Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2003-07-17T21:28:03+12:00

The releases for the Wairoa for the 2003-04 season are online in Events & Releases.

2003-07-10T22:09:01+12:00

Here’s a winter retrospective of paddling adventures with a historical flavour: An account of an 1889 canoe trip by Mannering and Dixon down the Tasman, Pukaki and Waitaki rivers, and as previously published: The Park Brother’s epic journey from Hokitika to Christchurch via the Taramakau and Hokitika rivers, an early descent of the Clarence River, the first descent of Sargoods Weir on the Kawarau and the first descent of Huka Falls.

2003-11-06T05:22:09+13:00

Ian Gill-Fox reports “On the weekend of 29-30 November, Venture Out is sponsoring an event at the Tekapo White Water Course in conjunction with the White Water Canoe Club and the Canterbury White Water Racing Group. There will be a Slalom, a Down River Race and a Rodeo. The Rodeo will be judged by Donald Calder and will be a ranking event. The Slalom and DRR are organised by the WWCC and CWWRG. The Slalom is the 3rd in the SI series. Spot prizes will be available for all events. Demo boats from Liquid Logic, Prijon and Necky will be available to try out. All paddlers and spectators welcome, so show up and have a go or just hang out and watch. Further details from ian@ventureout.co.nz.” (Refer Events & Releases for other kayak events.)

2003-07-01T11:02:06+12:00

Now you can access the NZRCA news feed as RSS (What is RSS?). If you are a webmaster, that means you can syndicate NZRCA news items and have them appear on your site (example, using javascript). As a web user, you can read RSS feeds using RSS readers such as NetNewsWire or others.

2003-10-31T04:36:28+13:00

[14 October 2003] The planned releases from Meridian Energy for the Tekapo river, Tekapo Whitewater Course and Pukaki river have been added to Events & Releases. 31 October: The Tekapo Whitewater Course releases for Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November have been cancelled due to coordination diffculties.

Access

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.

2003-10-22T10:44:18+13:00

Polly Miller is preparing for foreign adventures, so the Communications Officer position is available to someone who is keen to coordinate the brand and communications activities of the NZRCA. The Education Officer role is also currently vacant, and would suit someone with an interest in kayak and safety instruction. If you would like to get involved in the organisation dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s whitewater resources, then please contact the President, Robin Rutter-Baumann at president@whitewater.mytestsite.nz.

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.

2003-10-16T21:11:15+13:00

The MNZ have developed Rule Part 91 – The Navigation Safety Rule. Rule Part 91 became law on March 21, 2003. The new rule makes it compulsory for a certified PFD to be worn at times of “heightened risk”. Kayakers in New Zealand typically wear PFDs as a matter of course, but all kayaking PFDs are currently uncertified (and likely to stay that way for the immediate future). Technically almost everyone paddling since March is breaking the law. The rule apparently also restricts playing on waves and navigation in river channels. Jonathan Hunt and Tony-Ward Holmes provide an overview of Rule Part 91 and its implications for kayakers.

Safety

2003-06-12T10:10:53+12:00

The Rotorua Canoe Club, originally founded in the 1970’s, has a new lease of life.
Contact them at canoekayakclub@hotmail.com or contact Donald Calder on (021) 343 980.

2003-10-10T03:31:54+13:00

[23 September 2003] Mangahao releases for the coming season have been scheduled for Saturday 25 October, Saturday 6 December and Saturday 20 March 2004 as listed in Events & Releases. Note that the 6 December release is intended to make up for the missed release earlier this year, and is dependent on approval being granted for a variation to the resource consent for the Mangahao dams. Check this site before commiting to a trip. Update: 10 October, the catch-up release for Saturday 6 December has been confirmed by Todd Energy/King Country Energy.

2003-10-09T20:58:12+13:00

According to the TDC, Jet Boating New Zealand intends applying to extend the area where the 5-knot speed restriction has been uplifted on the Buller River. Currently the speed limit has been uplifted all year round below the confluence of the Mangles River, just north of Murchison. The intended application will relate to lifting that 5-knot speed limit on the Buller River and its tributaries upstream of the Mangles confluence. This will be for the purposes of recreational boating. If consent is granted it will allow all craft access, without speed limitation, further up the Buller, possibly up to the start of the Nelson Lakes National Park. Given the popularity of the Buller catchment rivers with kayakers, removing the speed limit creates additional hazards for paddlers (for example, jetboat on O’Sullivan’s rapid).

2003-10-03T03:17:15+12:00

A challenging solo run down the Otoko gives Kerry Hoglund plenty to think about, but makes for a memorable day. The article is accompanied by images from an earlier descent by Tony Ward-Holmes, Erik Bradshaw, Richard Lang and Jonathan Hunt.

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

2003-12-09T23:16:01+13:00

[6 October 2003] The Niamh Tomkins Memorial Rodeo is an annual freestyle kayak event at Fulljames rapid on the Waikato River, Taupo, New Zealand, for all skill levels. It is planned for Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December this year. For details, see http://www.kayakhuka.org.nz/rodeo/. Update: 9 December, Mike Birch reports the rodeo ‘went off’ last weekend with Stephan Paetsch (C1), Polly Green (Women’s Open K1), Lawrance Simpson (Men’s Junior K1), Darryl Bayly (Men’s Novice K1) and Nick Wimsett (Men’s Open K1) winning their respective finals. Full results are on the Niamh Tomkins Memorial Rodeo site.

2003-12-09T07:41:13+13:00

River Valley and Bliss-Stick and putting on another River Festival on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December, featuring a Big Air Comp, Downriver Race, Whitewater Rodeo, free camping, and a party.

2003-11-29T03:16:29+13:00

Maree Baker has compiled the NZRCA’s submission on the Land Access Reference Group’s report : Walking Access in the New Zealand Outdoors. The NZRCA made an earlier submission in March 2003.

2004-01-31T10:57:08+13:00

Detailed records can help the NRZCA when it comes to conservation, access and flow preferences. They are also handy for personal reference and logging hours for instruction. Jonathan Hunt makes the case for keeping a logbook of your your kayaking experiences.

Access

Tony Ward-Holmes reports that DoC is reviewing General Policy with potentially adverse consequences for recreational kayaking.

The recommendation in DoC’s proposed new General Policy for National Parks is to actively discourage vehicle use where not provided for in Management Plans. This covers canoes and kayaks, not just helicopters. Very few management plans (if any) explicitly mention canoes and kayaks, so if the General Policy is accepted as it stands, DoC would be bound to discourage kayakers from National Parks (for example, Kahurangi). Similarly, the Conservation General Policy also ‘actively discourages’ vehicle use [refer 9.6 (b)].

Submissions are due by 19 December, and should be sent to General Policy Project, Department of Conservation, PO Box 10-420, Wellington or by email to generalpolicy@doc.govt.nz. Note the separate submission forms for National Parks General Policy and Conservation General Policy .

2004-01-29T12:25:12+13:00

The Pre-Worlds were held last week in Penrith.
Nathan Ashmore (Rotorua) came second in the Men’s Junior class. Check out the
event web site and for results,
photos and video clips see the Bliss-Stick
web site

2003-11-17T08:03:44+13:00

[1 May 2003] Following concern expressed by the NZRCA and other outdoor recreation groups, Air New Zealand has reduced their $50 charge for kayaks and other oversized items to $20. Update 17 November: From 29 October, Air NZ is counting oversize items (eg. kayaks) as part of your checked-in baggage allowance (Domestic Economy allowance is 20kg). Excess baggage charge is $5/kg.

2004-01-29T12:23:26+13:00

As part of the Ministry for the Environment‘s Water Programme of Action, input is requested for an online survey on recreational use of freshwater rivers and lakes. The online survey for Freshwater asks which recreational pursuits you follow; canoeing and kayaking is an option. It asks how many days a year you canoe and kayak, how long it took to get to your last trip, who you kayak with, what are the key factors for the experience (note that Degree of canoeing challenge or similar will need to go under ‘Other’) and asks you to rank the factors by importance. It asks which three locations you have (and haven’t) visited which best represent your key factors. It also asks you to list and rank the factors that may limit your experience. The survey requires completion by 13 February. These questions will be easier to answer if you maintain a Logbook. Some background to the Water Programme of Action can be found in a speech by Marion Hobbs.

Access

2003-11-13T00:20:31+13:00

[10 September 2003] All paddlers are welcomed to the opening of the Evironmental Whitewater Park (8 November 2003) below the Mangahao Dam near Shannon. The opening will include a slalom ranking race and selection for an Athens test event. Following weekends will feature six ProSeries races with cash prizes. Update: 13 November, John Snook advises the ProSeries races have been cancelled due to lack of interest. Kayakers are invited to make use of the water that will be flowing on 15, 22 and 29 November.