Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2000-02-23T21:00:27+13:00

The NZFKC has announced the “Kaituna Play Day and the TSM Kayak Disco” for Saturday the 4th March, starting at 2pm. The idea is to offer something different from most of the other ‘organised’ kayaking events. “By now most boaters are getting sick of competing, so a bit of fun is needed before all of the serious selection business gets under way.” There will be a falls race, freestyle comp and the “TSM Kayak Disco – A night kayaking event like NZ has never seen. Coloured lights, strobe light, smoke machine and crankin music at the bottom hole.” Entry fee yet to be advised.

2000-02-21T20:59:46+13:00

It’s that time of the year again! BullerFest will be taking place in and around Murchison on Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 March. Organised by the Whitewater Racing Group and Ultimate Descents, supported by Mountain Designs, Canoe and Outdoor World and Eddyline, the weekend will feature a kayak rodeo and kayak and raft slalom events. Build the slalom course on Saturday morning, then cartwheel in the rodeo on Saturday afternoon. There’s a whitewater party at Ultimate Descents on Saturday night. On Sunday the kayak and raft slaloms are followed by the prize-giving. Register on the day for the kayak events. Rafters contact Ultimate Descents on 03 5239 899.

2000-02-16T20:58:57+13:00

New Zealand Whitewater: 120 Great Kayaking Runs, the revised edition is the new New Zealand kayaking guidebook from Graham Charles. The revised edition features at least 20 new runs (like the Waingaro, Upper Toaroha, Styx, Kokatahi, Upper Whitcombe and Upper Hokitika and many more), new cartoons, new maps, a new foreword by Mick Hopkinson and new appendices. It is now available through the NZRCA, and NZRCA members can claim a 20% discount! An order form and further information is online in Access / New Zealand Whitewater: Revised Edition.

Access

2000-06-13T21:30:56+12:00

The New Zealand Alpine Club has contacted the NZRCA concerning apparent non-payment of hut fees, more canoeists are using our Club’s Homer Hut, which lies off the road near the head of the Hollyford Valley. While we welcome canoeists to use our hut, we do ask that everyone contributes to its upkeep by paying their hut fees ($14.00 per person per night, $7.00 for day use only). Those camping near the hut are expected to pay for day use of the hut- as there are other areas better suited to camping, by implication the only reason someone would camp by the hut is to use the facilities there. When one realises that our total revenue from the hut is only a few thousand dollars a year, it is clear that fees barely cover fuel supply and maintenance costs. Those canoeists who have still to get around to paying their fees from last summer can send their cheques to the Southland Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club, PO Box 965, Invercargill.

2000-05-17T21:29:25+12:00

New Zealand’s NetGuide magazine (www.netguide.co.nz) mentions this site in the ‘best sites’ section for the month of June. (Thanks for the pointer, Jenny).

2000-05-17T21:28:28+12:00

Over Easter, Robin Rutter-Baumann and friends had a ‘big day out’ on the North Branch of the Mokihinui, one of the West Coast’s less common helicopter-accessible adventure runs. They brought back some great pictures which you can see in the Whitewater Gallery / Mokihinui mission. Robin has also provided some additional information on recommended flow levels for the section in NZ Whitewater / Errata & Updates.

Access

2000-05-14T21:26:37+12:00

The latest issue of NZRCA’s official newsletter “NZ Canoeing” is now available to members. Features include Mick Hopkinson on the use of play-boats on West Coast rivers, river works issues on the Motueka and Buller rivers, an Upper Otaki trip report, images from the Rodeo Worlds, updates on Karangarua access and the NZOIA/NZRCA Kayak Instructor Award Scheme and more. More details in NZ Canoeing / NZ Canoeing 00.1, Autumn 2000.

Whitewater NZ

2000-05-05T21:25:02+12:00

Pictures and results from the Wairoa Extreme Race (held 23 April) are at www.topline-nz.co.nz/extremerace/.

Access

2000-05-02T21:23:54+12:00

Graham Charles has published an article in Photography International (v13 #5) on taking good whitewater pictures. Paddling legend Olly Koehler is apparently on the cover. See Photography International in the stores or at http://www.photographyinternational.co.nz/pilatest.html. A sample of Graham’s pictures are featured in the Whitewater Gallery / Classic West Coast drops.

2000-09-12T21:43:50+12:00

An additional Mangahao release for mid-April 2001 has been confirmed with the operators of the Mangahao Power Station. This release is to make up for the cancellation of the spring 1999 release. So mark the dates of Saturday 17th March and Saturday 14th April 2001 in your paddling diary!

2000-05-01T21:21:16+12:00

The NZRCA’s submission against Ruapuna Irrigation Limited’s resource consent application to Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) is online in Conservation / NZRCA submission on Rangitata Irrigation resource consent.

2000-09-01T21:43:05+12:00

Read the NZRCA’s submission on the Tongariro Power Development scheme, which affects the Whangaehu, Moawhango, Upper Tongariro, Lower Tongariro, Whakapapa and Whanganui rivers (Conservation / NZRCA Submission on Tongariro Power Development Scheme).

2000-04-17T21:30:10+12:00

The NZRCA Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 5 August 2000, 9:30am-4.00pm at the SVS Rooms, 3rd floor, 160 Manchester St, Christchurch. It would be great to see a lot of members at the AGM – especially those based in and around Christchurch, so please keep this date free. For clubs that are from further afield, please think about sending a representative. If you would like us to arrange accommodation with local paddlers, contact Lynne Fuggle at nzrca@whitewater.mytestsite.nz. This is your chance to hear first hand about all the work that the NZRCA has done over the past year, and about our plans for the future. It’s also your chance to bring up any matters that you would like the NZRCA to consider. For details on how to submit remits, or nominations for Canoeist of the Year contact the NZRCA at nzrca@whitewater.mytestsite.nz.

Whitewater NZ

2000-08-30T21:42:18+12:00

This Spring’s Mangahao release will be on Saturday 28 October. Following the release, paddlers are invited to “a party of all parties” at River Valley Lodge, hosted by River Valley Lodge and Bliss-Stick kayaks. The party will feature dance, merriment and bands/DJ. On Sunday there will be a mass paddle down the Rangitikei Gorge (backup and safety will be provided). There will be free camping and river access, food, refreshments and lodge accommodation available at the River Valley Lodge. Industry folk are invited to bring along their new toys. For details contact Richard 06 3881445 or email team@bliss-stick.com.

2000-04-04T21:15:46+12:00

The New Zealand Freestyle Kayak Committee is hosting the Wairoa Extreme Race on Sunday 23 April (that’s Easter Sunday). Registration starts at 9am on the paddock next to the Powerstation (take-out). Registration closes 10am. The start of the time trial is 10:30am, with kayakers starting at 1 minute intervals. Entry is limited to 60 competitors, and will cost $30 (or $20 without the t-shirt). For more information or to pre-register contact Andi Uhl at Paddle.Power@xtra.co.nz.

Access

2000-08-23T21:41:31+12:00

On September 2nd and 3rd at Reids Farm, Taupo there will be a fun slalom raising funds to support the Senior Slalom Team. On Saturday the programme is: am open practice, 1:30pm short course slalom, K1, C1, C2, teams. On Sunday from 10:00 head-to-head racing then one-on-one knockout. Entries will be taken on the day; $10 covers both races. For more information email walkley@inspire.net.nz or phone (06) 3567466.

2000-04-03T21:14:59+12:00

The request from the New Zealand and Central South Island Fish and Game Councils for a Water Conservation Order for the threatened Rangitata River is available at the Ministry for the Environment website. The application has been accepted by the Minister for the Environment and will proceed to a Tribunal that will seek submissions from the public. The Rangitata is regarded as an outstanding fishery as well as having a range whitewater sections to suit kayakers of all abilities. If you have Adobe Acrobat, you can access the WCO order at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/new/rangitato_wco_2.pdf (PDF).

Conservation

2000-08-13T21:39:53+12:00

As an outcome of the Ngai Tahu treaty settlement, several rivers on the West Coast will have bilingual signs erected to display both English and Maori names. Kayakers will see the Grey River also referred to as Mawheranui and the Cook as Weheka (Press, 26 July 2000).

2000-08-09T21:38:42+12:00

Several changes to executive positions occurred at the NZRCA AGM on August 5. Robin Rutter-Baumann is now President and Sarah McRae is Vice-president. Mike Savory picks up the Access portfolio, and Janet Nicol joins the crew with both Safety and Education roles. The NZRCA thanks outgoing executive officers Colin Leitch, Janette Kear and Ian Logie for their ideas and hard work supporting whitewater kayakers in NZ.

2000-07-17T21:35:06+12:00

The NZRCA’s Annual Report to members for 2000 has been released and distributed to members. You can also access an Adobe Acrobat version of the report here (PDF, 101k).

2000-06-26T21:32:48+12:00

Issue 100 (June/July 2000) includes a response from the NZRCA regarding access to the Karangarua river, a retrospective of kayak adventures on Nepal’s Sun Kosi, Donald Johnstone excelling at slalom and rodeo, and Nevis Bluff, Aratiatia and Huka Falls descents. Luke Boddington describes the first descent of the Upper Heaphy River, and the extreme race on the Wairoa gets a mention.

Access

2000-06-22T12:13:45+12:00

The NZRCA Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 4 August 2000, 10:00am-4.00pm at the Tararua Tramping Club rooms at 4 Moncrief Street, Mt Victoria, Wellington. All members or prospective members are welcome. For clubs outside Wellington, please consider sending a representative. This is your chance to hear first-hand about all the work that the NZRCA has done over the past year, and about our plans for the future. It’s also your chance to bring up any matters that you would like the NZRCA to consider. For details on how to submit remits, or nominations for the NZCF Canoeist of the Year contact the NZRCA. Members are invited to eat at a local restaurant in the evening. If you are interested in dining, please contact either Polly or Sarah.

2000-06-18T21:31:58+12:00

In an article from New Zealand Canoeing, Autumn 2000 (00.1), Janette Kear describes the background and current status of the joint NZRCA/NZOIA kayak instructor certification scheme. The article is at Education / The NZOIA/NZRCA Kayak Instructor Award Scheme.

2000-10-23T21:53:51+13:00

The NZRCA has updated the Guide to the Whanganui River, mainly to reflect some changes advised by the Department of Conservation in Whanganui. Edition 11 is available now, either through DoC or the NZRCA at Access / Guide to the Whanganui River.