Archive for February, 2020

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

2000-02-15T20:56:25+13:00

The Westland National Park management plan is currently undergoing its ten year review. This is a great opportunity for kayakers to gain access to a currently forbidden river; the Karangarua, just south of Fox Glacier. In order for this to happen, the NZRCA needs your support however. DoC have drafted their plan, which currently excludes air access for paddlers, and lots of submissions from kayakers are required if this is to be changed. Read more in Access / Access to the Karangarua. Submissions close on 15 March, so please act now!

Access

2000-02-08T19:08:02+13:00

Adventure magazine #98 features a Graham Charles article (and photos!) on the 1999 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships and an adventure kayaking epic (“Escape from the Callery”) by Tony Ward-Holmes. Editor Sarah Moodie comments on the topical issue of safe enjoyment of New Zealand’s whitewater rivers.

2000-02-06T19:07:03+13:00

The Ministry for the Environment has published a draft agenda and action plan as part of the development of a national agenda for sustainable water management (NASWM). Comments on the proposals are sought and accepted until 25 February. The proposed action plan suggests a growing focus on issues surrounding groundwater abstraction and the impact on surface water. This is a particular issue in Canterbury with incessant demand for irrigation.

2000-01-28T19:06:08+13:00

An extended version of Sarah McRae’s article on treaty issues (from NZ Canoeing, Summer 1999 (99.3)) is available in Access / Treaty Issues.

2000-01-26T19:05:03+13:00

The Whitewater Gallery has been redesigned. Along with the original pictures in a new format, there are some pictures from the 1999 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships held in Taupo (Whitewater Gallery / World Freestyle Championships, December 1999).

2000-01-19T19:04:02+13:00

Colin Leitch describes the background to the non-release on the Mangahao last year in Access / Mangahao Madness, while Timon Walkley recounts his day on the Mangahao which turned into an epic when his boat was pinned (Safety / Mangahao Release).

Access, Safety

2000-01-16T19:01:55+13:00

Several kayakers have died on New Zealand’s rivers this year. 21-year old German kayaker Guenther Schuppan was trapped under a rock ledge on the Nevis River, and 37-year-old Robin Dodd from Ohio, USA was trapped in a rock sieve on the Upper Hokitika. Both of these rivers are demanding, steep, wilderness runs. Both groups contained experienced, talented paddlers. These drownings follow the death of Irish rodeo competitor Niamh Tomkins, 24 who drowned after a lunchtime swim during the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships held at Ngaawaparua on the Waikato river in December. NZRCA President Sarah McRae and Vice-President Robin Rutter-Baumann have commented briefly in the media, and the NZRCA is assisting with the ongoing investigation of these events.Further information:Christchurch Press: “Deaths show kayaking river danger” and “River victims kayak-rodeo visitors”Deja.com has archived a message from Chris Emerick about Robin Dodd.The Upper Hokitika was described in NZ Adventure magazine #97, December 1999.

Safety

1999-12-26T18:58:46+13:00

The Timaru Herald reported on Monday 20 December, that at least three irrigation schemes are planning to extra water from the Rangitata river. Ruapuna Irrigation Limited have applied for resource consents (CRC000793 and CRC000794) to extract water from the Rangitata river near the current irrigation intake. Another scheme suggested by the Mid Canterbury Irrigation Enhancement Society proposes spending $278 million on a “huge” dam at the top of the Rangitata Gorge. The NZRCA will be responding to the proposals next year, but kayakers are invited to make individual submissions also.

Conservation

1999-12-20T18:57:46+13:00

This event follows hot on the heels of last summer’s successful workday on the middle-Matakitaki take-out road. The workday is organised by the NZ Kayak School and the NZRCA.The mission is to pull out offending hazardous rubbish (wire, fridges, sheet iron, etc.) from a local river and arrange alternative disposal, in cooperation with local landowners. The date depends on flow and weather, so will be announced. It is expected to be between 29th December and 2 January 2000. Look for advertising at the Riverview Campground and NZ Kayak School. Bring yourself and if possible some suitable work-gear (overalls, work gloves, boots, wire clippers, spades, ropes that can get dirty). For further details contact Sarah McRae (025) 249 6116 and/or Mick Hopkinson (03) 523 9611.

1999-12-20T18:55:35+13:00

The latest issue of NZRCA’s official newsletter “NZ Canoeing” is now available to members. Features include the the NZRCA’s position on Treaty settlements, the story about the non-release at the Mangahao in October, an update on the Tekapo slalom/rodeo site development and trip reports from the Whitcombe and Tamur, Nepal.

Access

1999-12-20T18:54:23+13:00

The deadline for public submissions on the Canterbury Regional Council “Water – Our Future” discussion document has been extended to 5pm Monday 31 January. This is a particularly important opportunity to comment on the importance of the Rangitata river to New Zealand kayakers. See also Discussion document on Canterbury rivers, 9 November 1999.

1999-12-14T18:53:22+13:00

The December-January issue features hot kiwi kayaker Nikki Kelly, who placed fifth at the recent World Freestyle Kayaking Champs, and describes her boating on Huka Falls on the Waikato, McLaren Falls on the Wairoa, and the Kaituna river. Graham Charles relates superb boating on the Upper Hokitika in “The Wild West.”.

Access

1999-12-14T18:51:13+13:00

Finally the NZRCA site has an interactive links page, where you can jump to kayaking web sites in New Zealand and around the world. You can also add your favourite site’s URL.

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!

2000-09-01T21:43:05+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).

2000-08-30T21:42:18+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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] or phone (06) 3567466.

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.