Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2013-02-19T21:41:56+13:00

Central Otago Whitewater invites paddlers to the NZ Freestyle Kayak Nationals and the official opening of the Hawea Whitewater Park on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March. The weekend will be packed with fun and competitive events for paddlers of all ages and abilities. Saturday’s feature is the NZ Freestyle Championships, but will also include Raft-a-Cross, King of the Wave and Best Move Competitions. The official opening of the waves will occur between 5pm and 6:30 and will be followed by a light dinner for competitors and invited guests. (Non-competitors will be able to buy a dinner pass for $15).

Sunday will feature the NZ Freestyle Kayak Team trials for this years World Championship; alongside there will be several other events.

NZ Pyranha have also come to the party and have offered a brand new Pyranha Jed freestyle kayak as a spot-prize. With support also coming from Paddle-Power and the Lake Hawea Hotel.

More details, entry costs, and registration information will be available at www.centralotagowhitewater.co.nz in the coming week.
– Antz Longman

Cumec 18 is now available for your summer reading pleasure. Inside you’ll find another great mix of articles covering the people and places that shape New Zealand and Australian kayaking. Find out what keep’s Keith Riley focussed on his adventures, read about Shannon Mast’s disjointed Madagascar expedition, and find out about some of the history of the mighty Kawarau River. Other articles include wearable cameras, scouting rapids and the Teva Lea race. Available now at all good kayak shops and select bookstores. Visit www.cumecmagazine.com for subscription information.

2013-01-20T10:56:22+13:00

Releases on the Mangahao River have been scarce in recent times, but a release is scheduled for 6 April 2013. Check this site for updates closer to the date, before heading to the river.

Access

2012-12-18T08:53:45+13:00

The inaugural Okere Enduro Race was held on the Kaituna River on Saturday 15 December. There were around 50 competitors who took up the challenge of paddling down and running up the standard rafting section for six hours continuously. Most competed in a relay team of three, but six hardy souls did the race solo. The Smooth Liners (Pete, Luuka and Tim) won the teams event with 24 laps under their belt. Jamie Sutton won the solo category by completing 21 laps in 6 hours. Kylie Laxton-Blinkhorn was the only female soloist and fitted in 19 laps. Rotorua turned on the weather for the event, the only recorded injuries being sunburn. Josh Neilson has posted a video of the event at http://vimeo.com/55742325.

Access

[Updated: 13 December] On Thursday 29 November, some Otago kayakers enjoyed test flows on the Scott Shipley-designed course on the Hawea River. Several more weeks of commissioning work are anticipated. The Hawea Whitewater Enhancement Project is an outcome of the negotiations around Contact Energy’s resource consents as mitigation for the loss of recreational amenity resulting from the Clyde dam, and in particular the drowning of rapids at Bannockburn, Cromwell Gap and the world-class Sargood’s Weir. Ngaio Hart has sent through additional photos of a raft and river sleds in the top hole.

2012-10-27T11:12:13+13:00

Kayaking meets enduro! A 6hr endurance kayak event on Saturday 15 December at Okere Falls on the Kaituna River. Mixed teams of three (minimum of 1 female on each team). Paddle down the river – run back up to the top & tag your team mate (boats transported for you). The team that completes the most laps in 6hrs wins. Entry: $60 per team of three ($20pp). Prizes for winners.

If you can’t race and you are able to help with organisation please let Ben know. Contact okereenduro@hotmail.co.nz or ph: 0273293291

(Information via Cumec Magazine.)

Access

There will be no access to the Upper Kakapotahi and Lower Kakapotahi from New Year’s until at least the start of April 2013. The owners of the Mikonui Forest have notified Whitewater NZ via Andy England, that the forest will be logged at this time.

Access to Happy Valley Road will be blocked by a locked security gate until contractors complete their work. Refer to the attached map showing the locked gate location (late Dec 2012 – late March 2013). We ask all kayakers to respect this closure and get in some river trips there before the end of the year, or wait until autumn 2013. For enquiries contact either Andy England (westcoastwhitewater@gmail.com) or Whitewater NZ (access@whitewater.mytestsite.nz).

2012-10-23T10:00:00+13:00

(23 October) QLDC advises that Skippers Road has re-opened (/ht kayakjb). (14 September) Access to the upper Shotover river sections has been disrupted by a major road slip at Devil’s Elbow (map). Queenstown Lakes District Council is undertaking urgent work to restore access and hopes to reopen the road by mid-October, weather permitting. Photo: Courtesy QLDC.

Access

2012-09-22T09:46:28+12:00

Genesis Energy have advised that due to low flows the Whakapapa recreational release scheduled for this Saturday (22nd September 2012) has been cancelled due to low flows. As no rain is forecast over the weekend, the decision has also been made to cancel the back-up day of Sunday 23rd September.

Access

The Hurunui Water Project has applied for resource consents for a revised and expanded hydro and irrigation scheme focussed on the Waitohi River. Previous plans proposed an 85m dam on the South Branch of the Hurunui River and a weir on the exit from Lake Sumner. In the face of strong opposition from kayakers and other river users the new scheme is significantly modified and the impacts on the recreational amenity of the Hurunui River are substantially reduced.

The revised scheme proposes an intake structure (1) on R bank downstream of Mandamus confluence (Stage 1). taking up to 10cu removed from the Hurunui. Stage 2 proposes an additional intake (4) on R bank at Surveyor’s Stream (approx. 1.5km downstream of current Maori Gully take out) with pump station, carpark and “get-out facility” (Stage 2) with up to 17cu removed from river. Details are available in the resource consent application and assessment of environmental effects. Application notice Hurunui Water Project Waitohi Irrigation and Hydro Schema: Part B, Assessment of Environmental Effects.

Submissions on the consents are due 5 November 2012.

2012-08-19T10:15:34+12:00

Whitewater NZ held a successful Annual General Meeting in Christchurch on 28 July 2012.

The meeting was well attended and there was excellent commitment by various clubs from around New Zealand to send representatives. The meeting heard from Green MP Eugenie Sage who covered the status of Water Conservation Orders, and recent reports from the Conservation Authority and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Hugh Canard facilitated discussion over issues and priorities for the organisation in the coming years. Andy England attended via video-conference to discuss the Waitaha hydro proposal and Whitewater Search and Rescue.

Several Executive committee members of long standing stepped down: Whitewater NZ is grateful for the years of commitment from Polly Miller (outgoing President), Tony Ward-Holmes (outgoing Conservation Office) and Mike Birch (outgoing Communications Office). Elections for the committee were held and we welcome new faces Doug Rankin (Conservation), Sean (Sid) Bellamy (Access), Mike Nooney (Communications) and Debbie Bloxham (Editor). Matt Bennett has moved from Access to President and Miriam Odlin has moved from Editor to North Island Conservation. We also say thanks to Jo Mair who has provided reliable and efficient service as Administrator. See all positions on the current Executive Committee.

Tony Ward-Holmes was voted Canoeist of the Year for 2012 for his massive efforts to preserve kayaking amenity on the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Mōkihinui rivers.

After drinks and a catered dinner the meeting wound up with an audio-visual presentation by Zak Shaw on the Waitaha Gorge and other inspirational rivers on the West Coast.

Whitewater NZ

2012-07-17T19:14:50+12:00

The Greymouth Star reports the West Coast Conservation Board has voted to request inclusion of the Mōkihinui River in the Kahurangi National Park. The board will ask the New Zealand Conservation Authority to utilise s8 of the National Parks Act and request the Director-General of Conservation to “investigate and report” on a proposal to add the river and catchment to Kahurangi National Park.

Conservation

2016-03-05T16:41:20+13:00

Pirongia kayaker Sean Curtis, 20, drowned on Wednesday 2 March after getting into difficulties on the Collier’s Gorge section of the Whitcombe River. He was submerged for 20 minutes and was unconscious when recovered. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

In a statement on Friday 4, Whitewater NZ Safety Officer Shaun McCracken passed on the condolences of Whitewater NZ and the wider kayaking community. Shaun said, “It is our understanding that Sean and his team were well equipped with a high level of experience. Our thoughts are with the team Sean was kayaking with on Wednesday, and we thank them for the tireless rescue efforts they made.”

Sean was a passionate kayaker who had kayaked in Norway and around NZ including Nevis Bluff, Huka Falls and Wainui Falls, and competed in events such as the Citroen Extreme Race (placing 4th in 2015)

2016-02-14T21:07:43+13:00

The crowd-funded kayaking documentary Rivering New Zealand premiere showings will be held in Christchurch (3 March), Auckland (17 March) and Okere Falls (19 March). Rivering has been led by Bill Parks and Glenn Murdoch with contributions from many others. Check out the Rivering trailer.

RIVERING; An Ode to Whitewater
A story about wild rivers and those who find escape in them, filmed in the New Zealand wilderness.

Kayaking can take you places no one else can go. It gets under your skin, it is an obsession. This is a film about the rest of us: oldsters, youngsters, weekend warriors, beginners, perpetual intermediates. Showcasing the sport we love, the people we paddle with and the wild rivers that we call home. Highlighting the New Zealand wilderness, and especially its wild rivers. Mick Hopkinson, a veteran paddler and instructor, has called them “New Zealand’s cathedrals.” They are majestic. They are unique. They are unspoiled. And they are fragile.

You don’t need to be an expert paddler to experience this, nor do you need any special talent. Kayaking rewards those who put in the effort. This film is as much about rivers as it is about people: from ten-year-olds to the octogenarians who created the sport for us. It may be called “An Ode to Whitewater” but really it is an ode to being active, to being engaged, to being in the outdoors in any way.

Christchurch, 3 March, Cashmere High School Auditorium, $15 via PaddlerZone or Long Cloud Kayaks
Auckland, 17 March, Library B15, University of Auckland, $5 at door.
Okere Falls, 19 March, Okere Falls Store, $5 at door

2015-12-22T12:10:15+13:00

Whitewater NZ has joined with Fish & Game NZ, Fish & Game Hawke’s Bay, Forest and Bird, Jet Boating NZ and Ngati Hori ki Kohupatiki to seek a Water Conservation Order (WCO) for the Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers in Hawke’s Bay.

The application seeks to protect the upper Ngaruroro catchment (above Whanawhana) in its near-natural state, the mainstem of the Ngaruroro River (from Whanawhana to Waitangi Estuary) in its modified state, and the Clive River (in its modified state).

Dr Doug Rankin, Whitewater NZ’s Conservation Officer, says that the upper Ngaruroro provides “two of the best multi-day whitewater rafting and kayaking trips in New Zealand. A WCO will ensure this incredible resource is available for future generations.”

The Ngaruroro is widely used by kayakers, rafters and white water adventurers both from the Hawkes Bay and nationally, and contains consistent Class II and III rapids, and a few higher Class IV rapids, making the river accessible and challenging to a wide range of white water kayakers, and especially intermediate kayakers. The multi-day back country experience, the wilderness and scenic values, and the white water values all combine to produce an outstanding river worthy of protection by a WCO.

2015-11-24T21:12:11+13:00

Gordon Rayner of Central Otago Whitewater reports that around 100 kayakers and rafters attend the protest paddle, meeting at the Dogleg put-in with the Kawarau River running at 180 cumecs. “Do Little and Dogleg rapids were going off,” Gordon said.

The protest was against Kawarau Jet and their on-again off-again efforts to obtain consent to operate commercial jet boats on the Kawarau river from the Arrow river confluence to the Bungee Bridge, a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometres. Kawarau Jet lodged applications for resource consent in 2014 and 2015.

In 2014 the QLDC navigation bylaw which specifically prohibits powered craft downstream of the Arrow river confluence was reviewed, and submissions were given at a hearing by Kawarau Jet, the kayaking and rafting interests. The Council upheld the bylaw and Kawarau jet withdrew their resource consent application.

In 2015 Kawarau Jet lodged the resource consent application again and filed a request with QLDC to make an application for Kawarau Jet to be exempt from the bylaw. That request was due to be heard at a QLDC Council meeting in Queenstown this Thursday 26 November and the kayaking protest was scheduled.

Gordon was advised on Friday 20 November that Kawarau Jet had recently changed lawyers and earlier this week the Council received correspondence to advise that the applicant ‘does not wish to have its exemption application considered formally by the Council until it has provided further information to assist that decision’. Accordingly the Council has advised that the bylaw exemption application by Kawarau Jet has been taken off the agenda for next Thursday’s Council meeting.

Read more about the Kawarau river jetboat issue.

Safety

2015-10-28T21:28:39+13:00

Last week Matt Bennett made a submission on behalf of Whitewater NZ to the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Louise Jull on the Kaituna River. John Snook also made an independent submission. In doing so they became party to all other submissions (currently confidential). Whitewater NZ has sought professional legal counsel to aid in our submission.

Matt reports that the inquest on Wednesday 21 October went reasonably well with some good evidence being presented by a range of parties. Coroner Wallace Bain is questioning witnesses fairly and clearly looking to bring out a balanced view. Most problematic for the kayaking community was the evidence of Harbourmaster (James) Peter Buell who is advocating for the closure of Awesome, Gnarly, Smokey Gorges. The media have reported on this to varying degrees of completeness and accuracy.

At this point:

The Coroner has adjourned the inquest in order to give a landowner and a logging operator the opportunity to respond.
The Coroner has made no recommendations and has given absolutely no indication of the outcome.
Matt Bennett has made a formal complaint to media outlets about factually incorrect reports.
Matt has provided further information to the Coroner about misleading information presented to the court.
Andi Uhl has continued to engage with the Regional Council regarding tree removal, with a noticeable increase in response from them.
It is important to know that any recommendation by the coroner is only that and is not enforceable on its own. That said, an unfavourable recommendation by the Coroner will strengthen the Harbourmaster’s current position and Whitewater NZ are doing everything we can to encourage the Coroner away from this. At the same time, we are looking to actively engage in consultation with the Harbourmaster, and the Regional Council, to reach a mutually acceptable outcome.

John and Matt (representing Whitewater NZ) are still a party to the coronial court process so we must be respectful of that. It is important to know that Whitewater NZ are actively involved in working toward a positive outcome.

Just to be absolutely clear, the closure of the lower gorges is an unacceptable outcome that sets a dangerous precedent for rivers across the country from both an access and a conservation perspective. Whitewater NZ will be fighting this the entire way. We will let you, the kayaking community know, in what ways we need your assistance.

For now, we ask that you trust Matt, John, and the Whitewater NZ Executive to represent you in formal discussions with the Harbourmaster and Council staff (please don’t contact them directly at this stage). Your letters of support, and written submissions all add weight to our case – so keep those coming! You can email them to safety@whitewater.mytestsite.nz and we will collate them and present them to the Harbourmaster and Council staff on your behalf at the appropriate time.

2015-08-21T20:57:17+12:00

KJET have once-again applied for resource consent to operate on the Kawarau River via Smith’s Falls. Whitewater NZ is joining local clubs to oppose the consent because of safety concerns. Read the background to the issue and use our submission form prepared by WWNZ Conservation Officer Doug Rankin. Submissions close 2 September 2015.

Access, Conservation

2015-03-12T18:16:15+13:00

Talented kayaker Louise Jull went missing from her kayak during a descent of the Kaituna river on Wednesday evening. Her body was found the following morning by raft-based searchers.

Louise represented NZ internationally in slalom, competing at Junior Worlds, Youth Olympics, Senior World Cups and the World Championships. Lou moved into extreme paddling, competing in the Whitewater Grand Prix in 2012. Lou recently won, or was highly placed, in the Okere Enduro, Christmas at Kaituna and Andy Duff Memorial events, along with the Citroën Extreme Race on the Kawarau.

She kayaked major sections in NZ including Huka Falls, Tree Trunk Gorge, Whitcombe, Arahura, Nevis Bluff, and her local runs Kaituna, Wairoa and Upper Ngamuwahine. Lou boated throughout Europe, South America, North America, Africa and Australia, picking up sponsorships by Lettmann, Palm Equipment, Watershed Drybags, Pau Hana Surf Supply and Huss. “For me its about being on the river with a group of my best mates pushing ourselves and the limits of our sport.” [1]

Louise was living in Rotorua and teaching at Western Heights High School. The Kaituna was her local run and she was fully equipped and accompanied by a strong team.

A rāhui has been placed on the Kaituna. The local iwi and kayaking community ask that this be respected by staying off the Kaituna until it is lifted at the end of Friday. Police advise that Louise’s death has been referred to the coroner.

2014-08-16T18:53:34+12:00

Bill Parks and Glenn Murdoch are seeking donations for their movie “Rivering”. Pitched as ‘An ode to the whitewater obsession, filmed in the New Zealand wilderness,’ the movie is being put together by a talented local crew and features many familiar faces from the New Zealand kayaking community.

Bill says, “We wanted to do a film that was about the rest of us: oldsters, youngsters, weekend warriors, beginners, perpetual intermediates. We wanted to showcase the sport we love, the people we paddle with and the wild rivers that we call home.” Check out the trailers (trailer 1, trailer 2) and visit Indiegogo to support the project.

2014-07-31T22:34:07+12:00

Westpower is seeking a DOC concession for a 20MW hydro scheme on the pristine Waitaha River. The scheme would involve a weir at the start of Morgan Gorge, diverting water through a tunnel to a power station below the gorge, after which the flow would return to the river.

WWNZ modelling indicates that the scheme would result in a total loss of the recreational amenity in the gorge, due to the reduction in suitable flows for boating this challenging section. Kayakers should be prepared to make submissions to DOC to preserve the recreational amenity. Although Westpower have consulted with kayakers prior to the concession application it is not apparent that any of the feedback from paddlers has been taken into account.

Monitor our issue page or see “Save the Waitaha River” on Facebook.

Conservation

[Updated 12:50pm] Czech kayaker Ladislav Švarc, 29 drowned on Saturday 19 July while running a waterfall near Puketitoi Rd in Northland. Švarc was boating with three friends on the Wairau River when he got into difficulties at the base of the falls. Despite being pulled from the water and given CPR he did not survive. Švarc was an experienced kayaker having run challenging sections on other North Island rivers.

In response to this incident, Whitewater NZ has issued a media release, “Whitewater kayaking is a highly rewarding and challenging recreation. Any activity undertaken on water is inherently risky and good decisions must be taken to ensure the participant’s safety. This includes having the correct equipment, training, teamwork and having good information about the river & the conditions.”

“The kayaking community is saddened by the loss of Ladislav and extends our condolences and support to his family and kayaking team. Whitewater New Zealand has been in contact with members of Ladislav’s team and understands they were skilled and well equipped. They worked tirelessly in attempts to save him on the day.”

Kaimai Canoe Club have announced Wairoa river release dates for 2014-2015, with flows starting on Sunday 14 September and ending Sunday 10 May.

On Saturday 14 June, Whitewater NZ held a successful AGM at University of Canterbury, Christchurch to review the previous year and to plan new initiatives. Following the election of officers to the Executive Committee, James Rae moves from Safety to Access, and we welcome Shaun McCracken and Aaron Osbourne as Safety and Education officers respectively. Thanks to departing Exec members Sean Bellamy (Access) and Aidan Haig (Education) for their hard work. Mick Hopkinson is Canoeist of the Year for 2014, in recognition of his legendary paddling adventures, his education of future generations of kayakers and his ongoing support for river conservation. The 2014 Annual Report summarises the achievements of the previous year and challenges for the next.