Misidentified disturbance to wildlife at Ruakaka River is a triple tragedy:

 

1/ Great amounts of human effort are wasted trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist – effort

that could have been spent on productive measures to help the wildlife at Ruakaka.

2/ The group misidentified as being a problem gets to pay for the sins of the real problems – in

this case getting banned in all flat water spots in Northland, a punishment well beyond what anyone

would see as reasonable.

3/ The real threats to the wildlife at Ruakaka will continue on  regardless of the presence of

kiters or not.

Save Northland’s Best Kiting Spots

Background information related to kiting in Northland and the Navigational Bylaws.

 

Kiting arrived in Northland at around the turn of the century and was practised by only the

hardcore few in select locations from Mangawhai to 90 Mile Beach.  By 2006 it became a sport for all

and several businesses, holiday homes and lifestyles were set up in Northland because of it.

In 2007 the Navigational Safety Bylaws were changed  to ensure the safety of kiters, as previous

to this it was illegal for us to kite within 200m of the shore.  The changes allowed for us as a

boardsport to operate at speeds greater than 5knots (which in effect meant we could plane) within

the 200m limit, as long as it was with due regard for other water/beach users.  This also meant that

we were within a safe distance of the shore if anything went wrong for us.

Reported incidents involving kiters to the NRC  in the period since kiteboarding started totals

thirteen (13), eleven (11) of which come from two individuals and also mention the wildlife.  None of

these were upheld as posing a threat to any member of the public.

Department of Conservation (DOC)  and kiteboarders have an ongoing and open dialogue regarding

the effect of kiters on the environment, with studies being done at Ruakaka River mouth related to

the impact of kiters versus other beach users on the environment.  When following a voluntary code

of practice kiters have a less than 2% effect on birds in this environment.

Mid 2011 DOC  do a survey of all beach users asking them what environmental management they

want to see for the Ruakaka Wildlife Refuge, with the intention of limiting recreational access to the

area.

2012 Draft Navigational Safety Bylaw was released December 2011 - withdrawing the changes

made in 2007 in estuaries, as well as applying the 5knot restriction within 50m of any other water

user.

3 February 2012, submissions close for the 2012 Northland Navigational Safety Bylaws.