Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

2003-04-09T18:55:46+12:00

Congratulations are due to Angela Pahl of Wainuiomata and Chris Sinclair of Dunedin, both of whom won a copy of Graham Charles’ latest NZ Whitewater guidebook. Their names were drawn from the pool of all paid-up NZRCA members over the December 2002 – February 2003 period.

2003-04-08T08:16:37+12:00

The Autumn 2003 (03.1) issue of NZ Canoeing is on its way to members, and features an Editorial (Tony Ward-Holmes), From the Presidential suite (Robin Rutter-Baumann), Newssplashes, Conservation (Maree Baker), Old Man River (Graham Charles), Eight days on the Franklin (Polly Miller), Safety (Glenn Murdoch), Canoeist of the Year (Maggie Oakley).

Whitewater NZ

2003-04-01T07:43:43+12:00

The Whitewater Slalom NZ (WWSNZ) National Championships slalom will be held at the new Environmental White Water Park at Mangahao, Shannon on 18-20 April. For details contact Carrol Walkley ([email protected]) or read the programme (Word, 80k). Update 1 April: Because of the severe water shortage in the lower North Island the NZ Nationals will be held at an alternative venue, the Kaituna and Tongariro
Rivers. Grab an updated copy of the programme (Word, 80k).

2003-03-31T20:48:14+12:00

Huntly Youth Focus are holding a Canoe and Kayak Festival on Waikato River on Saturday 18 October 2003. The event is targeted at 11-16 year olds. The day starts with a paddle from Ngaruawahia to Huntly starting 8:30am. The demonstrations and races will begin at Huntly at 11:00am. At 2:00pm the older teenagers canoe back upstream to Taupiri arriving about 4:30pm. There is an interest in ‘at risk’ young people and young people with disabilities although all teenagers can participate. For more details please contact James Read at 07 828 8449.

2003-03-27T19:31:18+12:00

Glenn Murdoch has compiled a Code of Practice based on a draft from NZOIA. The Code of Practice highlights key safety and management issues in order to promote responsible kayaking which still allows for high levels of challenge and fun. It is intended that clubs or individuals can adopt this code as it stands, or use it as a template to develop their own Code of Practice.

2003-03-26T21:56:59+12:00

The MSA is seeking an Accident Investigator – Maritime Adventure & Recreational Boating. The NZRCA has been concerned for some time about the quality of MSA investigations into whitewater canoe and kayak accidents, so it would be great to see an experienced paddler in this role. The closing date for applications is Monday 1 April 2003.

2003-03-11T19:20:20+13:00

The operators of the Mangahao dam have advised that due to drought conditions in the Horowhenua, the Mangahao release for March 22 is cancelled.

2003-03-06T12:53:53+13:00

The Tekapo Whitewater course will be open Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, and is available for paddlers to use. The course coordinators for the weekend are Penny Clendon ([email protected]) and Steve Hasse ([email protected]).

2003-02-24T11:45:05+13:00

A 27-year old English kayaker drowned on the Waikaia river, Southland on Saturday. After rescue attempts failed, his companions hiked out through dense bush to raise the alarm. The kayaker’s body was recovered by searchers on Sunday afternoon. Update 26 February: Police named James Robert Lowe Acton as the English kayaker who drowned. He was a captain in the British Army. The two men kayaking with him were Tony Roberts, of Guildford in Surrey, and George Fell, of Baildon, West Yorkshire.

2003-02-21T08:51:06+13:00

There is a scheduled release on the Tekapo whitewater course on the weekend of 8 and 9 March. This release cannot proceed unless a club or group takes on the responsibility of opening and closing the course gates and coordinating with Meridian over the flow. Any clubs or groups that would be willing to take on that job, or even are just interested in what is involved, please contact Mike Savory ([email protected]) as soon as possible. There will be course flows available every month of next summer; if your club or group can’t coordinate the release next month, then consider when you would like to host an event next season and let Mike know.

2003-02-20T21:29:47+13:00

Be safer on whitewater with an NZRCA-approved River Safety or River Rescue course. The list of course providers has been updated, and there is a new River Safety/Rescue Subsidy form (PDF, 84k) for NZRCA members.

2003-02-19T10:18:48+13:00

The TEVA Buller Festival is on Friday 28 February (registration), Saturday 1 March (kayak slalom, raft slalom and party) and Sunday 2 March (raft race, kayak rodeo, prizegiving). With heaps of sponsors, the 2003 event has the biggest prize-pool ever.

2003-11-06T05:22:09+13:00

Ian Gill-Fox reports “On the weekend of 29-30 November, Venture Out is sponsoring an event at the Tekapo White Water Course in conjunction with the White Water Canoe Club and the Canterbury White Water Racing Group. There will be a Slalom, a Down River Race and a Rodeo. The Rodeo will be judged by Donald Calder and will be a ranking event. The Slalom and DRR are organised by the WWCC and CWWRG. The Slalom is the 3rd in the SI series. Spot prizes will be available for all events. Demo boats from Liquid Logic, Prijon and Necky will be available to try out. All paddlers and spectators welcome, so show up and have a go or just hang out and watch. Further details from [email protected].” (Refer Events & Releases for other kayak events.)

2003-10-31T04:36:28+13:00

[14 October 2003] The planned releases from Meridian Energy for the Tekapo river, Tekapo Whitewater Course and Pukaki river have been added to Events & Releases. 31 October: The Tekapo Whitewater Course releases for Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November have been cancelled due to coordination diffculties.

Access

2003-10-22T10:44:18+13:00

Polly Miller is preparing for foreign adventures, so the Communications Officer position is available to someone who is keen to coordinate the brand and communications activities of the NZRCA. The Education Officer role is also currently vacant, and would suit someone with an interest in kayak and safety instruction. If you would like to get involved in the organisation dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s whitewater resources, then please contact the President, Robin Rutter-Baumann at [email protected].

2003-10-16T21:11:15+13:00

The MNZ have developed Rule Part 91 – The Navigation Safety Rule. Rule Part 91 became law on March 21, 2003. The new rule makes it compulsory for a certified PFD to be worn at times of “heightened risk”. Kayakers in New Zealand typically wear PFDs as a matter of course, but all kayaking PFDs are currently uncertified (and likely to stay that way for the immediate future). Technically almost everyone paddling since March is breaking the law. The rule apparently also restricts playing on waves and navigation in river channels. Jonathan Hunt and Tony-Ward Holmes provide an overview of Rule Part 91 and its implications for kayakers.

Safety

2003-10-10T03:31:54+13:00

[23 September 2003] Mangahao releases for the coming season have been scheduled for Saturday 25 October, Saturday 6 December and Saturday 20 March 2004 as listed in Events & Releases. Note that the 6 December release is intended to make up for the missed release earlier this year, and is dependent on approval being granted for a variation to the resource consent for the Mangahao dams. Check this site before commiting to a trip. Update: 10 October, the catch-up release for Saturday 6 December has been confirmed by Todd Energy/King Country Energy.

2003-10-09T20:58:12+13:00

According to the TDC, Jet Boating New Zealand intends applying to extend the area where the 5-knot speed restriction has been uplifted on the Buller River. Currently the speed limit has been uplifted all year round below the confluence of the Mangles River, just north of Murchison. The intended application will relate to lifting that 5-knot speed limit on the Buller River and its tributaries upstream of the Mangles confluence. This will be for the purposes of recreational boating. If consent is granted it will allow all craft access, without speed limitation, further up the Buller, possibly up to the start of the Nelson Lakes National Park. Given the popularity of the Buller catchment rivers with kayakers, removing the speed limit creates additional hazards for paddlers (for example, jetboat on O’Sullivan’s rapid).

2003-10-03T03:17:15+12:00

A challenging solo run down the Otoko gives Kerry Hoglund plenty to think about, but makes for a memorable day. The article is accompanied by images from an earlier descent by Tony Ward-Holmes, Erik Bradshaw, Richard Lang and Jonathan Hunt.

2003-10-01T21:42:08+12:00

Alan Bell reports, “The Hutt Gorge turned on a nice flow of 2.0m on the Te Marua gauge for the 2003 Percy Dowse Memorial interclub shield race. Nine teams (30 paddlers in total) ran the Hutt Gorge and had a great paddle followed by a sausage or two. Thanks to everyone who came along. Results were as follows: 1st Hutt A – Lea, Phil Mac, Phil C 45 mins; 2nd VUCC B – Mark, John, James 49 mins; 3rd Ruahine Raiders – Max, Matt, Leon 52 mins. Feedback suggests competition will be fierce next year with more of those old long boats being rescued from under houses, rubbish tips
etc.”

2003-10-01T01:48:42+12:00

Wellington hosted the NZRCA AGM on Saturday 6 September. The Executive welcomes Duncan Catanach (Wellington) as North Island Conservation Officer and Rob Wells (Dunedin) as Treasurer. Our undying gratitude goes to Mike Savory and Lynne Fuggle who previously performed these roles. Mike Savory was made a Life Member in recognition of his contributions to the NZCA and NZRCA over many years. Graeme McIntyre has moved to become Access Officer. Glenn Murdoch has relinquished the Education portfolio to concentrate on Safety. We also welcome Belinda Green as our new Administration Officer, and the AGM passed a vote of thanks to outgoing Administration Officer Milli Lovell.

Alan Hoffman was voted Canoeist of the Year. His name will be forwarded to the NZCF as the NZRCA’s nominee for the Canard Cup. Our thanks to all nominees and nominators. Other highlights of the AGM include discussion on the foreshore and seabed issue and the notion of ‘public domain’, issues arising from the MSA’s Rule 91 regarding PFDs, risk management plans and rivers in need of protection. Paul Mariott-Lloyd presented for SPARC regarding Rule 91 and public liability issues for clubs and volunteers, and Bryce Johnson spoke on behalf of Fish & Game about the public domain and access issues. Amendments to the constitution were approved that clarify the NZRCA operations as a charitable organisation. Geoff Price has volunteered to work with the Executive on fundraising.

Whitewater NZ

2003-09-13T05:02:19+12:00

In a press release (PDF, 46k) the NZRCA has endorsed the government proposal “to create a new, statutorily recognised status for land, called ‘public domain’ for the seabed and foreshore of New Zealand, in line with other major environment, conservation and outdoor recreation organisations.” The Association welcomes the promotion and recognition of the Queen’s Chain as extremely positive for recreational kayakers and canoeists. The NZRCA is preparing a submission on the proposal and invites kayakers to have input into the submission, or to make their own. You can make your own submission by writing to Foreshore and Seabed Submissions, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, PO Box 55, Wellington or on line at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/foreshore. The deadline for submissions in Friday 3 October.

Access

2003-09-05T00:58:13+12:00

Warren Hales (of HBCC) advises that Genesis Power have to do urgent repairs on the Whakamarino Dam (which
provides water to the Piripaua Power Station, which in turn provides water
to the Waikaretaheke River). These repairs have already started and should take 13
weeks. The Working Bee on 6 September is cancelled, the flow
below Piripaua on 7 September will only be able to be 24 cumecs instead of 28 (probably sufficient for a reasonable paddle), and the Whakamarino releases for 4 and 5 October is cancelled (although we can get 26 cumecs out of Piripaua as compensation). By the time we get to the November releases things should be back to normal.

2003-09-01T01:18:55+12:00

New Zealand Canoeing, Winter 2003 (03.2) is out, and includes Newssplashes (Tony Ward-Holmes) Legends of Aotearoa whitewater (Hugh Canard), Annual Report to Members 2003 (Robin Rutter-Baumann), Financial report (Lynne Fuggle), AGM Business, and a remit to change the NZRCA constitution.

Whitewater NZ