Author Archive

1999-07-04T18:30:54+12:00

Maree Baker has written an update on Tranz Rail’s Clarence River consent and you can also read a couple trip reports for the Clarence River: A source to sea rafting trip by Kate Batten and a detailed 1981 account from Jim Hutton.

Access, Conservation

1999-06-29T18:25:45+12:00

The Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association will held on Saturday 17 July in Wellington, from 9.30am – 4pm. The venue is Crossways Community House, cnr Brougham and Elizabeth Streets, Mt Victoria. Members and prospective members are welcome, and those interested are invited to eat dinner with other attendees after the meeting. Constitutional remits and last year’s AGM minutes are available from [email protected].

1999-06-29T18:24:14+12:00

The NZRCA’s Annual Report to members for 1999 has been released and distributed to members. You can also access an Adobe Acrobat version of the report here (PDF, 201k).

1999-06-10T18:23:22+12:00

Be safer on the river by attending a River Safety course. Subsidies available. Read course content and information in Education / River Safety Courses.

1999-06-03T18:22:24+12:00

The latest issue of NZRCA’s official newsletter “NZ Canoeing” is now available to members. Features include updates on NZRCA’s appeal regarding the Clarence, Memories of Matt Daly, RMA review and Shoulder dislocations.

Conservation

1999-06-01T18:20:25+12:00

The June-July issue is in the shops, and kayakers will be interested in Graham Charles, Mark Jones and Marcus Waters’ plan to sea-kayak the length of the Antarctic Peninsula this summer. There’s mention of a descent of the Adams River on the West Coast by Kerry Hogland and others. Craig Pearless recounts an “Escape from Tree Trunk Gorge” on the Tongariro. Grant Davidson describes an overnight raft and kayak trip on the middle Mohaka.

Access

1999-05-16T18:19:26+12:00

Graham Charles is seeking information on new runs, corrections and hot images for the second edition of NZ Whitewater. Be quick though!

1999-05-16T18:17:51+12:00

In case you haven’t heard, Sarah Moodie is the new publisher and editor of NZ Adventure magazine, and the March-April-May issue has plenty of interest to kayakers, including a first descent of the Upper Whitcombe (West Coast) by Arnd Schaftlein, Andi Uhl and friends. Sarah writes about the ECNZ Rodeo Pre-Worlds at Ngaawaparua, documents new boats from Eskimo (Zwo), Riot (Glide) and Prijon (Samurai) and reviews three new whitewater videos.

Access

2000-03-27T21:14:15+12:00

Graham Charles of New Zealand Whitewater guidebook fame, has kindly supplied some great action photographs for your viewing pleasure in Whitewater Gallery / Classic West Coast drops.

2000-03-24T21:08:12+12:00

Now you should find it easier to browse the NZRCA web site using our new sitemap.

2000-02-29T21:01:45+13:00

The Buller Workday held on New Year’s Eve last year was a great success, with around 50 kayakers turning out to pull rubbish from the banks of the Matiri River and cart it to the Murchison dump. Mick Hopkinson has supplied pictures, which are available in the Whitewater Gallery / Buller Workday 1999.

Access

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

2000-02-15T20:56:25+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