Author Archive

2004-01-06T11:16:46+13:00

DoC are conducting a national review of facilities including bridges and huts. There is an overview document (PDF, 283k) and specific proposal documents are available for each region.

Some of these facilities will be relevant to kayakers, for example bridges on the Kokatahi track, Mid-Taipo Hut and Venus Hut on the Karamea. Access to the Kokatahi (from a safety perspective) could be affected by removal of the Top Kokatahi and Crawford Junction. The Mid-Taipo hut is scheduled for expansion, which would enhance the experience of running the Upper Taipo as a multiday option. It is proposed to remove Venus Hut from the Upper Karamea, which could affect paddlers starting high on the river.

Indicate your support or opposition to DoC’s proposals using the online form or a hardcopy form (PDF, 16k), before 31 January 2004.

2003-12-19T13:34:01+13:00

To support maintenance work, the NZRCA has agreed to a Meridian Energy request to reschedule the Tekapo River releases from 17 and 18 January to 27 and 28 March 2004.

2003-12-18T23:11:40+13:00

The Summer 2003 (03.3) issue of NZ Canoeing has been dispatched to members and includes articles such as Roll on summer! (Tony Ward-Holmes), Newssplashes (Tony Ward-Holmes), Releases (Tony Ward-Holmes), Public Liability (Glenn Murdoch), Labour weekend on the Clarence (Polly Miller), Alan Hoffman: COTY 2003 (Kirsty Hoffman), Conservation and Access (Anonymous), Steep action in Bolivia (Dave Moore) and Legends of Aotearoa Whitewater: Sargood’s Weir (Tony Ward-Holmes, Robin Rutter-Baumann).

Whitewater NZ

2003-12-12T23:43:44+13:00

The definitive guide to the Whanganui river has been updated for the new season. NZRCA members can receive a discount; refer Order Form (PDF, 12k).

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.

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 .

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.

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.

2003-11-09T14:51:00+13:00

Dave Nelson relates a tale of a trip down a flooded Mangorewa River that turned into a weekend epic on 24, 25 May 1997.

2004-03-25T10:41:30+12:00

[6 March] Ray Sperling of Pro-Adventure.co.nz, under contract to EnvBOP Harbourmaster Jon Moore, has released a report on the management of Rock ‘A’ (113k, PDF) on the Rangitaiki river. Apparently the attempt to eliminate the strainer hazard by plugging the gap in Rock ‘A’ with sandbags has not been successful. The report seeks support to remove one of the rocks from the main flow with an excavator from river right. EBOP also have the option to close this section of river completely to all river users due to the current high risk to public safety and their legal obligations to local council to manage this known hazard. Responses are required by 10 March. Update 25 March: Duncan Catanach has compiled the NZRCA’s submission on a proposal to remove ‘Rock A’.

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.

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

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

2004-03-15T08:10:00+13:00

[12 March] Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs has announced that a Water Conservation Order will be issued for the Mohaka River. The order will protect the outstanding characteristics and features of the upper part of the river above the State Highway 5 bridge as well as the Mokonui Gorge and tributaries of the Mohaka River. These include the outstanding trout fishery, and white water canoeing and rafting opportunities, said Hobbs. The WCO was originally applied for in 1987, and endorsed by the Planning Tribunal in 1992. The WCO will afford the Mohaka the same protection as that already granted to other iconic New Zealand rivers such as the Motu, Kawarau, Buller, Rangitikei, Rakaia and Grey. Unfortunately, this WCO only protects the scenic upper run and not the popular section from Te Hoe to Willow Flat. Update: 15 March, to clarify, the main stem through Mokonui Gorge is protected, but the section between SH5 and the Mokonui Gorge is not included in the order.

2004-03-11T21:25:00+13:00

Meridian Energy have advised that since Lake Tekapo is full, they are required to spill water and cannot interrupt the flow to allow the Tekapo Whitewater Course gates to be opened and closed. That means that the Tekapo Whitewater Course releases for Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March are cancelled.

2004-03-10T09:16:00+13:00

The NZ Canoe Federation has announced the 2004 National Kayak Forum of New Zealand, to be held on Saturday 8 May, at the NZ Academy of Sport, Wintech Sport Centre, Hamilton. The Forum represents an opportunity for administrators, officials, coaches and athletes to get together and plan the direction for NZ Canoeing Federation. It will be a time to network, identify resources and realign our efforts. The core focus of the event will be national policy, project active communities – resource pool initiative 1, secondary schools and kayaking, High performance – Athens 2004. Contact NZ Canoeing Federation info@nzcanoefed.org.nz, RSVP 7 May 2004.

DoC’s draft General Policies on Conservation and National Parks restrict canoes and kayaks from the Conservation estate. Maree Baker and Tony-Ward Holmes have compiled the NZRCA’s submissions on Conservation and National Parks General Policy.

2004-03-02T06:23:06+13:00

[24 February] Rangitata South Irrigation Ltd has proposed a $40million irrigation development that would dam the Orari river and affect the recreational paddling amenity on a class II-II section used by kayakers including local clubs and educational institutes. The Orari River Protection Group has been set up to protect and retain the Orari River in its natural state. It includes recreational users, local landowners, and conservationists. The group has issued a survey for paddlers: survey (PDF, 35k) and survey (RTF, 4k). Please submit your survey responses to Anna Williams by the end of April 2004 via email: anna.williams at xtra.co.nz; or post: c/- School of Outdoor Education, Aoraki Polytechnic, Private Bag 902, Timaru. 2 March: There is now a second survey for anyone involved in a leadership capacity in a club, programme, group, centre, or school that has run organised kayaking, canoeing or rafting trips on the Orari River, or other educational activities within the Orari River area: survey (PDF, 40k) and survey (RTF, 4k).

2004-03-01T20:55:25+13:00

The Ruahine White Water Club has announced that due to flooding, closed roads, rain and other unforseen circumstances, the Ruatiti Slalom for the 6 – 7 March has been cancelled.

2004-02-27T07:20:42+13:00

Duncan Catanach has compiled the NZRCA’s submissions opposing the Aoraki Water Trust and Opihi River Development Company Ltd. resource consent applications affecting the Tekapo River and the Pukaki Farming Company Ltd. resource consent application affecting the Pukaki.

2004-02-25T10:14:19+13:00

Please accept our apology for the glitch that meant whitewater.mytestsite.nz was unavailable since early yesterday evening. If you sent email to a *@whitewater.mytestsite.nz address over that time, please resend to ensure receipt.

2004-02-22T11:13:15+13:00

Warren Hales, of HBCC, has advised the release schedule for the Waikaretaheke, from the weekend of 6 and 7 March through to 5 December, and including a Working Bee. All dates are listed in Events & Releases.