Lizard News FEBRUARY 2021
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Te Puna • Whakamārama • Matakana Is • Ōmokoroa • Pahoia • Apata • Aongatete • Katikati • Tahāwai • Bowentown • Athenree • Waihī Beach
PHOTO: Lawrence Clough.
Rāhui after shark tragedy A
By Matthew Farrell rāhui and a swim ban in a particular area were put in place after a 19-year-old woman died in a shark attack at Bowentown beach on Thursday 7th January. Police say she was Kaelah Marlow of Hamilton. The collection of seafood was not permitted for a week from the north end of Waihī Beach to the Bowentown heads until 7am on 15th January. Western Bay of Plenty District Council says the vast majority of the beach and the boat ramps remained open. Council supplied electronic message boards on the two main roads into Waihī Beach, with the message ‘swim between the flags’. The inset maps, courtesy of Western Bay of Plenty District Council, show the rāhui area and Surf Lifesaving patrol sites. Swimmers are advised to never swim alone, to ask lifeguards for advice, and to stay out of the water if in any doubt. A temporary fourth Surf Lifesaving patrol was set up at Anzac Bay on Saturday 9th January. It is believed Kaelah Marlow got into difficulty while swimming and was attacked at least 800m offshore before dying from her injuries.