Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2004-02-06T21:57:30+13:00

The annual TEVA Buller Festival will be held on Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March, in and around Murchison. The festival features a slalom race, raft cross, rodeo and a ‘Rock the Buller’ party.

2004-03-23T19:59:18+12:00

Environment Bay of Plenty has issued health warnings for all parts of Lake Rotoiti and Rotorua, and also for the lower Kaituna River due to a continuing algal bloom. EBOP also publishes information on algal monitoring and potential health effects.

2004-02-03T21:07:03+13:00

A man drowned on Sunday 1 February while tubing on a high Waiwhakaiho River in Taranaki. A reported comment from a Police search advisor (temporary link) included a comment “If people are going to go they should wear lifejackets or tie the tube to themselves.” The NZRCA strongly rejects the advice (PDF, 196k) to tie a tube, boogie board or kayak to the paddler. This is wholly inappropriate on a river because the paddler can become entangled with an obstacle such as a tree and trap the person underwater. This has happened in the past with fatal results.

Safety

2004-03-17T23:32:00+13:00

NZRCA Access Officer Graeme McIntyre reminds paddlers of the opportunity to paddle the Mangahao this weekend (Saturday 20 March). Graeme notes, I have been speaking to the people at the Dam who tell me that the roads are open and the river has a good amount of natural water flow in it, so
hopefully it will be a good run, and also warns, like all the other rivers around this area the Mangahao was in very high flood during the floods that we are recovering from in this area. Most of the rivers in the area have changed a lot! Rapids and runs are very different and there is a possibility of logs and heaps of other junk in the river. So keep an eye out and don’t take it for granted that the Mangahao is any where near the same as the last release.

2004-02-02T21:00:39+13:00

The Nelson Mail is reporting that kayakers Matt Crean and Grant Ruthven were on the spot to help when a car with five people inside it careened into the flooded Maitai river on Sunday 1 February.

General

2004-03-15T12:17:00+13:00

In May 2003, Glenn Murdoch compiled the NZRCA submission opposing the NZ Jet Boating Association, NZJBA application for up to 6 days a year for jetboating on the Hawea River. In August 2003, the environment court decision granted jet boating for up to 6 days per year, but with some conditions: the NZJBA has to administer the trip, written approval from COW that none of its members are using the river for any activities, two months written notice to the Harbour Master and the Harbour Master is satisfied that none of the other organisations that use the river are using it that day, and public notification in the Otago Daily Times and Southland Times.

2004-02-02T11:50:14+13:00

15 January: Andy Fuller reports, “A race will be held on 31 Jan at the Kaituna in memory of Andy Duff (NZ Kayak
and Raft team member).
The race will start at 4pm from the control gates after the conclusion of
the slalom that day It will be a sprint from the control gates to the
bottom play hole. Entry by donation on the day. Race in short boats, long
boats or doubles, your choice!” Update: 2 February, Results have been posted by Andy Fuller.

2004-08-13T14:00:00+12:00

The New Zealand Freestyle Kayak Committee have a new web site http://www.freestylekayak.org.nz

2004-07-20T09:35:00+12:00

Louise Urwin & George Tatham are organising the WWWinterfest
at the Kaituna River on Saturday 17th July Update 20 July: Last weekend’s floods
caused this event to be postponed to 14th August. Contact wwwinterfest@xtra.co.nz
for a registration form or further information.

2004-07-09T11:00:00+12:00

Mick Hopkinson reports that The Bull Paddock a.k.a. the Middle Matakitaki has been sold, raising issues about continued access to one of the best grade 2 runs in the country . Discuss this issue in the Access forum

2004-07-07T17:10:00+12:00

The NZRCA AGM for 2004 will be held on Saturday 24 July 2004 in Dunedin starting at 10am at the Otago Tramping Club, 3 Young St (off Prince Edward Rd). All members are invited to attend . Update 7 July: View the meeting agenda. Any member wishing to receive a written copy of this should contact the Administration Officer (admin@whitewater.mytestsite.nz). Nominations for the Executive Officer’s positions close on 10 July 2004 and should be made in writing to the Administration Officer.At the AGM there will be an award made to the Canoeist of the Year. If you know of an individual (or team) who has made an outstanding achievement or contribution in the area of recreational canoeing then please nominate them by writing to the Administration Officer before 10 July 2004.

Whitewater NZ

2004-07-07T16:41:00+12:00

The releases for the Wairoa for the 2004-05 season are online in Events & Releases.

2004-05-28T12:40:00+12:00

The Winter 2004 (04.1) issue of NZ Canoeing has been dispatched to members and includes articles such as Newssplashes (Tony Ward-Holmes), Releases (Tony Ward-Holmes), Conservation (Maree Baker and Duncan Catanach), Wise Up to the White Stuff 1 (Matt Barker), Criminal Nuisance Prosecutions in Recreation: Cause For Concern? (Dr Pip Lynch).

2004-05-12T12:56:00+12:00

The NZRCA Accident/Incident Database is intended to be a definitive record of whitewater kayak and canoe incidents, published in order to raise awareness of risks among the recreational canoeing community. A number of incidents involving fatalities, injuries or ‘near misses’ are recorded. We welcome information on additional incidents (see About the Accident/Incident Database for policy and definitions).

2004-05-06T14:44:00+12:00

Mark Fielding and friends enjoy a spring-time descent of Marlborough’s Wairau River.

2004-11-09T17:36:00+13:00

The NZRCA’s Annual Report to Members, compiled by President Robin Rutter-Baumann and presented to the 2004 AGM summarises the NZRCA’s achievements and challenges over the past year, and looks to the future.

2004-04-22T19:10:00+12:00

An adult and four teenagers were brought out after overnighting near the Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay. Police described the trip as “irresponsible.” The group was woefully under-equipped, apparently lacking helmets and warm clothing, and with cigarettes instead of food. The group ignored advice and expected to do an overnight trip in five hours. See also: Up the creek with only five packets of smokes, 1 April 2004 and Police criticise ‘clueless’ kayakers, 31 March 2004.

2004-11-03T17:34:00+13:00

Jon Conway describes a multi-day trip down the remote and beautiful Upper Waiau river in Canterbury.

2004-04-02T10:15:21+12:00

[9 March] Maggie Oakley warns of a metal irrigation intake approx. 600m up from the normal take-out to the Dogleg section on the Kawarau river. The intake on river right is particularly dangerous to swimmers, so Maggie advises staying in the centre of the rapid until you have passed the intake. Apparently the intake is for a nearby winery and the Regional Council has not issued a resource consent. Update 2 April: Queenstown Harbourmaster, Marty Black, reports that “a large willow tree has fallen into the Puppy Dog rapid, at the back of Dogleg. Apparently the river is flowing right into the tree hence is a real
danger to all river users.”

2004-10-31T21:09:00+13:00

The Mangahao release was postponed by King Country Energy yesterday (30 October 2004), after heavy rain in the early hours of the morning. A replacement release will be announced on this site when the date has been decided. The NZRCA apologises to those paddlers who didn’t hear of the postponement, and in the future notices will be posted here if the release is to be postponed or cancelled.

2004-04-01T19:55:00+12:00

[30 March] NZPA report (temporary link) a 19 year old British paddler drowned on the Crooked River on Monday 29 March. Apparently, the victim fell out [of] her kayak, was trapped by a rock and drowned. One of her companions walked out through bush to raise the alarm, and another paddler was found by rescuers in the night. The body was recovered by helicopter around 10am this morning. Update, 31 March: The NZRCA has made a Media Release on the Crooked River accident (PDF, 193k) offering condolences to those affected and praising the professionalism shown by the Tasman Whitewater Response
Unit in effecting the recovery of the woman’s body. Eleanor Rutter was working as an outdoor pursuits instructor in New Zealand, and last year was a winner in the Peak UK Himalayan White Water Challenge in Nepal. Update, 1 April: Companions tried in vain to save kayaker (temporary link).

Safety

2004-10-28T17:47:00+13:00

The NZRCA has once again received a Water Safety NZ subsidy for club and individual members attending NZRCA-approved River Safety or River Rescue courses. Both courses are subsidised at $60.00 per person.

Safety

2004-03-30T09:52:00+12:00

Yesterday, Meridian Energy announced it will not continue with Project Aqua, its controversial hydro-electric development project on the lower Waitaki River. On March 12, 2004, Duncan Catanach compiled the NZRCA’s submission to the Minister for the Environment.

2004-10-19T17:18:00+13:00

NZRCA president, Robin Rutter-Baumann, was interviewed on Morning Report today, by Sean Plunkett, about the Coroner’s inquest into the fatal kayak accident on the Buller River in 2002. The NZRCA has issued a Media Release (PDF, 60k), refuting claims that the kayaking industry acted like a “closed cartel” during the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) inquiry. The NZRCA’s concerns are outlined in more detail in Tony Ward-Holmes’ article Risk and Recreation, Reflections on the Buller Drowning Jan 2002

Safety