Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2007-12-20T11:00:18+13:00

Contrary to its statutory obligation to foster recreation, DOC has approved the concession application by BOP Electricity for a dam on the Kaituna. The dam would inundate the Awesome Gorge section and dewater the Gnarly Gorge run. The NZRCA opposed the concession along with many other paddlers. BOPE must apply for resource consents to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Environment BOP). Kayakers will need to prepare submissions regarding the recreational amenity of the Kaituna River as part of the RMA process.

Access, Conservation

2008-09-17T15:02:54+12:00

Genesis Energy advise that due to recent rain, the flow in the Tongariro River below Rangipo Dam on Sunday 21 September will be at natural flows. Please note these may be higher than the 30 cumecs advertised. Rangipo Power Station will not be in operation and Genesis Energy has no control over flows in this section of the river. Assess the conditions for yourself before entering the river. For more flow information see Flowphone +64 7 386 8113 and http://www.hydro.genesisenergy.co.nz/Tongariro_map.asp (both updated hourly).

Access

2008-09-11T07:21:51+12:00

The NZRCA River Guide is intended to be an authoritative guide to the sections of rivers used by kayakers in New Zealand/Aotearoa. By referencing a robust, stable index of sections, paddlers, authors, photographers, researchers, planners, bloggers, and students can compare notes, share knowledge and enhance understanding. With permission from Graham Charles, the NZRCA River Guide has been seeded with sections from New Zealand Whitewater (4th Ed.). Graham’s scholarship has been supplemented by additional information from Matt Barker, Alan Bell, Mike Birch, Glenn Murdoch, Jonathan Hunt, Guido Wassink and Tony Ward-Holmes. The initial guide offers over 250 sections, though not all have complete information. Contributions from the kiwi kayaking community are welcome. We have additional features in the pipeline, including comments, ratings, photo galleries, maps, incident and trip reports and more. (See also About the NZRCA River Guide.)

Access

2008-09-10T08:15:09+12:00

Our wild rivers are threatened by climate change and runaway power consumption. Electricity demand is predicted to keep growing at 1.3% – 2% or an extra 150-200 megawatts of generating capacity every year. That extra demand is equivalent to the generation produced by damming two rivers the size of the Hurunui and the Mohaka every year. Forest and Bird South Island Conservation Manager Chris Todd says we need to make sure power generation is truly renewable and responsible to avoid destroying the remaining wild and scenic rivers in New Zealand.

Safety

2008-09-09T22:49:58+12:00

[9 September] NZRCA and King Country Energy have agreed to a Mangahao release on Saturday 18 October. Negotiations are continuing regarding a replacement for a previously cancelled release, likely to happen in September or October. Update: 13 September: To make up for past release dates where no water was released, an additional release has been scheduled for Saturday 4 October and the October 18 release will be 40cu instead of the usual 30cu (expect a pushier, more exciting run).

Access

2008-09-06T21:17:06+12:00

Submissions are invited to the Special Tribunal to assess Fish and Game’s application to amend the Kawarau River Water Conservation Order 1997. The initiative is specifically in opposition to plans by Pioneer Generation to put a 40MW hydro dam on the Nevis through a loophole that requires the wild and scenic character of the river to be maintained but doesn’t prohibit damming. Fish and Game’s application seeks amendments to the water conservation order as it applies to the Nevis River to prohibit dams on the river and to set minimum river flows to protect fishery and amenity values, and to better recognise the river’s outstanding wild, scenic and natural characteristics, trout fishery, trout habitat, native fish habitat, cultural and historic characteristics. Kayakers know the Nevis as a nationally outstanding run posing a consistent challenge to expert paddlers. Send submissions (in the prescribed format (RTF, 40KB)) to alex.miller@mfe.govt.nz or by post to Special Tribunal – Kawarau River Water Conservation Order, c/- Alex Miller, Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10362, WELLINGTON 6143. Submissions must be received by the Special Tribunal by 3rd October 2008.

Conservation

2008-09-05T12:04:26+12:00

Genesis Energy have advised that the proposed Whakapapa release for tomorrow (September 6) is unlikely to proceed due to a lack of water. Update 6 September: The release has been postponed until Sunday, but this is also unlikely to proceed.

General

2008-08-27T15:20:28+12:00

Hugh Canard offers a warning about trees in our rivers from the recent stormy weather.

Safety

2008-08-23T08:55:16+12:00

NZ Energy Ltd has applied for resource consents through the Tasman District Council for a hydro scheme on the Matiri River. The proposed scheme (PDF, 2Mb) would take water from the outlet of Lake Matiri and run it through 2.2km long penstocks on a power station between the confluence of the east and west branches of the Matiri river. The scheme would take up to 6.3cu from the river to be returned below the powerstation. The scheme is situated above the normal Matiri Gorge run. The NZRCA has made a submission to preserve the kayaking amenity on the Matiri.

See the proposed location in Google Earth.

Conservation

2008-08-21T13:17:51+12:00

SPARC have announced that applications for the Hillary Expedition 2008/2009 are now open. Funding is available for up to six teams for outdoor adventures in New Zealand or around the world. Applications will be accepted till 26 September 2008.

Access

2008-08-16T19:56:37+12:00

Network Tasman is proposing a 30MW hydro dam on the Matakitaki river near Murchison. Two possible locations have been proposed; a lower one at Blue Rock would interfere with the popular Middle Matakitaki run, and an upstream location at Mammoth Flat is above the regularly paddled sections. The company has purchased land in the Matakitaki valley and anticipates conducting feasibility studies.

The Matakitaki contains some of the most popular runs in the district not including the mainstem of the Buller River and attracts kayakers throughout New Zealand. Writing about the scheme in the Nelson Mail, Karen Goodger notes, Hydro proposals in that region have met stiff opposition in recent years but [Network Tasman Chairman] Mr Kearney said the Buller River conservation order did not extend to parts of the Matakitaki. River users such as kayakers would be concerned but the company hoped to consult and work through those issues. Despite kayaker representations, the Matakitaki was not directly included in the Buller Water Conservation Order but flows into the Buller mainstem are required to be maintained.
See the proposed locations in Google Earth.

Conservation

2008-08-06T21:34:09+12:00

Mick Hopkinson has been recognised as an international Explorer in the Class of 2008 honorees by the United States-based International Whitewater Hall of Fame. Mick Hopkinson was a slalom racer in Britain before putting his energy into exploration including first descents on the river Inn in Switzerland and Austria, the Blue Nile in Ethiopia, and the Dudh Kosi in Nepal. He was also a member of Nepal’s Karnali expedition and the “Taming of the Lion” first descent team on the Indus River in Baltistan. More recently he has been knocking first descents in Wyoming’s Wind River Range and on New Zealand’s West Coast. Mick is a passionate exponent of the sport and of preserving whitewater for future generations. He operates the New Zealand Kayak School in Murchison.

General

2008-07-28T21:35:31+12:00

Bruce Clarke at Kaimai Canoe Club has passed on the Wairoa Release dates for the 2008/2009 season.

Access

2008-07-13T15:45:48+12:00

Antz Longman advises, “CUMEC Magazine Issue 5 is now available at book and kayak stores all over New Zealand. In this issue we take a look in to the history of Slalom Kayaking at the Olympics and profile the NZ and Australian athletes heading to Beijing, Interview with Australian C1 Slalom paddler Rob Bell, Wairoa Extreme Race, seven Drytops reviewed, Destination Malaysia and a lot more. There also a special subscription promotion with this issue. All subscriptions/renewals received between the 1st of July and 30th of September go in the draw to win 1 of 40 kayaking DVDs.”

General

2008-07-07T23:05:30+12:00

Sophie Hoskins, Hester Hilbink and friends are working on a project to teach Nepalese girls to kayak. Sophie writes, “A friend from Sweden is organising this project. She has lived there for about eight years and really wants to introduce the local Nepalese women to kayakng and rafting so they can work as safety boaters and raft guides. This is the first project of this kind and the girls are super excited as they haven’t had the chance to learn these skills.

We are trying to get as much gear as we can fit in our luggage to take over for them so we can leave each girl with a full kit and maybe some spares. So if anyone out there has spare gear they would like to donate or sell cheap including paddles, dry-tops, splash jackets, kayaks, B.A’s, booties, helmets, warm paddling gear, river knives, throwbags, spraydecks, etc. – anything you think may be handy to them for raft guiding and safety boating, we would love to hear from you please email sophiehoskins@gmail.com or contact them at their blog.

General

2008-07-04T14:03:41+12:00

NZ Canoeing 08.1 is now available, featuring Canoeist of the Year announced!, Newssplashes, Rivers under threat, Pack paddling on the Upper Kakapotahi (Joe Bousquin), New Thinking to Save Rivers – Part III (Guy Salmon). Download NZ Canoeing 08.1 (PDF, 3.2Mb).

Whitewater NZ

2008-06-05T15:36:38+12:00

There has been some misunderstanding about access to Ngaawapurua Rapids (Waikato River, Taupo). Access is open to the public, however arrangements have to be made with the security company:
Forest & General Security Ltd,
63 Miro St
Taupo
07-376 5333.
Please respect this arrangement and the land, so that future negotiations for access are not hampered by disrespectful use.

Access

2008-05-18T20:12:49+12:00

Ben Jackson has posted an excellent video showing why the wild and scenic Mokihinui river needs to be protected from Meridian’s hydro proposal.

Conservation

2008-05-05T21:51:56+12:00

Between runs down the Kaituna the hard-working NZRCA Executive got plenty of business done. NZRCA President Mike Birch presented the Annual Report to Members for 2008. Andy England was voted Canoeist of the Year (well done, Andy!). Several vacancies on the Executive Committee have arisen due to imminent overseas travel; many thanks to Guido Wassink (Editor) and Kieron Thorpe (Conservation). Michelle Wallace (Hamilton) is our new Editor. Sue Robertson (Wellington) is our new Vice-President. Tony Ward-Holmes moves from Vice-President to Conservation. The next AGM will be in Christchurch.

Whitewater NZ

2008-04-30T22:15:05+12:00

Kieron Thorpe compiled the NZRCA’s submission opposing further mine discharges into Ten Mile Creek, near Greymouth.

Conservation

2008-04-28T14:16:36+12:00

Genesis Energy have advised that the recreational release from Rangipo Dam, scheduled for Sunday 11th May will be changed to Saturday 31st May 2008. The postponement is due to a change in dates of the Poutu Canal maintenance project. The project was originally scheduled to run from 5 January to 5 May 2008 but was suspended due to generation constraints on the 5 February and recommenced on the 25th March. The maintenance programme will finish on the 25th May. The other recreational release dates to change are releases on the Tongariro River originally scheduled for 4 October 2008 (below Poutu Intake) and 5 October 2008 (below Rangipo Dam). These dates are within the critical blue duck nesting season (1 October – 31 December) as detailed in the resource consents. The dates will be moved to 20 September 2008 (below Poutu Intake) and 21 September 2008 (below Rangipo Dam).

Access

2009-01-28T15:21:03+13:00

The NZRCA is assisting the Hawkes Bay Canoe Club and Genesis Energy to organise the next Piripaua release on Sunday, 01 February. In order for the release to go ahead a minimum number of kayakers will need to register on-line at http://nzrivers.wufoo.com/forms/register/. Update 30 January: The Piripaua Release has been cancelled due to insufficient registrations.

Access

2009-01-28T15:09:20+13:00

The NZRCA has agreed release dates with Genesis Energy and HBCC for the Piripaua and Whakamarino releases for 2009.

Access

2009-01-27T22:01:15+13:00

Featuring big water action on Kawarau’s Citroen rapid, the Citroen Extreme Race is back as a one-day event, with an after-party at Dogleg takeout, featuring live band “SEABEAST”. Contact Roy Bailey, bailey.builders@xtra.co.nz for details.

Access