Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2007-07-12T22:15:13+12:00

Given the regretable history of unsafe engineering works in rivers, and the lack of consultation and consideration for the safety of instream users, the NZRCA has lodged its opposition to a consent application by Rangitata South Irrigation Ltd. for an irrigation scheme.

Conservation, Safety

2007-06-19T22:05:57+12:00

Its time for the VOK Kayaks Brass Monkey Kayak Race series again. This friendly event in its 20th year appeals to both new and experienced paddlers. There is a race at the head of the field for performance prizes in the form of trophies and chocolate fish. Individuals compete against the clock over the five race series to better their times. There are races within variety classes for different of types of kayak. People come along to cruise down the Waimak and enjoy the scenery, and any race that finishes at a pub is a favourite with the crowd.

The Brass Monkey is run and safety managed by expert paddlers from the Whitewater Canoe Club, so it is an excellent opportunity for novice paddlers to build their skills on moving water. The 12km course from the Pylons to State Highway Bridge runs through Christchurch, so racing is all over and done in a morning and this event is renown for its great spot prizes every week. Race dates this year are Sundays: 24 June, 8 and 22 July, 5 and 19 August. For more information pick up an entry form from Topsport, Canoe and Outdoor World, PaddlerZone or online from http://www.whitewater.org.nz.

Access

2007-06-12T14:39:59+12:00

Genesis Energy have advised that the Moawhango tunnel will be closed for maintenance for approximately 10 days commencing on the evening of 21 June 2007. Rangipo Dam must be lowered to allow for complete draining of the tunnel and held at a low level to ensure the safety of the tunnel inspectors. This will mean that Rangipo Dam to Waikato Falls (Access 14 and Access 13) will be flowing at natural flow. It is expected that the amount of water released from Rangipo Dam will be between 7 and 10 m3/s, with a further 8 to 10 m3/s entering via the Waihohonu Stream a short distance downstream. However, the flows indicated here are only estimates and higher downstream flows may result if high inflows occur during the time of the inspection. You can monitor the flows on the Genesis Energy Hydrology Information website.

General

2007-06-08T14:49:58+12:00

Yesterday the Christchurch City Council voted to continue with the Central Plains Water Scheme despite serious community concerns regarding environmental and recreational impacts. The NZRCA issued a Media Release (PDF, 720k) outlining its increasing concerns, especially over flaws in the legislative framework for dealing with assessment of cumulative effects.

Conservation

2007-05-27T09:36:34+12:00

NZ Canoeing 07.1 is out, and features Extreme whitewater races on the rise (Guido Wassink), Newssplashes, New thinking needed to save our rivers (Guy Salmon), Andy Duff Race 2007 (Douglass McCormick), Arunachal Pradesh kayak expedition (Alan Ellard).

Whitewater NZ

2007-05-17T21:05:57+12:00

[image:881 align=right size=thumbnail nolink=1]On average something is stolen from a car every ten minutes in New Zealand. Anecdotal evidence suggests that vehicle crime is a concern for paddlers leaving vehicles at outdoor recreation areas; however, we know little about the real nature and extent of car crime in these locations or how it affects paddlers using conservation and other recreation lands and waters.

The Department of Conservation is currently leading a two-year multi-agency research project exploring this issue and would like to hear from paddlers who’ve directly experienced vehicle crime or felt concerned about leaving their vehicle while visiting an outdoor recreation area.

Please send your story and or general thoughts about this issue to Dr Bronwyn Morrison, Research Development and Improvement Division, Department of Conservation Head Office, PO Box 10-420, Wellington or email it to: car_crime@doc.govt.nz

Access

2007-05-10T08:22:40+12:00

Mike Birch backgrounds the development of the Wairehu Playhole, describing the mitigation for the Tongariro Power Scheme negotiated by NZRCA and OPC.

Conservation

2007-05-02T23:09:05+12:00

[2 May] The NZRCA Executive and supporters enjoyed a productive meeting and a few runs on the Matakitaki at the AGM last weekend. All Exec members were available for re-election and were re-elected. Maree Baker and Gordon Rayner were voted joint Canoeist of the Year for 2007 – congratulations, Maree and Gordon! Update 14 May: Somewhat belatedly, the NZRCA’s Annual Report to Members for 2007 is available online. The report outlines the extensive achievements on behalf of kayakers by the all-volunteer NZRCA Executive in the past year.

Whitewater NZ

2007-05-02T09:53:15+12:00

Biosecurity NZ has today confirmed the presence of didymo in the Hurunui river. Remember to Check, Clean, Dry. Update: The algae has been found at the confluence with Sisters Stream (i.e. Top Gorge , upstream of Jollie Brook).

Conservation

2007-12-18T11:29:41+13:00

[29 November] Antz Longman has details of the final event in the CUMEC Freestyle Kayak Series, to be held on the Kaituna. The weekend will feature three events: Downriver Freestyle (expression session), Xmas Slalom, and Freestyle Rodeo. Entry is $20 for the weekend or $15 for Sunday only. We’re working on organising a Christmas Party for Saturday night too. For more information contact Antz on 021 721 770 or visit www.cumecmagazine.com/freestyleseries.php. Thanks again to the sponsors for getting behind the event: Paddlerzone, Sunspots, Rochfort Paddles, Bliss-Stick Kayaks and CUMEC Magazine. Update, 18 December: In association with DOC, Environment Bay of Plenty and Sunspots Kayak Shop all paddlers attending this weekends ‘Xmas at Kaituna’ event are being asked to clean their boats before getting on the river. From now until Friday a cleaning station will be available at Sunspots Kayak Shop, and on Saturday there will be cleaning facilities available at the put-in. Once your kayak and gear has been cleaned you will receive a sticker to confirm that your boat has been cleaned. All entrants in the event must clean their gear.

Access

2007-12-14T10:05:00+13:00

[18 Oct] Genesis Energy have advised that they will be undertaking a significant maintenance programme on the Poutu canal in early 2008. In preparation for this work, an inspection of the canal is planned for Tuesday the 23rd October (early morning to mid-afternoon). During the inspection the Tongariro River below Poutu Intake will have flows between 30 and 35 cumecs and more if it’s raining hard. Be aware, however, that it is possible that rapid changes in water level downstream of the Poutu Intake could occur. Whilst the actual dates of the repair work have yet to be confirmed, the works are likely to commence in early January and take up to four months to complete. Update 14 December: Genesis have confirmed work will start Monday 7 January and be completed in early May 2008.

General

2007-12-13T12:08:35+13:00

The NZRCA has agreed release dates with Genesis Energy and HBCC for the Tongariro, Whakapapa and Moawhango, and the Waikaremoana scheme.

Access

2007-12-05T07:49:46+13:00

Sue McAllister has information from Contact Energy about releases on the Hawea river. 30 cumecs will be released on the first weekend of January and February 2008.

Access

2007-11-29T10:24:08+13:00

The inaugural NZ Boater X Festival is to be held at the National White Water Centre, Mangahao, Shannon in February 2008. This is to become an annual festival event with the winner of the competition crowned NZ’s best all-round kayaker. The Environmental White Water Park Trust encourages all kayakers from all persuasions to enter. The vision is for a coming together of the various disciplines of kayak sport for a festival event like no other. Use any combination of plastic boats under 250cm and gather points from the five events. The best four of the five events count towards the title – some paddlers may decide not to compete in one or other event. Highlights include free camping onsite, $1000 prize money (for the top male and the top female), Bliss-Stick spot prizes, band and party Saturday evening, entry fee $50 for all events (including regular slalom event), register online at www.slalomnz.org.nz. For more info go to www.whitehotwater.com. Cards for lights/showers/toilet facilities can be purchased from Bivouac Outdoor, Ferguson Street, Palmerston North. This event incorporates the REVEL.co.nz NZ Ranking Race and Slalom Team Trials.

Access

2007-11-14T23:27:01+13:00

The School of Physical Education at Otago University is conducting a nationwide survey soliciting the opinions of river recreation users. Kayakers are invited to complete an online survey about their use of rivers for recreation. The team seeks to know who uses New Zealand rivers and for what purposes – the depth of experience within your personal river recreation, what motivates you, what features of the river are particularly important and what rivers you actually use. The survey takes 30-45 minutes. Every person who completes the survey will have the chance to win a Bliss-stick Whitewater kayak amongst other prizes. In preparation for the survey, it pays to check your river diary; When did you last kayak a river? How often do you kayak a river (on average)? How many different rivers have you kayaked in your lifetime? Last 10 rivers (not sections!) paddled? Contributing to this survey helps to raise the level of awareness of planners when it comes to the recreational amenity of rivers, and therefore helps to make a case against sacrificing additional sections to developement.

Conservation

2007-11-06T09:29:47+13:00

Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton has confirmed that there is no evidence of live didymo in the river samples from the central North Island.

The Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board, which had restricted road access to the Tongariro River and surrounding area as a precaution, has now re-opened the area.

Similarly, Genesis Energy has recommenced power generation on the Western and Eastern diversions of the Tokaanu Power Station.

Advocates will continue to be out on rivers advising river users to check, clean and dry. This episode is a wake-up call to us all about who owns the responsibility for the spread of didymo. The answer is every single New Zealander, as well as those who visit New Zealand to share our pristine environment with us, Jim Anderton said.

General

2007-11-01T22:59:41+13:00

MAF Biosecurity has been working with Central North Island partners including the Department of Conservation, Fish & Game New Zealand, Genesis Energy, Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board, and the New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association (NZRCA).

The sampling programme is continuing in an effort to identify the source of the dead didymo cells or to confirm whether an incursion has taken place.

As an additional precaution the response team requested Tuwharetoa to close the roads it owns that provide access to the upper Tongariro River, including the following roads:

Waipakihi Road
Rangipo Dam Road
Tree Trunk Gorge Road
Kaimanawa Road (Access 10).

NZRCA appreciates the cooperation of all kayakers and recommends staying away from all Central Plateau rivers, until more is known.

General

2007-10-31T22:10:18+13:00

Dead didymo cells have been found in samples of water taken late last week from the Tongariro, Whakapapa, Mangatepopo and Whanganui rivers.

Live cells need to be present before a waterway can be confirmed as infected with didymo.

The dead cells were in samples taken from two sites on the Tongariro River – Puketatara and downstream of the Rangipo Dam, and one site each on the Whakapapa, Mangatepopo and Whanganui Rivers. The samples were taken as part of Genesis Energy’s monthly water quality sampling programme.

As you would expect, we are treating this with urgency, and are working with our Central North Island partners to determine if there is any live didymo in the area, said David Hayes, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand biosecurity response manager.

A Central North Island didymo action group has been in place in the region for the last 18 months and has a response plan that will be implemented should live didymo be found in the area.

Didymo has not been confirmed in the North Island yet, but every sample like this merely reinforces that the best defence is for all freshwater users to Check, Clean and Dry between waterways regardless of where they are in New Zealand.

Recommendations for kayakers. Information about didymo and cleaning methods is also available on the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website.

General

2007-10-24T20:37:05+13:00

NZ Canoeing 07.2 is out, featuring Reprieve for the Gowan! (Guido Wassink), Rescue Course Subsidy Guidelines, Protecting the Hurunui from dam-nation (Tony Ward-Holmes), Newsplashes, New thinking needed to save our rivers (Guy Salmon), Pinned in the Whataroa River (John Rice). In a somewhat experimental move, the entire issue is available for download (PDF, 1.9Mb). Enjoy!

Whitewater NZ

2007-10-24T11:35:11+13:00

John Snook advises, In 2008 Waiariki Academy of Sport is offering young kayakers an outstanding opportunity to train in a competitive, knowledgeable environment and receive world-class coaching and support while studying at Waiariki Institute of Technology.
The slalom training squad is focused on building participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The freestyle/extreme squad athletes will focus on World Championship participation and a pro-kayak vocation. Scholarships are available. For application details visit http://www.waos.ac.nz/ or contact jared.meehan@waiariki.ac.nz.

Education

2007-10-09T23:07:37+13:00

Antz Longman at CUMEC Magazine has launched a new series of freestyle kayak events. Over the months of October, November and December the NZ Freestyle Kayak Series will be a social undertaking to bring kayakers together to compete for Open Men’s, Open Women’s and Junior titles. Each event will see points being awarded in relation to participants’ final placing. The participants with the highest points score in each class after the three events will be given the title of Series Champion. Event one was the recent Bliss-Fest surf competition. Event two of the series will be held at the Tekapo Whitewater Course on November 3 and 4. The Tekapo event will also have various coaching clinics, a boater cross race and a social rodeo. Event three of the Series will be held December 22 and 23 at Bottom Hole, Kaituna river.

General

2007-10-09T22:32:16+13:00

Thanks to the work by Alan Hoffman, the Tekapo Whitewater Trust, NZRCA and Meridian have agreed dates for Pukaki and Tekapo Whitewater Course releases for the 2007/08 season. The resource consent allows for more releases, but course coordinators are needed to manage the whitewater course, so put your hand up if you want to make something happen (access@whitewater.mytestsite.nz).

Access

2007-10-08T22:23:54+13:00

Zak Shaw and friends are heading to India: An international team including Ben Jackson and myself, both from the NZ Kayak School, are teaming up with a few others for an expedition in Northern India. All things begin October 14 with our arrival into Delhi, India. Our team will meet in Delhi before traveling 250 kilometres north into the Himalayas. Our kayaking will commence with three weeks exploring some of the small creeks feeding the Ganges in the neighboring region of Uttarancha situated west of Nepal. The duration of this expedition varies between team members, I will personally be in India for two months. Our expedition will be updated through a website www.passion4adventure.blogspot.com.

General

2007-10-06T22:32:21+13:00

Issue 3 of Antz Longman’s CUMEC Magazine is out now at local kayakstores, bookstores, dairies and petrol stations. Inside you will find the World Freestyle Championships 2007, Teva River Festival & NZ Slalom Nationals, an interview with Mick Hopkinson and a great story from Zak Shaw about exploring the rivers of Tibet.

General