:!: Under the current ARC Navigation Safety Bylaw 2008 there is a reserved area north and south of the beach for swinners only. Kite surfers and any other user can still use the beach (in the middle and out the back. Howerver, the locals are trying make the entire beach reserved for SWIMMERS only.

:!: If you want to kite surf here, your voice has to be heard or else you will all be BANNED from this beach! The problem will involve public submissions/consultation and I urge you all to take part.

:!: Please feel free to contact me via email.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

It sickens me to read that this type of attitude still exists against our sport.
I feel it is way out of order to even allow this point to gain momentum so please forward my views at all meetings.
I see no reason to attend a meeting to defend my and other beach users rights. It is the responsibility of your office to stand up for us in my opinion.

What gives a bunch of local swimmers the right to ban us? Nothing!
Sure they have lots of $$ in their pockets but they must be reminded that they do not own the local ocean and beach rights.

Can I suggest your office show some management in this yourself.
It is your responsibility to be fair and impartial when dealing with minority groups like local beach swimmers.

FACT
We (Kiters) are only on that beach when the conditions are ideal for Kiteboarding.
FACT
At all other times they (swimmers) already have it to themselves.

We also do not demand the right to Kite in public swimming pools.
They have other options we do not.

Instead of calling us to defend our god given rights to enjoy the sea, sea bed and foreshore like everyone else, tell them to wise up and stop being selfish.

If they take issue with a kiter on the beach who is dangerous or they perceive they are, they have no right to ban all kiters but do have the right to involve your office in investigating that incident. You can issue a ticket if the rider is found to breach maritime law.

And that is fair!

9 years of safe activity on that beach is all the proof we need that we are safe sports people and you can represent that for us I'm sure.
How many tickets have you issued to kiters in 9 years?

Phone 09-4262444 if you want to contact me on this.

Please also advise us of the contact details for the people behind such an idea. As we would love to get the press involved as soon as possible on this.
And have both sides of the story published.

Lee McClelland

Fortunately when it is kitesurfable windy (those rare marginal wind summer sunny days are WAY more suited to riding elsewhere and kitesurfer should be well aware of this), it tends to keep all but wind sports enthusiasts and a few others off the beach.

I can assure you every kitesurfer I know highly respects other beach users(keeps distance from all swimmers)

Speculation of a ban without reasoning makes no sense.

We are very effective at managing any problems amongst ourselves, and your post will certainly ensure that local riders remain vigilant. I don't have a problem with you naming and shaming if you have them on camera though.

Kitesurfing is pollution free, healthy exercise, low cost and an amazing amount of fun. New Zealand has produced a 3 times world champion and also has many world class promising riders that compete internationally and who mentor and encourage many other younger kiwi riders. Young people have enough trouble getting motivated and active today.

Businesses in the area and the local council have also used kitesurfing to attract people to the area.

The Harbourmasters office is happy with the status quo of the beach. However, the Devonport Community board are seeking to change this. The Chairman of this board is Roger Brittenden. There will be a public meeting on Dec 2nd (not sure of exact location but will post when I find out).

:!: The process for any bylaw change is result of PUBLIC submissions, thats why we need all parties to state their case. The submissions go to Council and they make a recommendation on those submissions(democracy in action! lol). So if you don't say anything it will go through!

we need to be careful on this one. In the UK numerous lakes have had speed limits imposed. Much of this under the pretence of noise pollution, risk of powerboats hitting people and wave erosion. All of these are difficult to prove either way, however a lax attitude to fighting the corner lost the battle and speed limits were imposed.

Simply we need to ensure that a front is put forward once that explains that while kiting can be dangerous, with appropriate controls of the kiting community and effective communications with locals all the issues can be mitigated. Once this case is highlighted and won, this becomes the precedent for other cases.

Lee - while you are correct in your opinion I think it would be great for the industry to pull together and fight this once and set this precedent along with the harbourmaster office on behalf of the regular kiter. Its a sad fact that we (individuals) are likely to not pull together until the damage is done. If that happens it will be way more difficult to overturn.

I have some experience with this from past history in another sport so am happy to offer what advice i can where necessary as I dont want to see this sport banned.

Harbourmaster please can you post some details of how this will ber persued from here, e.g. dates of when hearings etc will be held and the arguments being put forward for the ban. Lets get a clear idea of what and who we are fighting. The case is very different if its an old guy who gets a kite shadow in the afternoon than a swimmer who was nearly hit by an out of control kiteboarder.

Don't worry many Kiwi councillors have the attitude here to only make bylaws if absolutely necessary which makes total sense to maintaining the kiwi way. If someone is withholding incident information from the kitesurfing community out there in order to persue their agenda - that is shameful, because it is well know how seriously we take such incidents - presuming there have been any and they are not just speculative.

I just rang Roger www.northshorecity.govt.nz/your_council/...boards/Devonport.htm

He said at ARC bylaw had been passed designating a kitesurfing channel at Chentenham (a no swim zone) - first I knew of this! Not seen it mentioned here - maybe I missed it..

He represents everyone (devonport community board) - both the local kitesurfers and the owners of the houses near the beach

He said one or some of the house owners were concerned about the use of lines of buoys to indicate a channel in that they may not be aesthetically pleasing to the view across to Rangitoto.

To cut a long point short, I don't think anything has been decided really and if you don't want to turn up to the beach and have kitesurfing rules decided for you (I think teh current laws cover it already really well...)- turn up to the meeting

He said it was next tuesday/thursday to me which does not tie in with 2nd december..?!!

Yeah lets not turn this into England!
We don't want to have to attend meetings every time a couple of people decide that they own a beach.
I bet there will be no fishing from these beaches soon too.


These people can not take away from us the right to kite here at the stroke of a pen.

But if they are concerned about markers on the beach etc then I agree with them.
Leave the beach alone!

And just put a sign up like we have on Orewa. Some kiters can read!

The HM office should publish here and on NZKiteboarding.com
the complaint they received so we know its full context.
Also the members of any submissions should post their views here or in a public notice in the NZherald.
How can ask us to oppose something we have no details on nor explanation of any due process and time frame.
We need this to pass on to our legal team, the press and the local iwi

Otherwise its all just speculation.

They need to submit a bloody good argument to change a law.
I'm pretty sure it would also take 4 years worth lobbying to get it passed.
As we just had Kitesurfing formally recognised and it took about 8 years for that!

We have more swimmers on Orewa sharing space with many more kiters than they have. And it works so well.
Maybe it's time for a Surf patrol and two yellow flags to indicate the swimming area on Cheltenham.
Not as exciting as Piha rescue but Im sure there is a tv show in there somewhere. hahahah

Swim between the flags, PLEASE

Sounds like you're on the slippery slope guys... seems you can't even kitebuggy in local Chch parks anymore :roll:

Jeez if English ways of running the show come to NZ we are doomed. Millions of bylaws, thousands of hours/load of $$ wasted and a population less able to think for themselves and respect others due to being told what to do all the time! Most UK law makers and councillors don't actually participate in sport - they just make up laws/bylaws to keep them in jobs and keep the class system going from 100 years ago. Go kiwi freedom and respect to fellow kiwis!

:cry: sounding quite bitter there Ian...

you cant... we got kicked off many times back in the day. it was for other reasons however, some lady thought we were damaging the grass (which we wernt..) and some council officer had to come out and tell us to leave.

everyone from the council we talked to said there were no problems with us but because we got a complaint we had to go...

:!: I am just making you aware of the current situation at Cheltenham beach. The Council will follow a democratic process at all times. If you would like to be part of this process, please feel free to do so.

If you have further questions please contact me.

Kind regards
Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
09 3620396

:!: The current bylaw states two reserved areas for swimmers only, north and south of the beach nothing else). The remainder of the area is avaliable to all water users.

:!: Please refer to the ARC Navigation Safety Bylaw 2008

:!: Public meeting to form working party:!:

ARC Navigation Safety Bylaw for Cheltenham Beach

*Meeting will include residents and other interested parties*

Council office,
3 Victoria Road, Devonport
27th November at 6pm

"sounding quite bitter there Ian..."

yeah spent my younger life being persecuted as a skateboarder in London! Our fun and exercise was always being shut down, and then the local population can't understand why there are a bunch of trouble causing youths around - because they are bored and have no decent mentors! Sport is the greatest thing for the young to get involved in - fit and healthy body and mind, I hate seeing these freedoms that benefit society so much (young people with decent interests) being taken away and don't want to see that happen here. Getting my point across because often this is overlooked!

Christiaan thanks for keeping us in the loop re this.
Can I ask you who is convening this working party and what action will be taken on the recommendations of this working party? If it is being convened by locals only then presumably it has no teeth? but if this is a council directive then will they have the power to enact a local bylaw? ie. If we do nothing at present will we miss our chance to have our say?

Slyde

:!: The working group is being organized by the Devonport Community Board. The results of this working group will be passed on to the Enivironmental Management Committee at the ARC for further investigation into any possible change of the Bylaw.

UPDATE: arrived by email today.

Hi guys,



I'm not sure if you are aware of the current problems at Cheltenham beach and the back lash against kite boarders. A bylaw was introduced on the 1st july 2008 creating a reserved area north and south of the beach for swimmers only. This bylaw was in response to public submissions received, and was seen as a good way of separating the two water user groups (swimmers & kite boarders).



However, some members of the Devonport community are not happy with this and there are moves to exclude kite boarding from this area. I think it is important that everyone has a fair say in this matter. That’s why I am informing you that a public meeting is being held by the Devonport Community board to create a work shop to over turn the current status quo.

The meeting will be held at the:



Date: 27th November, 2008 (thursday)

Time: 1800hrs

Council Office

3 Victoria Road

Devonport





Kind regards



Christiaan Moss

Deputy Harbourmaster



Auckland Regional Council

Te Rauhitanga Taiao

Phone: + 64 9 362 0396

Fax: + 64 9 362 0399

Mobile: + 021 516 910

E mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.arc.govt.nz

Just bumping this to the top. The meeting is tonight, who's going?

Hey Mr. Harbour Master Sir, what if we offered up a sorta-human sacrifice to appease the locals? You reckon they'd go for it? I was kinda thinking Lee might voluteer...

i should hopefully be there if i can get out of work on time.

Can submissions be made in writing?

We had an old lady come up to us (i think 3 weeks ago) wanting to know who the captain of our kiting club was because she was a swimmer. She got in the water swam out about 1.5m swam about 4m down the beach and got out. Her mega 30sec swim at high tide when about 1 or 2 kites were out was made that much worse because the kites were out? yeah right. The whole thing is bull shit. Anyone got updates on how the meeting went??

The guys who operate the school off the beach said the meeting went well. Theres gonna be a self policing approach. So I think the message is keep out of the way of swimmers and we'll all be sweet as.

lolololololololol!!

Hi Mr Harbour Master,

I only got this thread too late to get to the meeting. I see the meeting went well - what that means I dont know. There has to be some common sense prevail here. Firstly
1. If there is any meetings etc in the future - wide EARLY dissemination of the meeting so we can sort ouselves to attend and defend allegations.

2. It saddens me, that this restriction (north/south end) has been put in place already without discussion to seek the BEST solution. For example - why does this exclusive area still in force over winter when very few people swim. Can this restriction be during daylight saving for example.

3. If this restriction is to stay in place, maybe signs for kiters/swimmers advising the rules so we dont have them mixing (or disputes) and to show the areas for any new kiters to Cheltenham. I havent been there for a couple of months so this may have been already done.

Cheers
g

I don't ever remember seeing anything about being able to make a submission. When Raglan was up for navigation changes we all knew (At the beach on a windy day - and via nz kitesurf websites

http://www.kiteforum.co.nz http://www.nzkiteboarding.com http://www.nzkiter.com

and all sent off our submissions and got the chance to turn up to the hearing and be heard..

The first I heard of this change, it was done and dusted..