003-05-26T13:51:52+12:00

The 2003 Rodeo Worlds are underway in Graz, Austria. There’s a strong New Zealand contingent including Nick Wimsett, Ken Mutton, Andi O’Connell, Jarrod Meehan, Andrew Martin, Mark Eames, Karen Armstrong, Jo Lucas, Nikki Kelly, Lawrence Simpson and Jeremy Buchanan. The kiwis will be up against many of the best paddlers in the world, and will also have to contend with the feature hole (dubbed ‘Terminator III’) which Nick Wimsett reports has claimed 70 swimmers before the competition has even started. See also http://www.jacksonkayak.com/2003-worlds/2003-worlds.cfm.

2003-05-01T10:12:35+12:00

Rafting companies have plugged part of the gap at Rangitaiki’s Rock ‘A’ using bags of cement. The rock has been a factor in several rafting fatalities. Around 70% of the gap has been plugged.

2003-04-15T08:45:08+12:00

(30 March) Police recovered the body of Zephlyn Ivan Vlahovic (54) from the Kawarau River near the outlet of Lake Wakatipu. His kayak and paddle were recovered downstream. Mr Vlahovic had no apparent injuries, and police are investigating (Kayaker found dead on Kawarau, ODT). Update 15 April: NZRCA Safety Officer Glenn Murdoch advises “Underneath the Kawarau Falls Bridge there are ten channels separated by concrete walls. Some of these channels contain dangerous reversals. It appears that one of these reversals was the cause of last week’s accident. If the channels are numbered 1 – 10 from true left to true right, channels 1, 6, 9 and 10 have dangerous reversals in them. My recommendation is that people use the second channel from the true left to go under the bridge. Another key factor in this accident appears to be that the kayaker was paddling alone. NZRCA recommends that you never kayak alone.” Queenstown-Lakes District Council has warned kayakers and signs have been placed on the bridge.

2003-04-27T12:25:40+12:00

(18 March) The Land Access Reference Group is seeking public input on issues relating to public access. This is an opportunity for kayakers to raise any issues they have experienced with respect to access to rivers and lakes. Key points of interest are:
The extent and nature of issues relating to access – including to waterways, the coastline and countryside – providing examples where possible.
If there are issues relating to access, what you consider to be the causes.
Potential solutions for addressing any issues identified by you.
The likely social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts resulting from these solutions.
With respect to access, what is your vision for the future?

Submissions can be sent to Land Access Reference Group, c/o MAF, PO Box 2526, Wellington, or email Mark Neeson (mark.neeson@maf.govt.nz) or Grant King (grant.king@maf.govt.nz) of MAF by 28 March 2003. Update 27 April: Maree Baker and Mike Savory have made a submission regarding access to the Land Access Reference Group.

2003-05-30T10:23:15+12:00

The NZRCA is experimenting with Tagged Message Delivery Agent (TMDA) to protect the various generic *@whitewater.mytestsite.nz email addresses from spam. If you send an email to these addresses, you may be challenged by the ‘River Troll’. Simply follow the instructions in the email to ensure your message gets through. Once you have been accepted as a sender, you won’t have to repeat the process. This technique is particularly effective against spam from non-existent accounts.

2003-05-23T15:38:54+12:00

Thanks to Warren Hales at HBCC, release dates for the Waikaretaheke for the remainder of 2003 are available in Events & Releases

2003-05-05T21:24:22+12:00

The Kakariki Canyon run on the Lower Hokitika is an excellent class III-IV trip, and a great introduction to the heli-kayaking scene. Alan Bell describes (and illustrates) a trip by the NZRCA Executive and friends in December 2002.

2003-04-11T11:03:57+12:00

Mike Abbott will be be presenting a slideshow and video on the ‘First Descent of Tibet’s Yarling Tsangpo‘ on Wednesday 23 April, 20:00-22:00 Ngaio Marsh Theatre, 90 Ilam Rd., University of Canterbury Student’s Association, Christchurch. Tickets $10 ($5 students) on the night.

2003-04-01T07:43:43+12:00

The Whitewater Slalom NZ (WWSNZ) National Championships slalom will be held at the new Environmental White Water Park at Mangahao, Shannon on 18-20 April. For details contact Carrol Walkley (walkley@inspire.net.nz) or read the programme (Word, 80k). Update 1 April: Because of the severe water shortage in the lower North Island the NZ Nationals will be held at an alternative venue, the Kaituna and Tongariro
Rivers. Grab an updated copy of the programme (Word, 80k).

2003-03-11T19:20:20+13:00

The operators of the Mangahao dam have advised that due to drought conditions in the Horowhenua, the Mangahao release for March 22 is cancelled.

2003-03-06T12:53:53+13:00

The Tekapo Whitewater course will be open Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, and is available for paddlers to use. The course coordinators for the weekend are Penny Clendon (pcc26@student.canterbury.ac.nz) and Steve Hasse (steve@macpac.co.nz).

2003-03-26T21:56:59+12:00

The MSA is seeking an Accident Investigator – Maritime Adventure & Recreational Boating. The NZRCA has been concerned for some time about the quality of MSA investigations into whitewater canoe and kayak accidents, so it would be great to see an experienced paddler in this role. The closing date for applications is Monday 1 April 2003.

2003-02-19T10:18:48+13:00

The TEVA Buller Festival is on Friday 28 February (registration), Saturday 1 March (kayak slalom, raft slalom and party) and Sunday 2 March (raft race, kayak rodeo, prizegiving). With heaps of sponsors, the 2003 event has the biggest prize-pool ever.

2003-02-20T21:29:47+13:00

Be safer on whitewater with an NZRCA-approved River Safety or River Rescue course. The list of course providers has been updated, and there is a new River Safety/Rescue Subsidy form (PDF, 84k) for NZRCA members.

2003-02-21T08:51:06+13:00

There is a scheduled release on the Tekapo whitewater course on the weekend of 8 and 9 March. This release cannot proceed unless a club or group takes on the responsibility of opening and closing the course gates and coordinating with Meridian over the flow. Any clubs or groups that would be willing to take on that job, or even are just interested in what is involved, please contact Mike Savory (access@whitewater.mytestsite.nz) as soon as possible. There will be course flows available every month of next summer; if your club or group can’t coordinate the release next month, then consider when you would like to host an event next season and let Mike know.

2003-04-09T18:55:46+12:00

Congratulations are due to Angela Pahl of Wainuiomata and Chris Sinclair of Dunedin, both of whom won a copy of Graham Charles’ latest NZ Whitewater guidebook. Their names were drawn from the pool of all paid-up NZRCA members over the December 2002 – February 2003 period.

2003-03-27T19:31:18+12:00

Glenn Murdoch has compiled a Code of Practice based on a draft from NZOIA. The Code of Practice highlights key safety and management issues in order to promote responsible kayaking which still allows for high levels of challenge and fun. It is intended that clubs or individuals can adopt this code as it stands, or use it as a template to develop their own Code of Practice.

2003-02-24T11:45:05+13:00

A 27-year old English kayaker drowned on the Waikaia river, Southland on Saturday. After rescue attempts failed, his companions hiked out through dense bush to raise the alarm. The kayaker’s body was recovered by searchers on Sunday afternoon. Update 26 February: Police named James Robert Lowe Acton as the English kayaker who drowned. He was a captain in the British Army. The two men kayaking with him were Tony Roberts, of Guildford in Surrey, and George Fell, of Baildon, West Yorkshire.

2003-03-31T20:48:14+12:00

Huntly Youth Focus are holding a Canoe and Kayak Festival on Waikato River on Saturday 18 October 2003. The event is targeted at 11-16 year olds. The day starts with a paddle from Ngaruawahia to Huntly starting 8:30am. The demonstrations and races will begin at Huntly at 11:00am. At 2:00pm the older teenagers canoe back upstream to Taupiri arriving about 4:30pm. There is an interest in ‘at risk’ young people and young people with disabilities although all teenagers can participate. For more details please contact James Read at 07 828 8449.

2003-06-17T16:51:21+12:00

ECAN are reviewing flow requirements for the Middle Rangitata (from the Klondyke irrigation intake to Peel Forest). If you have kayaked this section and have kept a logbook, please send details of your trips (ie. dates, flow, degree of difficulty, level of enjoyment) to Doug Rankin who has volunteered collate the reports and provide them to ECAN. The intention is understand how flow affects the recreational amenity for kayakers.

2003-06-23T23:15:58+12:00

According to the FMC Bulletin, April 2003 Air New Zealand have adopted IATA guidelines which allow camping stoves to be checked in providing they are ‘nullified’. Nullification involves completely draining the fuel, allowing the container to stand uncapped for at least 6 hours, or adding cooking oil (which elevates the flash point of any residual fuel), and appropriately sealing the equipment. Check-in staff may require you to sign a declaration form confirming these actions.

2003-07-30T05:49:01+12:00

The Annual General Meeting for the NZRCA will be held on Saturday 6 September at Level 6, PSA House, 10 Aurora Terrace, Wellington from 9am to 9am to 12.30pm. Lunch will be provided.All paddlers are welcome to attend, at any stage of the day. The AGM will be followed by an Executive meeting from 1.30pm to 5pm, then we’ll be keen on a drink and dinner at a local restaurant. Please send your nominations for Canoeist of the Year to admin@whitewater.mytestsite.nz

Whitewater NZ

2003-10-01T21:42:08+12:00

Alan Bell reports, “The Hutt Gorge turned on a nice flow of 2.0m on the Te Marua gauge for the 2003 Percy Dowse Memorial interclub shield race. Nine teams (30 paddlers in total) ran the Hutt Gorge and had a great paddle followed by a sausage or two. Thanks to everyone who came along. Results were as follows: 1st Hutt A – Lea, Phil Mac, Phil C 45 mins; 2nd VUCC B – Mark, John, James 49 mins; 3rd Ruahine Raiders – Max, Matt, Leon 52 mins. Feedback suggests competition will be fierce next year with more of those old long boats being rescued from under houses, rubbish tips
etc.”

2003-10-01T01:48:42+12:00

Wellington hosted the NZRCA AGM on Saturday 6 September. The Executive welcomes Duncan Catanach (Wellington) as North Island Conservation Officer and Rob Wells (Dunedin) as Treasurer. Our undying gratitude goes to Mike Savory and Lynne Fuggle who previously performed these roles. Mike Savory was made a Life Member in recognition of his contributions to the NZCA and NZRCA over many years. Graeme McIntyre has moved to become Access Officer. Glenn Murdoch has relinquished the Education portfolio to concentrate on Safety. We also welcome Belinda Green as our new Administration Officer, and the AGM passed a vote of thanks to outgoing Administration Officer Milli Lovell.

Alan Hoffman was voted Canoeist of the Year. His name will be forwarded to the NZCF as the NZRCA’s nominee for the Canard Cup. Our thanks to all nominees and nominators. Other highlights of the AGM include discussion on the foreshore and seabed issue and the notion of ‘public domain’, issues arising from the MSA’s Rule 91 regarding PFDs, risk management plans and rivers in need of protection. Paul Mariott-Lloyd presented for SPARC regarding Rule 91 and public liability issues for clubs and volunteers, and Bryce Johnson spoke on behalf of Fish & Game about the public domain and access issues. Amendments to the constitution were approved that clarify the NZRCA operations as a charitable organisation. Geoff Price has volunteered to work with the Executive on fundraising.

Whitewater NZ