Waterline - April 2021

B OAT | FISH | WAT ERSP OR T N Z

AU T U M N / W I N TER 2021

Russ Hawkins tells of his life filled with ocean adventures, page 4. Photo: John Borren.

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waterline April 2021

Dive into all things boating and water sports from the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Waikato with Waterline.

With stories covering fishing adventures, sailing excellence, new discoveries and the best spots our regions have to offer, there is something for all water-mad readers in Waterline’s pages.

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Dip your toes in and enjoy!

It’s an ocean life for me

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The magic of dolphin spotting 7 A catch 10 years in the making

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In memory of the Duke

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A glimpse of history 14 The secret lives of eels 18

Sunfish discoveries

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Boobops feature in new film 29

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Swapping between fresh and salt

Thrills and skills on the Great Lake 37

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For advertising and to share your stories please contact: Kathy Sellars on 07 928 3053 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

www.waterline.co.nz waterlinenz Editor: Brian Rogers and MacKenzie Dyer Advertising: Kathy Sellars, Ian Evans and Nadia Glover Graphic Design: SunMedia Ltd

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Waterline is a SunMedia Ltd publication © All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

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It’s an ocean life for me Seventy-six-year-old Mountie Russ Hawkins has spent most of his life both on and in the water.

Despite clocking up more than 6000 dives with the Mount Underwater Club and more than 50,000 miles skippering fishing trips with his business Fat Boy Charters, he never tires of the ocean or the ‘magic of marine life’.

Russ has been a member of Mount Underwater Club for 50 years and has been club captain for the past 47 years.

The club is one of the largest and oldest dive clubs in New Zealand, dating back to 1956.

“Each dive is always unique, with something new to discover, so each time I go out it’s just as magical as the very first dive I did,” says Russ.

Similarly, each trip on Fat Boy Charters which he has run for 20 years is memorable, not just for the fishing tales and the wonderful sightings of sharks, whales and dolphins, but mostly for the pleasure of sharing his knowledge and passion about life in our local waters with the passengers.

Russ was born in Te Aroha, but wet his feet regularly in Whangamata where his parents had bought a section in 1946 for just $100.

“Back then, Whangamata was just a few houses. There wasn’t even any power.

“It was there I discovered my passion for the ocean – swimming and diving. I would dive off the wharf with just a mask – no fins – and I will never forget that first excitement as a boy when I saw the amazing sea life just under the surface. I started to learn about all the different types of fish and marine life.”

Move to the Mount It was when Russ moved to the Mount in 1970 that he really got into diving.

“I was in the postal service in Te Aroha and was lucky to get a transfer to the Mount Post Office as supervisor, which was my dream to be closer to the ocean.”

Russ had taught himself to dive but at the Mount he underwent all the required courses and ended up becoming a diving instructor for 14 years at the current Dive Zone, teaching more than 500 people to scuba dive.

His diving has taken him all over the world, with highlights being the Komodo Islands in Indonesia, where he swam with manta rays and saw the incredible komodo dragon-like creatures. At Osprey Reef, near Cairns, he saw sharks gobbling up various fish frames, and has also dived alongside whale sharks in the Philippines. In the Solomon Islands he got to explore old wrecks of sunken Navy vessels and even a submerged war time plane.

As one of the Bay of Plenty’s most experienced divers, Russ has at times

applied his skills to the painful process of helping discover drowned bodies, alongside police and rescue divers.

“In my lifetime I have dived to find four people who had tragically drowned, two in the Wairoa river, one on the Astrolabe reef and one in a stream up Number 4 Road, Te Puke. It is a terrible thing obviously, but you put your mind on the job.

“I did speak to the wife of the man who drowned on the reef, and it gave me a sense of how important it was to the bereaved to be reunited with the bodies.

So although it is a difficult job, the focus is on finding someone’s much loved family member.”

His job as Club Captain at the Underwater Club is getting busier than ever with waiting lists to go on the dives, and new people joining the club.

“We go out usually twice a month on the ORCA, but there is a restriction to 15 people to the boat so we do hold waiting lists too.”

With the New Zealand borders being closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, and people not going on holidays abroad, Russ has noticed more people than ever turning to discovering the magic of our own waters and learning to dive.

“In particular I’ve noticed more fathers and sons learning to dive and diving together. And couples. Our youngest member is just 14.”

And the oldest member?

“Well that would be me,” laughs Russ.

Ocean adventures

Russ happily reports that there have been no ‘scary’ incidents in any of his thousands of diving trips with the club.

“The only one I remember is buddy breathing with a man whose air had run out but that ended well as both stayed calm.”

As well his prolific diving career, Ross is an experienced boat skipper, and has been operating his company Fat Boy Charters for 20 years. Russ reckons he has clocked up 50000 miles on the boat which has a grunty diesel motor.

Every day he takes out groups for either a full day fishing (nine hours) or a half day (six hours). The boat travels along the coast to destinations including Tuhua (Mayor Island), Motunau Island (Plate Island) and Motiti island. Passengers are keen to fish for snapper and tarakihi, hapuka and even marlin.

“The real pleasure for me is helping people discover the thrill of the ocean.

Some of them catch their very first fish.

Left: A whale shark Russ saw while diving in the Philippines.

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Russ Hawkins. Photo: John Borren.

“Even experienced fishers get their thrills. One time on the Astrolabe we were live baiting with kahawai and hooked two marlin – a black marlin and a striped one.

You can imagine the look on everyone’s faces when we pulled them up. We put them back into the ocean.”

On the trips they regularly see bronze whaler sharks near the harbour and mako sharks out to sea.

“I have seen some Hammerhead sharks, but not so much recently, and the odd whale which is always a magnificent sight to behold. And of course if we come across dolphins everyone is delighted – we slow the boat right down to have a look but keep a respectful distance.”

Covid-19 has not negatively affected business. Russ had his best financial year ever in 2019/20 and says he has just had another great season. As with diving, he has noticed more locals booking on the charters, as well as New Zealanders from other regions.

“I just took out some people from Christchurch and they loved it.

“Part of the joy of the trips is the camaraderie and all the chats we have – not just about fish but life in general.”

At the end of each trip Russ fillets all the fish so everyone goes home ready to cook their catches.

Fish and family

Unsurprisingly, Russ also comes home with a haul for wife Maxine. They’ve been married for 51 years. Maxine does not join

in her husband’s water activities.

“She prefers golf. But every charter trip I go on, I phone in to let her know all is okay. In the early days she used to worry a bit, but not now.”

The couple’s favourite dinner is tarakihi lightly pan fried in panko crumbs, and a salad.

“On special occasions we would have crayfish and scallops, but just recently Maxine has developed an allergy to seafood – which is sad for her, but not for me, as I get to eat more of it.”

The couple’s two sons have also caught their father’s passion for the sea, with one running the company Hawkins Marine, and another carrying out alterations to

shipping containers so they can be used for other purposes such as temporary offices or storage sheds.

Despite his many trips discovering oceans around the world, Russ says his favourite spot is still the New Zealand waters.

“I love it when the Auckland easterly current arrives in summer. The water is so blue and you can look at the pelagic fish, which are schools of fish just under the surface. It is a simple sight that happens often, but I never tire of its beauty. It’s at times like these when I gaze at the water and feel so grateful. Here in the Bay we really are living the dream.”

Annemarie Quill

Russ Hawkins has run Fat Boy Charters for 20 years.

Photo: John Borren.

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Residents left high and dry by old rules A group of Whitianga Waterways residents is questioning the logic of an order to remove 34 docks and devices that are deemed to be non-complying structures.

The structures include floating docks and sea pens, used to bring smaller boats out of the water, but are not included in resource consents for the early stages of the waterways development.

A group of 20 canal residents say it makes more sense to have the consent amended, rather than force the removal of about $900,000 worth of equipment which is Owners of jet docks and other structures in Whitianga Waterways say its illogical beneficial to the environment. for their environmentally-friendly devices to be outlawed in existing stages of Many of the structures that must be removed the canals, while they are permitted in the newly-consented areas. are allowed in the consents for the more recent parts of the waterways development.

He says there are 249 privately owned canal front lots that In a statement the group says anti-foul is have the ability to install private pontoons. the conventional marine growth control method. However, it is “Of these, 34 have unauthorised structures. Since copper rich “and in enclosed marine areas can behave as a heavy notification 14 have been removed.” metal toxin to marine life”.

The group says some Waterways residents have installed Law and ethics alternatives to anti-foul hull protection, especially in light of Waikato Regional Council coast and inland waters team the invasion of a tube worm pest in the waterways. leader Suzanne O’Rourke says Whitianga Waterways operates under a suite of resource consents granted in 2006, for a period Creating alternatives of 35 years.

These alternatives isolate boat hulls from the water by She says the management of unwanted marine organisms is floating the vessel above the surface on plastic bricks or by carried out by the council in collaboration with the Ministry inflating a bib beneath the hull that is pumped out, so the hull for Primary Industries. is dry when not in use.

“Of course, vessel owners have an important part to play “Environmentally, these methods of marine pest too, by ensuring their vessels are antifouled and cleaned using management are considered superior to anti-fouling, says appropriate facilities.” the group.

If Whitianga Waterways wishes to change its existing However the Waikato Regional Council has mandated that consent, an application would need to be lodged with the “all the devices for getting boats out of the water are council, she says. not allowed.”

That process will assess any positive or adverse effects of the Whitianga Waterways project manager Peter Abrahamson structures, including any biosecurity or marine pest effects, as says in order to change the current resource consent to allow well as any visual, amenity, or recreational effects. the new structures, all residents would need to agree.

In the residents’ statement they say many people were not “Judging from feedback received during this process that aware they were not allowed to have these structures, and there would be highly unlikely.” had not been any regular audits by the council in the past.

He says the Waikato Regional Council completed an audit “Legally we have not got a leg to stand on but ethically in April last year and found an “assortment” of unconsented I think they [Whitianga Canals Management] have floating dock systems. behaved poorly.

These include modular floating cubes or dock systems “It appears both the developer (Whitianga Waterways) and marketed as ‘SeaPen’, ‘FAB dock’, ‘boat lift’, ‘jet docks’ the WRC have made a misstep. When presented with a good and more. environmental solution to protect the marine environment, The council has recently ruled that additional structures do just saying it is unconsented is not good enough.” not comply with the 2006 resource consent conditions and On its website, under the heading ‘Clean below? Good to must be removed before April 30, 2021. go!’, the council is currently seeking submissions on a joint Peter says the date was at the request of Whitianga Canals marine pest control strategy with Northland, Auckland and Management Ltd to give residents plenty of time to make Bay of Plenty.

Daniel Hutchinson other arrangements.

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The magic of dolphin spotting Spotting dolphins is a breathtaking experience with many viewing these marine mammals as magical.

In Maori mythology, dolphins are taniwha or water spirits. Their playful leaping and inquisitive nature certainly makes them popular, with people keen to spot them in the water.

While there are several species of dolphin in New Zealand, here in the Bay of Plenty, bottlenose and common dolphins live in these waters in several pods, so sightings are not that unusual, particularly in the warm waters during the summer months.

It is less usual to see a very large number of dolphins at once.

DOC rules are as follows: A maximum of three vessels (including jet skis and kayaks) are allowed within 300m of a group of dolphins.

Keep your speed to a minimum – no wake allowed within 300m.

Approach dolphins slowly, from behind and to the side of the group.

Never drive through, cut off or circle a group of dolphins.

Don’t make sudden or repeated changes in direction or speed.

Don’t attempt to swim with groups with calves or juveniles (animals less than two-thirds the length of the adults).

Keep noise to a minimum.

No boats allowed within 50m of whales or 200m of female whales with calves.

Annemarie Quill A Mount Underwater Club trip turned magical when the group spotted a pod of more than 50 dolpins.

Once in a lifetime Geoff Bishop, 66, of Pyes Pa, was on a dive with other members of the Mount Underwater Club when they spotted a pod of more than 50 dolphins.

“Now I could actually see and count 50, but I reckon there were actually up to 100,” says Geoff.

The divers were on the boat Orca Wild Adventures which Geoff says are one of two boats located at Tauranga Bridge Marina dedicated to dolphin tours.

This particular sighting was the most number of dolphins Geoff had ever seen.

“We were wildly excited and everyone ran to the front – they were just about three to four metres away. We made sure we slowed right down for the safety of the dolphins.”

Geoff has been with the Mount Underwater Club for a year. Despite being a keen boatie and fisherman, and having previously owned a boat building business, Geoff says it is always a special moment to be alongside dolphins.

“It reminds you of the wonderful life within our oceans.

I think there is something extra special about being near dolphins – they are such magical creatures.”

Geoff says he and the other divers, of which there were 15 in total, had left the bridge marina on Sunday, February 21; a beautiful sunny day perfect for diving. They first headed for Schooner Rock.

“That first dive itself was amazing – about 30 metres down we were greeted by hundreds of fish.

“There were pink and blue maomao, red moki and many more beautiful fish. We even caught a few crays. There was so much going on in the water.”

It was on their way back home that they were met by the huge pod of dolphins.

“It was my best dive to date, hard to beat being up close and personal with such majestic creatures.”

Dolphin safety

While spotting dolphins is a pleasure, boats must ensure they stick to the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations, says the Department of Conservation. waterline April 2021

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Exciting times ahead for anglers Winter is an exciting time for trout fishers around the Rotorua lakes, as they anticipate the arrival of spawning rainbows.

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Trout reproduce by returning to their place of birth, so their pre-spawning movements can be predicted by keen fishers.

Around three-quarters of the trout population in the Rotorua lakes began their lives at the Ngongotaha trout hatchery. As yearlings they are released into the lakes at various locations, and it’s those release locations that become the places they ‘home’ to.

Eastern Fish and Game publish their release locations so that anglers can target the winter hot spots, with any small stream mouth a great place to start. Fish tend to congregate just off the lip during the day, then move in closer to the stream mouth after dark or before dawn.

Rotorua trout mature at three-to-four years of age, meaning they are as big as they are going to get. Spawning fish tend to be in great condition too, as they have packed on lots of energy over summer and autumn in preparation for the rigors of breeding.

This makes them fine table fare with deep orange flesh and a healthy volume of fat – the good fishy fat that it!

Fly fishing is the preferred method, although most locations allow spin fishing as well. The best times are the first couple of hours after 5am when fishing begins, and any time after dark to midnight when fishing ends for the day.

Floating lines and a small ‘lumo’ (glow in the dark) doll fly or traditional night fly are a good choice if fly fishing, or try Toby’s and Veltec’s if spinning during the day.

Anglers can give it a go with a day licence for just $21, or a winter licence is available from April 1 until the season ends on September 30, for $80.

Mark Sherburn, Eastern Fish & Game

Ten years in the making Ten years ago I had the opportunity to move to Whitianga.

I was just getting into spearfishing and back into fishing and this seemed like the perfect place for me to live.

Since this time I have always had the goal of joining the 20lb snapper club. After years of trying and watching friends catch them, in July of 2019 I thought my time had finally come.

Dean Spyve with his 9.54kg snapper.

My brother hooked up to a nice fish which ended up weighing 14lbs. This was amazing! Were we actually going to win a prize? We continued to fish and every bait was smashed. After numerous bust offs and loads of rat kingfish I finally hooked something substantial.

Strayline action

We had spent the morning fishing out deep for Hapuka and Bass and had decided to return to the shallows for a quick strayline session.

We found some current, deployed the burley and started drifting big baits back into the burley trail.

It didn’t take long before we were catching some nice fish for the bin. My brother had noticed Koheru darting around the burley trail so we thought we would catch some for fresh baits. After securing some I decided to deploy one as a whole dead bait. Before I could sit down the bait runner started screaming.

I could tell instantly that this was a serious fish. After a good battle the fish finally came into view. I was amazed.

Had it finally happened? Had I caught my 20lb snapper? I quickly chucked the fish on the scales but to my dismay the fish weighed in at 19.6lbs! This was my new PB but not the fish I had spent years trying to catch.

Competition time

Fast forward to March 2021. I still hadn’t caught my 20lb snapper and was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen.

My brother and I had decided to enter the local CRC Trailer boat tournament in Whitianga which ended up having more than 250 anglers.

This was to be the second fishing competition I had ever entered. We discussed at lengths what the plan was going to be for the three days of fishing and came up with the following: snapper on day one, kingfish on day two and gamefish on day three.

The first day of the competition finally arrived and I was so excited that I struggled to sleep the previous night.

We were on the water in the dark and started securing the valuable live jack mackerel which we were going to use for big snapper baits. We re-checked the weather forecast and found a spot which we believed would have good current and be blocked from the strong NW wind.

We arrived at our destination after punching our way into the strong NW wind. Our spot was sheltered however, the current didn’t seem that strong.

We decided to give it a go anyway as our other spots were too wind effected. This proved to be a fantastic decision!

We deployed the first of four burley bombs and started drifting back big baits. Instantly we knew it was going to be a fantastic day!

I clicked my baitrunner into gear and instantly started losing line. Was this the fish I had been searching for over the past 10 years? Had my time finally come?

As we were fishing over a shallow reef I had already locked up my drag. This wasn’t helping and I soon started thinking this can’t be a snapper, it must be another kingfish.

I continued to play the fish for what seemed like forever. Finally I got a glint of colour and my anxiety went through the roof – it was red!

A dream come true

“Get the net!” I yelled. This fish was massive and made my brother’s previous 14lb snapper look small.

After some frantic moments at the side of the boat my fish was finally secured and my brother heaved it over the side and onto the deck. “That’s a competition winner,” he said.

We both looked at each other in amazement. At no point had we expected to see a fish of this size during the competition.

The fish was quickly weighed and to my absolute amazement it was well over the magical 20lb mark! To say I was excited and relieved was a huge understatement. My time had come. I had finally joined the club and what a way to do it!

It later weighed in at 9.54kg and won heaviest snapper on day one of the competition and the heaviest snapper overall. It had been an amazing competition with three snapper weighing in at more than 9kg.

My prized fish is now in a friend’s freezer waiting for it’s time to be turned into the best trophy I could have ever wished for. A piece of art which will have a prime spot in the family living room so I can never forget the day I finally joined the club and won the best snapper prize in the CRC Trailer Boat tournament.

Dean Spyve

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In memory of the The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit Mount Maunganui on the Royal yacht Britannia.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh followed up from the tour of 1953 with a visit to Mount Maunganui during the tour of 1963.

The royal party were on HMY Britannia, a luxury vessel which was escorted by a warship during such visits.

The vessel was in commission from 1954 -1997 and is now berthed at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a popular visitor attraction with over 300,000 visits each year.

She was developed and designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war but was never used as such. HMY Britannia was also a possible escape for the Queen and Duke to take refuge in the event of nuclear war.

She was a regular sight at the Cowes Week regatta until her decommissioning in 1997. With a refit estimated to cost 17 million pounds prolonging her role for another five years it was decided to decommission her.

During her visit to Mount Maunganui the royal party disembarked at Coronation Pier which had spectacular floral decorations. The official welcome was at Memorial Park in the Sound shell. When the party walked by the adoring crowds, red and white petals were cast at the Queen’s feet by local girls.

David Lange quoted in 2005: “The royal party were greeted with a frenzy which is hard to imagine today.

“The enthusiasm of the public was near universal and certainly demonstrative.”

The photos show the surf carnival with the now superceded rope being played out by the shore team and the older style dress being particularly noticeable.

Ron Morgan

A steady line of admirers viewing the Royal yacht while berthed.

Teams assembled on Mount Maunganui beach.

Adoring crowds wait for a glimpse of the royal party.

HMY Britannia in all her glory entering the Tauranga harbour.

HMY Britannia.

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Brucie the bronzie For locals who have grown up around the rich marine Bay of Plenty environment, seeing seals,

Alison Hart walking along Papamoa Beach. Photo: John Borren.

dolphins, orca, little blue penguins, stingrays and sharks can be a commonplace occurrence while walking along the Papamoa beach.

For those who are newly arrived in the area, the regular sighting of marine life may come as a surprise.

Alison Hart, who lives at the far eastern end of Papamoa Beach, is one of hundreds who have seen bronze whalers swimming casually in the shallows.

“I see them all the time because I go down to the beach every day, in the morning and evening,” says Alison.

“I walk down towards the Kaituna Cut, there’s lots of fishermen down there and they see this all the time.”

‘Brucie the bronzie’ is often the name given to any glimpse of a bronze whaler shark at Papamoa, whether it be a smaller younger shark or a larger older one.

Alison recently came across Brucie the bronzie frolicking about a metre from shore.

“He was right there having a lovely time rolling around and playing.

“He’s not as big as some of them I’ve seen out there. I’ve seen big ones and small ones but that’s the closest I’ve seen. I used to see them every now and then, but during the summer months I saw them almost every day.”

Alison’s family have been living in the area since the 1950s and do a lot of boating in the harbour and up the coast.

“It’s very cool to show people how close the bronzies are.

“Papamoa has grown so fast and new people to the area are not aware we have them swimming here.”

Alison thinks the warmth of the water and berley from nearby fishers may draw the bronzies in.

“We’ve got a really healthy ecosystem. I pick up rubbish along the beach if I see it but we’re very lucky in that we have very little litter.

“We see dolphins, stingrays and sharks out there, it’s really cool.

“They’re not going to hurt you if you don’t bother them.”

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Good winds continue for boat sales Boat sales are continuing to increase in 2021, with New Zealand’s border restrictions meaning more Kiwis are enjoying taking to their own waters rather than holidaying overseas.

The New Zealand Marine Industry Association has noted a surge in new and used boat sales, and some outlets have increased order books, have long waiting lists for new boats, and say business is “humming”.

With more boats on the water, Tauranga Coastguard has seen a 23 per cent increase in on-water assists, with 2020 being its busiest year ever – a number that they predict to rise in 2021.

NZ Marine Industry Association executive director, Peter Busfield, says there have been more boats on the water this season.

“Boating participation has increased this summer with people who might have previously travelled overseas, enjoying the benefits of exploring New Zealand’s beautiful coastal areas, harbours and lakes with families and friends.”

The first surge

Peter says the surge in sales began after New Zealand’s lockdown a year ago.

“2020 was a game of two halves for the New Zealand marine industry – with the lockdown in the second quarter reducing boat sales to almost nil, and the second half almost double, making 2020 a good year overall for new and used boat sales.”

Order books are continuing to fill up for production in 2021, with manufacturers’ and retailers’ buoyant sales backed up by the increase in new apprentices and skilled staff signed up.

“The second half of the year saw record registrations of new apprenticeships in the industry with 140 new sign ups in the last quarter compared with 40 the year before.

The industry is continuing to see steady sales in the first quarter of 2021 and is increasing its employment of skilled personnel.

“In fact, our NZ Marine and Composites Industry Training Organisation in March 2021, had a total of 530 apprentices being trained through a network of 230 marine companies nationwide.”

New Zealand boat builder Sealegs has experienced unprecedented demand over the last six months for its amphibious boats, reporting its “largest order book ever” and long waiting lists of up to eight months.

Sealegs co-founder and chief executive officer, David McKee Wright, says the company has taken on 17 more staff to fulfil the increased orders.

Tristram Marine has also been hiring new staff for its growing team in Hamilton, saying “demand is at an unprecedented high for Tristram Hardtops, Targa Top and Cabriolet boat packages.”

Neil Cameron, a Tauranga based broker at Gulf Group Marine Brokers Limited agrees there has been increased demand for both new and used boats in the last six months as well as new players in the market, which he attributes both to the border closures and low interest rates.

“With Kiwis unable to travel overseas, people are looking for

new leisure pursuits and if they are not making much interest in banks then they have been looking to other assets to invest in such as boats.”

Neil says while demand was continuing in 2021 it remained to be seen whether this would taper off when the borders do eventually open and New Zealanders head back overseas.

Surtees Boats sales and marketing manager Isabell Zitzelsberger says business is “humming” for both new and used boats.

Demand was so great that in July 2020 Surtees opened a showroom and retail outlet on Tauranga’s Hewletts Road, where clients can come and browse the boats on offer and book in demos.

“Since we opened people have been flooding through the doors. It is not just people who are already into boats and fishing. We are seeing first timers such as families who are seeing the benefits of exploring our own coastline and lakes rather than go overseas.”

Business is not slowing down even after the summer season, which Isabell attributes to people seeing not just the pleasures of owning a boat, but that boats are a good investment.

“Our boats depreciate little, so say in five years, you still own a valuable asset plus all the enjoyment you gain out of it.”

Isabell says the company is also busy preparing boats to showcase at the upcoming Auckland boat show in May.

Staying safe With more boats hitting the water, it’s vital everyone – no matter how experienced – makes sure they understand and follow the rules.

NZ Marine, representing the marine industry, has worked closely with Maritime NZ and Coastguard NZ in ensuring that practical boating safety messages have been communicated to the boating public, says Peter.

“We are pleased to see that it appears to have worked with the majority of the boating public aware of the rules and also looking after the coastal and lakes environment that all are so fortunate to have in New Zealand.”

Tauranga Coastguard operations manager Dane Robertson says that with more boats on the water, they have seen “a steady increase of on-water assists”.

“Despite the lockdown in 2020, it was still our busiest year. So far in 2021 we have assisted 73 vessels, which means we are up 23 per cent from the previous year and 43 per cent from 2018, so 2021 may be another record year for Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard.”

Dane says that 52 per cent of people they are helping have issues with their motor or electrics, and a further 11 per cent are fuel related.

“Our only purpose is to help make sure people get back safely to shore should they get in trouble.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of logging trip reports on the local VHF channel as well as having two different forms of communication.We encourage everyone to follow our ‘boating safety checklist’, and to join Coastguard.”

Annemarie Quill

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A glimpse of history:

A Tauranga monument honours all merchant seamen who lost their lives in the World Wars. About 500 New Zealanders served in the Royal Navy during WWI, and some of whom, including Lieutenant Andrew Dougall Blair and Sub-Lieutenant William Edward Sanders, served on Mystery Ships.

The story of the Mystery Ships is one of the romances of the Great War and will for ever be of historical importance for the Royal Navy.

The supreme bravery shown by those involved was of the highest possible level and the role played in slowing the destruction and havoc the U boats were causing makes compelling reading.

Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell wrote of the ideas and technological developments that were produced in a short period of time due to the war.

“In practically every case such ideas were born when one or another of the combatant nations was confronted by some direct threat to her safety. The tank, for example appeared as a reply to barbed wire and the machine gun. In like manner, the menace of the submarine called forth the “mystery” or “Q ship.”

The ships were fitted out as a decoy by concealing guns on board what appeared to be an ordinary steamer. The guns were placed in a specially-built house erected on the stern and looked like a steering engine house. A string was pulled and the house would collapse and out came the gun.

As well, the main deck on either side was cut and fitted with hinges which could quickly fall down to disclosing guns.

The upper deck was often converted into gun houses which could quickly collapse with guns also called into action.

There were other disguises, generally either side of the bridge which could quickly collapse when needed to add to the firepower. There was at times a telescopic mast and derricks stowed in different positions with fake cargo moved to different positions on the deck.

Deceiving appearance

There was some initial success with armed fishing trawlers working in conjunction with submarines against the U Boats (June 1914 U-14 was rammed and ultimately sunk).

The efficiency of the crew was paramount. This was complicated somewhat as they were often composed of men from the various reserves, fishermen and others that could be recruited with often only two naval officers.

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They had to be relied upon even in the most dangerous circumstances which often meant they were being watched by a submarine commander.

As the outward appearance of the ship had to resemble a merchant ship, the crew had to appear in plain clothes and maintain activity similar to those crewing a merchant ship.

As all kinds of ships were used, including liners, some of the crew dressed as women from the waist up so viewed above the deck they created the right impression from a periscope.

The mystery ship also had to change the external appearance as if a submarine commander saw a ship operating in the same vicinity for several days he may become suspicious of her.

For this reason dummy funnels, dummy masts, derricks and boats and paints were used to change the appearance overnight.

To maintain the appearance the ships often had one or two off-duty crew smoking their pipes with the remainder ready and closed up with the guns waiting, or below deck ready to run through concealed passages to their guns without being seen.

An attack from a submarine often involved a torpedo or a warning shot across the bow after the submarine surfaced and the conning tower opened and the gun fired then an order to stop was often given.

However the submarine on the surface was very vulnerable to return fire from the Q ship. The submarine commander often had limited torpedoes at his disposal so he would use them sparingly.

The pre-arranged routine often involved steam being dispersed and a “panic party” of men who filled boats pretending the ship to be abandoned.

At times dried seaweed was set fire to which often deceived the U Boat commander.

This tactic was used to appear as if the Q ship was endeavouring to achieve top speed when in reality it had slowed.

Targeting submarines

The submarine commander would regularly be eager to reap the spoils of war with fresh supplies being often targeted and the captain detained for questioning so would approach the ship and generally be a sitting target.

The white ensign was broken at the mast head in compliance with the Hague Convention, and the side covers of the guns came down as the gun fire started. At times the submarine would submerge if they could but the mystery ship also had depth charges to add to their arsenal.

At times the commander would order by signal for the papers to be sent over so a set arrangement was rehearsed for this scenario as well which involved the second in command taking responsibility for all decisions.

The U boat commanders required the masters of vessels to hand over their documentation as proof of success for their high command and for intelligence purposes.

There were instances of submarines escaping to spread the warning of the ships and their disguise which made the work of the mystery ships increasingly difficult.

Consequently the ship’s captain sometimes took the decision to get deliberately torpedoed first.

Orders were given to increase or decrease speed to ensure a torpedo hit. The strain on the crew was incredible especially for those below deck knowing they were to be deliberately torpedoed especially if the ammunitions hold was hit.

The steam and pre planned behaviours worked well and the proud commander regularly surfaced close by facing the shock of the fire power he received.

The Mystery Ships of World War I dangerously close to explosives and the disguised guns and crew At times the submarine was so close that the big guns could but the crew appreciated the importance of maintaining their not depress enough to open fire so the ship’s captain had to wait cover so remained at their stations, some making the ultimate for a better opportunity. The courage of all and stress of being sacrifice for their bravery. suspiciously viewed at such close proximity has to be admired With the incredible bravery being shown there were instances especially if the U Boat circled the Q ship several times closely of the VC being awarded. Naval protocol of the time meant one observing all actions. officer and one crew could receive this prestigious award and After being hit maintaining normal behaviour for such a with all officers and men being equally deserving a secret ballot situation must have been incredibly difficult especially if the ship was often held. Many of the crews were given gallantry awards, was likely to sink and some crew were killed.

At times the disguises were adversely affected with the explosion some posthumously.

His majesty the King stated in making an award: “Greater further complicating the awkward situation and the identity bravery than was shown by all officers and men on this occasion prematurely being disclosed. can hardly be conceived”.

There were times when the gunfire was at a greater range than It was impossible to determine how many merchant ships were desired which was not the ideal situation for the merchant ship.

I believe the ships were then towed to a venue so the armaments spared out of fear that the target may have been a Q ship. could be saved or they were rescued if possible by fellow sailors.

Following this another ship was then fitted out.

Postscript from the author With a colossal amount of merchant ships being sunk by U I personally believe that the merchant navy’s contribution to boats, news of successes were jubilantly received on the home front. the war effort has been somewhat under estimated without the As the war progressed submarines were fitted with big guns recognition they deserve being forthcoming. which they preferred to use The phenomenal loss of life rather than torpedoes which and the continual possibility had a range near 5000 yards. of being sunk en-route while There were times after being delivering much needed hit that the mystery ship could supplies and personnel must not sight the submarine due to have been a massive strain the smoke so the wait until the for all. It would be fitting for enemy were close enough to ANZAC services to make open fire was required.

HMS Baralong, also known as HMS Wyandra[4] was a Royal Navy warship mention of the merchant At times the fires were that was active during World War I. seamens’ massive contribution.

Regulations at boat ramps New rules to stop the spread of aquatic pests across the Bay of Plenty have come into force, with boat ramp users now required to self-certify that their vessels and trailers are free from freshwater fish and plant pests.

much based on common sense and are essentially an extension of the Check, Clean, Dry behaviour that has been promoted nationally for many years.”

Self-certification checkpoints have been set up at the most popular boat ramps around the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes. The checkpoints have forms that should be completed and displayed on

The rules contained within the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030 ensure that lake users take an active role in protecting the long term health of the region’s lakes and rivers, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity manager Greg Corbett.

“Ultimately everyone benefits from these new rules,” says Greg.

“Preventing the spread of aquatic pest plants and fish that can choke the lakes, making them murky and causing the decline of native species, is vital.

“The rules themselves are very

the dashboard of the vehicle used to launch the vessel.

“Based on last year’s boat ramp checks around the Te Arawa Rotorua lakes we are confident that the new rules reflect

the actions that many boat ramp users are already undertaking.”

The new rules

The Bay of Plenty 2020-2030 Regional Pest Management Plan states: 1. No person shall leave boat trailers in any water body other than for the purposes of launching and/or retrieving boats.

2. No person shall transport ballast water from any water body to any other location.

3. All occupiers of vessels or craft entering any water body within the BOP shall ensure their vessels or craft (including trailers) are free from freshwater pest fish and freshwater pest plants including fragments.

4. All occupiers of vessels or craft using a boat ramp with a self-certification checkpoint must complete the supplied certification form and display it in the vehicle used to launch the vessel or craft.

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New rules for boaties in the Bay of Plenty Marine pests often ‘hitchhike’ on boats moving around the country, either from biofouling on hulls or from the discharge of ballast and bilge water.

The new Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020 – 2030 rules are designed to protect the region’s coast from unwanted marine pests.

RULE 1 The occupier in charge of a craft moving to, or within Bay of Plenty waters must ensure the hull is sufficiently cleaned and antifouled, so that the hull has no more than a slime layer and/or barnacles.

RULE 2 All aquaculture equipment (including ropes and floats) used within Bay of Plenty waters must not have been used outside Bay of Plenty waters or used within a known pest incursion zone in the Bay of Plenty.

Please familarise yourself with the rules and keep your boat sufficiently clean by: •

Regularly cleaning and antifouling the hull and niche areas

•

Ensure antifouling paint is in good condition and working effectively

•

Cleaning hull and niche areas when the boat has been stationary for periods of time

•

Keep biofouling management information in one place, like the vessel's logbook

To find a haulout operator in the upper North Island go to www.marinepests.nz/find-a-haulout If you think you’ve seen the marine pests above (or any others) in the Bay of Plenty, call us on 0800 STOP 16 | waterline April 2021 PESTS (0800 786 773) or MPI on 0800 80 99 66. Note the location and grab a sample if you can.

hulls Underwater surveillance of more than 2,200 boats anchored around the Bay of Plenty has revealed an overwhelming number of clean hulls.

Data collected from across the region this summer shows 85 per cent have acceptably clean hulls and are free from marine pests.

Hamish Lass, senior projects officer with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, says it’s a result that’s consistent with previous summer surveys.

“It’s encouraging that the Bay’s boaties and the many out-ofregion visitors that come here over the summer are continuing to do their bit to ensure that marine pests, such Mediterranean fanworm and clubbed tunicate sea squirt, don’t become established,” says Hamish.

“We all need to be aiming for 100 per cent compliance to be confident that our harbours stand a chance of remaining pest-free.

“Highly mobile marine pests, like the Asian Paddle crab, are almost impossible to eradicate once they become established. It’s why we ask all boat owners to ensure that they check their hulls are clean and free of marine pests before moving between regions.”

In a vital move for marine biosecurity, new rules are contained within the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 20202030, meaning boat hulls can’t have more than a light slime layer and/or barnacles when coming into or moving within the region.

Boaties are therefore advised to keep a good record of when their boat was last biofouled and to plan well ahead if a haul out is likely to be needed.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU CATCH FISH!

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Come and visit us at 149 Totora St at the Mount

or shop online at: www.decoro.co.nz waterline April 2021

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The secret lives of eels It’s 10pm and NIWA trucks are driving along Thornton beach towards the Rangitaiki river mouth, a 10 minute drive west of Whakatane.

At 10:30pm Waikato university masters student, Siobhan Nuri will drop her nets to start collecting glass eels and plans to be at the river mouth until 3.30am.

She’s helped by Eddie Bowman, an environmental monitoring technician from NIWA, her father Niwa Nuri and sister, Sinead Nuri.

The job has to be done at night because that’s when the eels enter the river mouth.

Glass eels are juvenile forms of tuna (eel) that begin life in deep ocean tranches in the sub-tropical Pacific. The eels then drift with ocean currents, eventually reaching freshwater in New Zealand.

The glass eel collection begins. Photo: Niwa Nuri.

Glass eels do not migrate to the same river or stream that their parents come from, says Eddie.

“That would be a big ask.”

If it was the case the eels would form genetically distinct groups in freshwater and there is no DNA evidence to support this.

The eels are 5.5-6.5cm long and are known as glass eels because of their transparent bodies.

Once the eels reach fresh water, they take days to adjust before moving further upstream.

One of the changes made by the eels is that they stop becoming transparent and start to turn darker as they change from a glass eel to an elver.

Siobhan is attempting to unlock some of the mysteries of the shortfin and longfin eel’s migration patterns.

“We’re trying to figure out when the length of migration is and how different environmental variables can effect migration.”

Siobhan and her team put on waders, life jackets and high-vis vests. They flick on head torches and set nets by the river bank.

Waders are not only a good way to stay dry but a practical way to 18

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keep warm during the wee hours of the morning.

The team is set up for a long night. On the back of one of the NIWA utes lies a spread of coffee, tea and snacks to see the researchers through the night.

There is limited research done on glass eels and the research done has predominantly been done in the South Island. Siobhan is hoping to come up with updated information that’s relevant to the Bay of Plenty and North Island.

Siobhan says the local’s response to the research has been amazing, “every week we get a whole lot of tangata whenua helping us out”.

Siobhan has had schools come visit and she’s chatted to classrooms in the local area about the eels. Classrooms have also run projects focused on tuna inspired from the work her and NIWA have done.

Siobhan took over research started by NIWA last year.

She’s been going since June and will finish up next month in December.

Next year Siobhan is hoping to pass on the project to someone else. “We’re hoping to get someone from the iwi to continue the work.”

Siobhan says tuna hold cultural significance to iwi, as well as being a valuable food source.

Tuna are a taonga for Maori and have more than 100 different names for freshwater eels, to describe differences in colour and size.

Many of the glass eels’ secrets hide in its ear bones (otoliths).

“The ear bones are kind of like tree rings.”

Glass eels grow a ring in its ear bone every day and larger, older eels, grow a ring every-year.

Siobhan says the rings provide information on the length of migration and where the eels have been on their migration journey.

Sinead Nuri transfers Each month 50 longfin and 50 the catch into the shortfin eels are used for right bucket. the research.

Catching the eels is not always easy though. Siobhan has done the sampling in all conditions.

“We’ve sampled in heavy rain, hail, big surf, big river flow… there was a sandstorm one night so we couldn’t keep our eyes open.”

A memorable collection night was in June last year, when the first eels should have just started to enter New Zealand’s rivers.

“The literature says that we shouldn’t catch any but we caught heaps.”

The peak migration of the eels is meant to be around October, September and November.

Siobhan says the fact that lots of eels were caught in June is evidence of lack of research done in the area.

Caleb Fotheringham

Events a plenty The Mount Maunganui Yacht Club Summer programme has seen some outstanding sailing conditions, along with well attended social events.

The Triple Series kicked off with the White Island Race in November, with a relatively steady breeze giving boats a reasonable finish time in the early hours of Sunday morning. In collaboration with Whangamata Yacht Club, this year saw the race taking the Whangamata to Tauranga route.

The regatta started at the Sunset Bar with a briefing, a barbecue and beverages going down with sea stories new and old.

Mayor Island race, the third and final event of the series, saw light conditions but sunny skies, topped off with some fine hospitality on arrival.

A number of MMYC members attended the Bay of Islands Sailing Week, experiencing some of the best sailing conditions on offer in the far north.

Sandbank cricket and the Christmas Raft Up were an effervescent hit as we saw out 2020 and batted in the new year under sunny skies and a strong flotilla of boats, families and friends.

The Winter Series 2 Handed and Open Series dates are now on the website calendar. We have some new and exciting courses planned for 2021, so join in the fun. MMYC operate a Mark Foy start system, taking some of the stress out of fleet racing with your own start time.

MMYC are pleased to announce that we are working with SSANZ to host a brand new race leg with a stop-over in Tauranga for 2022. We can’t wait!

In other big announcements, we have a new website and you can now find us on Instrgram @mmyc8 and on Facebook.

Follow along to keep up-to-date with the latest events and news.

Our membership base has grown substantially over the past year and we continue to welcome new members. As they say, the more the merrier. If you’re keen to join, visit: www.mmyc.org.nz Lyndsay Hayward, Mount Maunganui Yacht Club

Sandback cricket.

Whangamata 2021 start of race.

Christmas raft up.

Insurance Brokers Bay of Plenty

insurebayofplenty@bwrs.co.nz waterline April 2021

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BOAT OF THE MO

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NTH

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Old gem The Orinda II was built by Max Carter Boat Builders in Auckland in 1964, measuring 36’ x 12’ x 3’ draft and originally powered by an eight cylinder 285hp Grey Marine petrol engine.

Launched as a registered ship with glistening varnished coamings and flybridge, Orinda was a very much an admired vessel in her day.

She is now powered by a 240hp Ford diesel engine, cruising at 10-12 knots. She is game rigged, has a game chair, is bow thrusted and is still a good looking vessel for her age.

Orinda is currently on the market with Gulf Group Marine Brokers Ltd, Tauranga. Listing broker: Brian Worthington.

Chains Ropes and Anchors 7 & 8 / 10 Colway Place Wairau Valley North Shore

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Contact Us:

Phone: +64 (9) 444 8212 Email: info@chainsropesandanchor.co.nz

’ h c u o t y ‘taste b

How octopus suckers Imagine if you could taste something simply by touching it. Octopus do just that with their unique ‘touch-taste’ sense, made possible by the suctioncup-like suckers along each of their eight arms.

avoid toxic prey. But, the researchers add, many other unknown natural compounds also might stimulate different responses in a similar way.

In future studies, the researchers hope to explore this touchtaste sense in other cephalopods, such as squid, which have two specialised prey-catching tentacles instead of eight long arms.

This raises a series of intriguing questions. Have chemotactile receptors evolved to support these specific behaviors? Do receptors detect specific molecules based on ecological context or behavior? What are the structural mechanisms underlying protein adaptations to mediate different ligand sensitivities and/or biophysical features? How does this contribute to peripheral processing in the unique cephalopod nervous system? Nicholas and his team will continue exploring these and other questions.

This research was supported by the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the Searle Scholars Program, the Sloan Foundation, the KlingensteinSimons Fellowship, the National Institutes of Health, and the Swiss Octopus in a cup.

National Science Foundation.

Now, researchers are reporting in the journal ‘Cell’ that they have new evidence as to how this sensory ability works.

The findings help to explain how octopuses, and perhaps other marine organisms, explore the seafloor by tasting objects underwater with a simple touch.

Harvard University molecular and cellular biologist Nicholas Bellono says aquatic chemosensation has long been associated with distant waterborne signaling via hydrophilic chemicals while terrestrial sensation utilises detection of airborne volatile molecules that are poorly soluble in water.

“Nonetheless, aquatic organisms produce and respond to a variety of hydrophobic compounds, suggesting a distinct form of aquatic ‘taste’ mediated by contact-dependent chemosensation of insoluble molecules that do not readily diffuse in water.

“By identifying specific chemotactile receptors as mediators of this octopus sense, our study also provides a molecular basis for aquatic ‘taste’ of poorly soluble molecules.”

Nicholas and his colleagues first showed that the California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculoides) responded differently when its suckers touched a prey item versus another object.

The finding confirmed that their suckers have a kind of tastetouch ability.

To learn more, the researchers looked more closely at the octopuses’ suckers to identify the sensory cells involved. They discovered the sucker did indeed include discrete populations of sensory cells.

But how do chemical signals received via those suckers work together with other physical stimuli to decide whether an octopus grabs what it touches? While there’s much more to learn, this study shows that distinct chemotactile receptors form discrete ion channel complexes that detect specific signals and send them on to the nervous system. Nicholas suggests this could serve as a signal filtering system suited to the octopus’ uniquely distributed nervous system.

“We also showed that separate and distinct chemo and mechanosensory cells express specific receptors and exhibit discrete electrical activities to encode chemical and touch information, respectively,” says Nicholas. “Our results demonstrate that the peripherally distributed octopus nervous system exhibits exceptional signal filtering properties that are mediated by highly specialized sensory receptors.”

Their findings show chemicals known as terpenoids act on octopuses’ receptors and sensory cells in their suckers to encourage different responses. They note that terpenoids are produced by many marine invertebrates as a defence or warning signal. By detecting these signals with their arms, octopuses might

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Bride and pride of t This beautiful Carl Augustin cabin boat would be the oldest trailer boat still operating out of Mercury Bay. In fact she has never left the area after arriving from the Waikato where she was built in 1966. The Bernadine first impressed the author many years back when I was a young fisherman who spent numerous hours on the wharf fishing,watching boats being launched and listening to the tales from returning skippers of the time. My mother was not impressed with some of the vocabulary I acquired or my ability to recite all the launches and most of the skippers’ names or in many cases nicknames. She could not fathom how this information was prioritised against learning times tables in the early years.

The Bernadine was one of my favourites together with the Ngaire which was skippered by Connie Simmonds, the first female skipper of a charter launch which operated out of Whitianga for many years. Her colourful deckie was Koni and they made a most successful team with many great catches landed.

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A recent shot of the launch at the Whitianga ramp.

Built in 1966 by Jack Moreland and his son Andy Moreland, the Bernadine is now the pride and joy

of Kim and Grant Moreland who own property and regularly visit Whitianga continuing the family

f the 60s still turning heads tradition. The launch has now had five generations fish off her.

The Bernadine was named after Pat Boone’s popular hit song of the time and some of the lyrics in the song certainly reflect opinions expressed about the launch.

“Your remarkable form is a pure delight.”

She was originally powered by a 283 Chevrolet V8 from a Corvette until 1982 when it was converted to outboard power.

She is now onto her fourth outboard. The Bernadine is now powered by a 150 4 stroke Yamaha.

She was originally towed by a 1959 Ford that had the winch mounted in the boot.

She was rebuilt in 1990 with the double skinned glass hull being extended to 23 foot adding one foot to the length.

Grant and Kim proudly share memories and photos of early trips with great family trips some incredible hapuka catches evident.

They continue to be impressed with the attributes and capabilities of the design of the launch.

“The flat bottom and being so heavy enables the Bernadine to follow the waves and sit flat in a variety of seas.

“She has proved her worth and served her time.”

The Bernadine certainly is a stand out and the Morelands are regularly quizzed by visitors and locals alike as to her history with many remembering her from years gone by.

With the prolification of alloy launches witnessed on launching ramps today the “Golden Girl” of another era still attracts more than casual glances .

Age does not weary this lovely lady!

Ron Morgan

The spelling of the earlier photos had Bernardine with an r.

The bottom photo shows the Bernadine on show at the Hamilton Winter Show.

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Population positive Total biomass within the Leigh Marine Reserve is five times higher than it was 40 years ago when the Reserve was first established, a study shows.

University of Auckland’s Institute of Marine Science PhD candidate Harry Allard conducted a three-year survey of 22 fish species within the reserve, 10 of them targeted by fishers. Finishing the survey in 2018 meant it was exactly 40 years since a 1978 study, which established a baseline for future research.

Both old and new studies were similar in approach, using biomass as a measuring tool which takes into account both outright numbers and size of individual organisms. Harry counted fish at similar locations to the previous study.

However, he also surveyed 12 fished (unprotected) sites outside the reserve that weren’t done 40 years ago.

Results show snapper are on average six centimetres larger in the reserve than in fished areas outside but overall numbers have remained stable while the number of juvenile fish has decreased.

Red moki and butterfish – both favoured by spear divers – are also larger in the reserve than in fished areas but numbers had also remained stable since 1978. While red moki are similar in abundance compared to 40 years ago, total biomass of the species has increased with a greater number of legal-sized (more than 40cm) fish.

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“Overall, the data shows the marine environment within the reserve is now dominated by fewer, larger fish with most of these being of prime breeding age,” says Harry. “The offspring of these fish are now seeding areas outside the reserve.”

PhD candidate Harry Allard

Numbers of three target species included in the study – parore, leatherjacket and blue cod – are more abundant inside the reserve than in fished areas but showed a decline in numbers overall since 1978. This could be due to wider environmental factors or the fact sea urchin barrens – areas with a high number of kina or sea urchins – have been widely replaced by kelp forests suiting some species but not others.

“This may reflect larger-scale changes in the Hauraki Gulf rather than local effects, perhaps due to warming winter temperatures,” says Harry. “Blue cod are still larger and more numerous within the reserve than fished areas outside, which shows protection of this species may be increasingly important.”

There are fewer juvenile leatherjackets within the reserve but still more than outside, with a similar finding for parore but large-scale changes due to climate change could also be a factor, says Harry.

One of the most notable changes since 1978 is the replacement of sea urchin barrens with kelp forest and algae species, a sure sign that kina predators – such as larger snapper – are more numerous in the reserve.

Three species, hiwhiwi, spotty (a common wrasse species) and goatfish, all showed a decline in numbers within the reserve compared to fished areas outside. This might be due to a decrease in sea urchin areas or could point to increased predation by the higher number of larger fish within the reserve.

Overall, six out of 10 species targeted by fishers showed positive growth in either weight or abundance in the reserve during the last 40 years – but Harry says further research is needed to investigate longer term changes in the wider marine environment such as those caused by climate change.

However, the research does undermine reports from the public there are fewer fish in the reeserve than there used to be.

“The fish are still there but they don’t come into shore anymore for a feeding frenzy of peas and bread now that feeding is banned,” says Harry. “But it’s amazing how long a snapper’s memory can be, some of the older fish still follow people around expecting food.”

During research dives Harry regularly saw the reserve’s most famous resident – ‘Monkey Face’, the giant snapper – estimated to be at least 40 years old. However, the last time he saw him was 2018 and he’s heard that other divers haven’t seen him for some time. “It may be he’s finally gone to that big marine reserve in the sky.”

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09/11/2020 10:00:58 AM

discoveries Australian and New Zealand scientists have, for the first time, successfully identified the tiny larva of the giant bump-head Sunfish (Mola alexandrini).

Led by Auckland Museum sunfish expert, Dr Marianne Nyegaard, in collaboration with Australian Museum scientists, Kerryn Parkinson and Andrew King, this significant discovery was made using the Australian Museum’s Ichthyology collections and world-leading Genomics Laboratory in Sydney.

The Bump-head Sunfish is one of only three Mola species found in New Zealand and Australian waters, and this breakthrough provides vital information to help scientists understand the entire life cycle of these marine giants (the heaviest known bony fishes in the world) and conservation of the unique species.

Auckland Museum research associate Dr Marianne Nyegaard says “This is the first time we have been able to genetically identify a Mola alexandrini larval specimen anywhere in the world.”

Collected off the NSW coast in 2017 by the CSIRO RV Investigator, a number of tiny larval Mola specimens came to the attention of Dr Nyegaard, who was keen to identify the species.

in the genetic code are analysed statistically to differentiate between the species.

A clear match from the sequence was identified with samples from an adult Bump-head Sunfish (Mola alexandrini),” Kerryn explained.

Marianne added, Dr Marianne Nyegaard.

“We will now be able to compare this genetically identified Mola alexandrini larvae with the exceptional collection of Mola sunfish larvae held at the Australian Museum, collected since 1925, along with CSIRO’s larval Mola collection in Hobart.”

Auckland Museum director of collections and research, David Reeves, says this research is an important lesson in the value of museum collections.

“The collections and genetic data held in museum collections can give us answers to questions about little known or Right: Larval Mola.

Photo: Kerry Parkinson AMS.

Little larvae

Larval fishes often look nothing like their adult form – and for sunfish larvae none of the features used to identify the adult sunfish are visible or relevant in the minute larval specimens – making the identification particularly hard.

“Despite this, using the resources of the Australian Museum’s Genomics Laboratory, we were able to conduct DNA analysis on one of the specimens which was preserved in alcohol,” says Marianne.

To minimise damage to the extremely rare larval specimen (approximately 5mm in length), Kerryn Parkinson from the Australia Museum’s Ichthyology division painstakingly removed a single eyeball from the unidentified specimen, and Andrew King, a genomics specialist, conducted the DNA extraction and analysis.

“The DNA sequence from the existing Australia Museum specimen was compared to reference data generated by our international collaborators. Differences

Left: Larval Mola.

Photo: Amy Coghlan AMS.

Mola alexandrini. Photo: M Nyegaard.

“This is mainly due to their rare occurrence to scientists, and difficulties in preserving them for research.”

To add to the puzzle, sunfish hold the record of the highest potential fecundity of any vertebrate – 300 million ova in a 1.5m long female Ocean Sunfish – a species which can reach more than 3m in length, says Marianne.

“Given sunfishes are so incredibly fecund, it is an enigma why their eggs have never been found in the wild, and why sunfish larvae are so few and far between – where are they?”

“A genetic ID of one of these larvae is incredibly important but only one step on the long journey towards describing the early ontogeny of all three Mola species – an endeavour which will require global collaboration.

“If we want to protect these marine giants, we need to understand their whole life history and that includes knowing what the larvae look like and where they occur.”

rare species and provide information about their conservation and management,” says David.

A unique species

The sunfish, from the Molidae family, have attracted international interest because of their unique shape and large size.

“These beautiful giants of the sea are found worldwide in the open ocean of tropical and temperate seas,” says Kerryn.

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Cleaning up and sailing on These snapshots depict just some of the action that has been taking place on Tauranga’s waters in recent months.

A rainbow of sails headed along the Tauranga Waterfront for TYPBC’s centenary celebration, where boats small enough to go under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge completed a historic ‘Sail Past’ on April 3.

Then on March 21, the first Pilot Bay Underwater Cleanup Festival since 2019, organised by Dive Zone Tauranga and

TYPBC celebrate their 100 year annaversary with a ‘Sail Past’.

EnviroHub, took place.

It was unknown whether skipping last year’s clean-up due to lockdown would increase the amount of rubbish found, or lessen it due to a decrease of activity on the water.

It’s safe to say that two 15-20 litre bins filled with fishing lines, pipes, scaffolding and bottles is a much more positive haul compared to 2019’s 300kgs of rubbish.

Finally, Tauranga Yacht and Power Boating Club’s weekly Wednesday keeler races keep prooving to be a hit.

The Pilot Bay Underwater Clean-up Festival 2021.

All photos: Daniel Hines.

Snapshots from TYPBC’s weekly Wednesday night races.

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The Boobops in action.

Boobops feature in new film The Bay of Plenty’s heralded Boobops Dragon Boat Club star in a new documentary that has aired in cinemas across the country.

The Pinkies Are Back follows the story of the Pink Dragons Dragon Boat Team of Auckland, as they rebuild their team and aim for success on the water despite some of them never having touched a paddle before.

The movie came about through producer and director Lisa Burd’s passion for dragon boating.

In for a laugh It is a passion project three years in the making, and Lisa was left honoured by the faith shown in her to document their story.

The result is a feel-good underdog story, comparable to Cool Runnings, with largerthan-life characters and comedic elements throughout.

“I think it’s a breath of fresh air to have this kind of movie,” Lisa beams.

“There’s a lot of movies out there, but this one is definitely different.

“I think everyone could relate to it one way or another, especially a New Zealand audience.”

One of the Pink Dragons’ main rivals in dragon boating are the Boobops.

Our region’s dragon boating side was formed from shared experiences with breast cancer recovery, as is the case with the Pink Dragons.

That camaraderie and collective spirit is what Lisa hopes to have captured in this film.

“It’s that whole thing about joining a team and then you’ve suddenly got 25 friends or at least 22 people on a boat,” says Lisa.

“You suddenly, instantly, get this whole range of people that you probably would never have met before or associated with.

“That is what’s so fantastic. Before you know it, you make lifelong friends.”

Comrades and competitors Jill Simpson is the Boobops captain and is ecstatic that the film has been made.

“It’s really going to put a spotlight on the benefits and open it up to a whole lot of people,” she says.

Jill also believes that this bond between members of the Pinkies and the Boobops gives them a special connection.

“Every dragon boat team is pretty close, but I do think the breast cancer teams have just that little something special.

“Everybody knows what everybody else has been through.

“We say that we have a whole team full of sisters.”

Whilst the two teams share a kinship off the water, once the paddling starts that

Director Lisa Burd, right, with Pink Dragons captain Annemarie Stevens.

goes by the wayside.

“Extremely competitive, the Pink Dragons are the underdogs,” says Lisa.

“It’s like dog-eat-dog on the water. I’ve never seen such competitive women in my life.”

Jill agrees. “Oh, absolutely,” she says. “When we go to a regatta we like competing. You know, we are there to support each other and to support the health and fitness of everybody. But put us out on the water and it is game on.”

For film updates, visit the Pinkies are Back Facebook page.

Mathew Nash waterline April 2021

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Communities rally to improve fisheries On a cool summer’s morning, a crew of 14 from LegaSea were standing on Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Island, watching the sun come up over the crowd gathered to celebrate the start of a rahui initiated by Ngati Paoa.

The rahui means no harvesting of scallops, mussels, crayfish and paua within one nautical mile of the Waiheke shoreline for at least the next two years.

Around 180 people were on the beach to support Ngati Paoa.

The beach ceremony and subsequent hangi at Piritahi Marae weren’t just formalities, they were a celebration of community buy-in for better management of the marine environment and fish stocks around the Island.

LegaSea were standing alongside Ngati Paoa, taking with us the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, Outboard Boating Club of Auckland, New Zealand Underwater Association and other communities supporting the initiative.

United front “Giving the waters a rest around Waiheke Island is a good move because there are species that are becoming depleted,” says New Zealand Sport Fishing Council president Bob Gutsell.

“The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council is supportive of customary fisheries management measures in other areas around the country and we fully endorse the local communities working with iwi to take control of their fisheries.”

Another example of successful community collaboration is the process to establish a closure in Hawkes Bay. In December 2020, LegaSea supported the application by Ngai Hapu o Waimarama for a two-year closure to all blackfoot paua harvest from a 24km stretch of the coastline south of Cape Kidnappers. Less than two weeks after the submission deadline, Ministerial approval was given and the closure is now in effect.

A fortnight to achieve a successful closure under section 186A of the Fisheries Act is a milestone worth celebrating. On the flip side, the two-week record is evidence of how quota holders have traditionally used their influence to thwart local management initiatives. Commercial take of blackfoot paua was already prohibited so success was reliant on community support and commitment from David Parker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans LegaSea are encouraging their supporters to get behind these initiatives, as mismanagement of our scallops, mussels, crayfish and paua is not unique to the Hauraki Gulf and Waimarama, it is happening around the country.

“It’s a real worry when mana whenua and local communities have to intervene to prevent fisheries collapsing under the quota management system. This initiative is positive for the whole Hauraki Gulf,” says LegaSea spokesperson Trish Rea. In LegaSea’s view, these are stark examples of the failing Quota Management System and it’s important we support communities taking the lead and raising their expectations for greater diversity and abundance in local waters.

Petition

Local area management, co-governance of fisheries resources and more abundant fish stocks are all elements of our Rescue Fish policy. Successful implementation of the policy requires a strong show of public support for change.

Please encourage your whanau, friends and colleagues to sign the petition at: www.rescuefish.co.nz/petition/ For more information please visit: www.legasea.co.nz or www.facebook.com/legasea

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Swapping between I wonder how many fishers use the same techniques across sea fishing and freshwater angling?

Or do most have two separate collections of equipment and methods?

I have recently used an old lead line to troll for kahawai and have enjoyed success when the kahawai were not evident on the surface.

I trialled three lines and the lead line would have had five times the success versus the surface-trolled lures when there was no bird sign evident.

When the fish were schooling on the surface, both methods were equally successful. The results were similar for skipjack tuna and albacore so having the lures slightly deeper does seem worth the effort. I’ve had some bust offs so am unsure of the breaking strain of the leadline or if the age of it could be a contributing factor. Perhaps it’s time to invest in some better line.

Trial and error Another method ‘borrowed’ from the trout fishing fraternity is the use of a trout fly that imitates whitebait.

The grey ghost fly has been particularly effective during the whitebait season when kahawai terrorise the whitebait schools.

Having such a proven fly which so closely resembles what the

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A Flasher from Canada used for salmon fishing on the Great Lakes

kahawai are feeding on has been very successful.

At times when the kahawai, trevally or mackerel are on the surface herding krill, they will not often take a bigger lure.

During these times a slow trolled tiny fly that resembles krill works a treat. I am unsure of the name of the fly and have lost several so I would suggest any tiny fly would be ideal.

Using such a fly to catch jack mackerel has also been used to advantage by friends, especially at night around lights.

They have had some great sport fishing using fly rods casting

fresh and salt among the schooling fish. Perhaps squid could be targeted as well as they are often near such a light source.

Any lure that can glow obviously appears more attractive to these species. I have tried with mixed success the use of down riggers after bringing two sets back from Canada where they are used for deeper water trolling.

Experiments continue I need to experiment with slow trolling live baits for kingfish when they are in deeper waters. I did have some problems when the weighted ball hit the top of the reef we had been trolling over and the vibrating wire did not appear to be enticing or appealing.

With a range of bigger lures available I will be trying various combinations and methods this summer.

When stray lining in a big current, the burley container can be deployed deeper with the wire line against a wider rope.

I am thinking of lowering my witch doctor game fishing teaser possibly with a lure and/or live bait attached on a trace in current to see if this is appealing to kingfish.

Worthy of more experimentation are lowering lures to bait fish showing in deeper water. Such species as tuna could be deeper down as often they only appear on the surface for short periods so the down riggers could be deployed to advantage using the sounder to indicate the ideal depth.

The Canadian salmon flashers which I saw used in the Great Lakes could also have potential. There are a huge selection of

these flashers ranging from single flashers to those on a wire trace with several circulating discs which flash to imitate fish.

I tried one with a live bait attached on a trace so the swimming bait spun the flasher. Unfortunately a shark took all the tackle so I am awaiting new stock to further experiment with these.

Hung from a float with a bait live or dead could also be a possibility as I note from some spearfishing programmes they use such a device to attract pelagic species in deep water.

Fly fishing Jigging for trout has been especially successful over recent years and this method has been utilised by salt water anglers for sometime in deeper waters. In shallow waters, such as estuaries and harbours near mangroves, there have been reports of successful catches fly fishing some distance from the fish, which can be easily spooked if you are too close. There could be potential for fly fishing for flounder with a fly that resembles what they are feeding on such as small crabs and shrimps.

Many folk near marinas or waterways or in harbours see mullet and as they will not readily take a bait perhaps a fly could be enticing to them. They would be great to take on a fly rod.

I am unsure of the methods used when harling but no doubt such techniques could be adapted for salt water use, especially in harbours or around islands.

No doubt many other anglers have adapted fresh water techniques to salt water and will continue to experiment and trial.

Ron Morgan

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‘We are guests on the water’ is the message the Department of Conservation would like to remind boaties, as hot-spots remain busy.

DOC say the safety of sea life should always be at the forefront of people’s minds when enjoying our waters.

With border restrictions of Covid-19 meaning more Kiwis are holidaying at home and enjoying the Bay of Plenty’s water playgrounds, DOC Tauranga marine ranger Karl McCarthy says it is always good to remind people that we share the ocean with living species and to give them the necessary space to be safe in their natural environment.

“Boaties need to be particularly mindful in the shallow harbours of the Bay of Plenty where boat traffic is high and animals may be confined to shallow waters,” says Karl.

“Boat strikes and strandings are real risks for these animals.

“The last thing they need is people getting in their bubble particularly when they need to be busy feeding, nursing their young or sleeping.

“It’s not always appropriate to interact with marine mammals and that’s why we recommend going out with a DOC permitted marine mammal operator.

“They have extensive knowledge not only in where to find animals but when and how to best interact with them.

“Marine conservation is at the forefront of what they do.”

Trained to protect

Bay Explorer owner Brandon Stone says that as an approved operator, the crew is trained in the rules and regulations regarding different species, as well as understanding the behaviour of different marine life.

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“We operate under a DOC permit and stick to the legislation established to help the protection of marine species and their habitat,” says Brandon.

“Our crew members are marine enthusiasts and conservationists.”

Brandon says there are many ways to safely share the waters with marine life with the right understanding of their biology and behaviour.

For example, finding marine mammals in the Bay of Plenty requires an understanding of tidal flows and current movements. Boaties who are not familiar with this could change direction and speed which potentially increases the risk of striking sealife.

“Constant speed and constant direction is important.

“We are trained to know, for example, what direction a whale is swimming in.

But an untrained person may change direction or increase speed suddenly trying to sight particular wildlife.”

Stay aware

Keeping focused on the water and understanding the behaviours of different marine life is also paramount.

“Understanding the behaviour is important, for example approaching dolphins, we are trained to know when they are feeding, or what they are doing at certain times in their natural habitat.

“At the beginning of summer, dolphin pods can be particularly vulnerable as there are a lot of juvenile dolphins in the water.

“Unfortunately some people in their boats just do not keep an eye on the water and what’s around them.”

Brandon says the tours aim to educate people about their biology, behaviours and habitat.

Karl says we are all responsible for ensuring the continued safety of our marine life.

Being mindful and slowing right down to idle or no wake speed when coming

across pods of dolphins, turtles, and other sea life prevents the likelihood of boat strikes, says Karl.

Written in law

All reptiles, including sea turtles, are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and all seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978.

It’s an offence to harass, disturb, injure or kill marine mammals and sea turtles.

If you come across injured or stranded marine mammals and reptiles call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Annemarie Quill

Siren set-up delayed Previous plans to install new sirens from Papamoa to Omanu have been delayed, with the impact of Covid-19 attributed as the main factor.

However, any system must fit the profile for new regulations regarding tsunami warning infrastructure.

It comes after residents in the Thames Coromandel District Council region expressed major concerns about the deactivation of the tsunami warning system in their area.

Mercury Bay resident Linda Cholmondeley Smith expressed her concerns with TCDC Mayor Sandra Goudie after the earthquake and tsunami threat across the East Coast on Friday, March 5.

Tsunami scare Linda was left disappointed at the lack of alerts and soon discovered regional plans to deactivate sirens.

“Within six hours we have had three earthquakes and there has not been anything from Civil Defence,” Linda says.

Linda claims the Mayor told her at a public meeting on Sunday, March 21, that the decision to deactivate the sirens in the TCDC area was an internal decision with

no public consultation.

TCDC civil defence controller Garry Towler clarifies the tsunami sirens in TCDC will be disconnected in September. He also disputes the idea there was no public consultation.

“We’ve been flagging up since at least December 2016 that the tsunami warning sirens in our district are not compliant with the new national standards,” says Gary.

“Because of issues around their location, wind direction, double-glazing in windows they are not the most effective means of alerting people.”

In 2014, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management released a new standard for tsunami warning sirens.

A timeframe until June 2020 was given to meet this new standard.

In July 2020, TCDC were informed their sirens no longer complied.

Alarm-less

In Tauranga, there are currently no active tsunami sirens.

Much like in the TCDC area, any sirens in Tauranga would need to meet the new guidelines set out in 2014.

“The standard requires sirens intended to be used for tsunami warnings to be PA capable in order to provide simple and clear voice messages after the alert signal,” Barbara explains.

Plans to install up to 12 sirens, covering around 15km, remain.

However, the project is on hold due to Covid-19 related supply chain issues. A report related to the use of sirens will be presented to Tauranga City Council commissioners on April 27.

Get gone Civil Defence New Zealand advise not to wait for official warnings. If you’re near the coast and feel an earthquake that is long or strong, get gone is the message.

Linda has now started a petition to try and ensure sirens remain a part of the alert system in the Thames-Coromandel region.

She believes implementing the new systems alongside traditional air-raid style sirens, is the most expedient way to ensure safety for all. “We’re doing all these great things which are ok when they are already complimenting a system that Mathew Nash already exists.”

Connecting Taupo with the lake

Taupo authorities are using the Government’s “shovel-ready” projects cash to push forward with a project to link the CBD with the waterfront.

The $20 million CBD Transformation project has been part of the Taupo District Council’s strategic plan since 2004 but was on the back burner because of more pressing projects.

When the Government was handing out cash for “shovel-ready projects” to stimulate local economies post-lockdown, the idea was ready to go and the council seized the chance.

The project will see the main road through town shifted so it skirts the CBD to the east. The existing four lane Tongariro St main road will be reduced to two lanes, with landscaping and traffic calming in place to encourage more pedestrian use. It is hoped this will connect the main retail area with the adjacent Tongariro Domain, Lake Taupo Marina and the lakefront opposite Robert St, where many of the cafes and restaurants are located.

Work is already well underway with new roundabouts installed in the CBD and work now underway on the new main road down Titiraupenga St. It is expected to be completed by about the middle of 2022. waterline April 2021

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Follow and watch...

Whales by satellite Tohora photographed near Auckland Island. Photo: R Robinson under DOC permit.

Whale watchers can now follow the summer travels of six New Zealand southern right whales online, thanks to scientists successfully attaching satellite tracking tags to the tohora in August.

As part of a major research project involving the University of Auckland and Cawthron Institute, the researchers worked in freezing conditions in the subAntarctic where tohora gather each winter in the sheltered harbour of Port Ross on Auckland Island, which serves as a nursery and socialising destination.

And winter 2020’s gathering provided scientists with the opportunity to attach the tracking tags and do other research including taking skin samples for genetic and biochemical analysis and to measure the size of individual whales using drone technology.

Defying predictions

The expedition to Port Ross, which lies more than 400km south of Stewart Island in the Southern Ocean, aimed to find out more about the migration routes and offshore feeding grounds of this population of whales.

Early results from the satellite tracking shows the whales – named Tahi, Rua, Toru, Wha, Rima and Bill/Wiremu – already leaving Port Ross for the summer but so far they have defied predictions of where they might head to.

Dr Emma Carroll, a Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi Rutherford Discovery Fellow at the University of Auckland, say her team had expected 36

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they would travel north to the warmer waters nearer New Zealand and Australia “where we assume their traditional feeding grounds are”.

“But first they swam even further south towards Antarctica. They also initially spent longer in the general region of the Auckland Islands than we thought they would, so that’s a clear indication of just how important this area is to these amazing animals.”

Population recovery

As of November, one of the whales, named Toru, was about 1300km east of Bill, south of South Australia, probably also in the subtropical convergence.

“Toru is closer to where two whales tracked offshore, in a pilot study, from the Auckland Islands in 2009 went to feed,” says Emma.

“So three whales with regularly transmitting tags – Toru, Bill and Tahi – seem to have reached their feeding grounds, likely in the subtropical convergence south of Australia.

“It will be really interesting to see where they go next. Maybe they’ll keep feeding there all summer, maybe they’ll move south – we’ll have to wait and see!”

Whales found refuge in the Auckland Islands while around mainland New Zealand whaling nearly wiped them out in the early-1800s. Today, the Port Ross region is still the only nursery area for tohora in New Zealand waters, and the whales have been protected by a moratorium on tourism since 2002.

Emma says the winter 2020 expedition of eight scientists into the wild Southern Ocean aboard the yacht Evohe posed some major challenges. “It was freezing

cold with snow and sleet, so working in those conditions is really hard but we went prepared. Sailing into Port Ross and seeing so many whales was a wonderful moment.”

Cawthron Institute marine ecologist Dr Simon Childerhouse, who was also involved in the expedition, says this particular population of tohora have recovered well from whaling from the early-1800s when numbers plummeted to as low as 40 from an estimated 30,000.

Changing climate

By 2009, the population had recovered to around 2000 whales. But one of the biggest potential remaining threats to tohora is climate change and the effect it might be having on marine species the whales rely on for food once they reach summer feeding grounds.

“Other populations in the Southern Hemisphere are not faring that well and there is ongoing concern about how climate change may be affecting the amount of food available to them,” says Simon.

“We need to do more to whether these impacts have had the same effect on New Zealand’s population to date, and learn from what has happened elsewhere so that we can protect New Zealand’s tohora now and in the future.”

The research is made possible by private equity leader, philanthropist and New Zealand proprietor Brian Sheth, the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi, the University of Auckland, Live Ocean and the Lou & Iris Fisher Charitable Trust.

Follow the voyages of the whales at: www.tohoravoyages.ac.nz and www.liveocean.com

Thrills and skills

on the ‘Great Lake’

It has been a busy season for sailing on Lake Taupo, including the newest and fastest Olympic event – the breathtaking Windfoiler Class.

Prizes were donated by Chris Wornal – a NZ Paralympic sailor in Atlanta, 1996 and presented by HCNZ representative Tom Scott.

HANSA results

The 303 Singles was won by Darrell Smith of Wellington, 2nd was Graham Hook of Wellington and 3rd was Paulien

HANSA Class yachts prepare to start racing.

All Photos: Graeme Robinson.

first time on the Great Lake.

Amongst the fleet were a number of teenagers who are close to representing New Zealand at Olympic level.

And at the end of March the Club hosted the traditional CNI Secondary Schools’ Teams Sailing regional championships which selected teams to represent the region at the Teams Sailing Nationals, held at Algies Bay at the end of April.

Daniel Hutchinson

And they’re off and racing.

Lake Taupo Yacht Club commodore Alan Simpson says the club has hosted eight regattas this season.

Most recently, on the weekend of April 9-11, the club hosted the 2021 HANSA Class National Championship – a class designed for sailors with a range of disabilities.

The event was originally meant to be held alongside the club’s Centreboard Regatta in March but was postponed due to Auckland’s Level 3 lockdown.

That didn’t faze the competitors who turned up “eager and enthusiastic to compete”.

Three days of sailing included nine races in each class, plus two social events.

Alan says Taupo is the perfect place for this type of event because of its central location and “easy and acceptable” sailing conditions.

Conditions were “ideal” with moderate breezes for Friday’s racing, increasing in intensity on Saturday and fading on the Sunday.

Competitors came from Wellington, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

Alan thanked the Lake Taupo Harbour Master and staff for their assistance during the event and for enabling the competitors’ boats to be moored overnight in the Taupo Marina.

Chamberlain from Tauranga.

The 303 Double was won by Matthew Henderson of Wellington, with Wellington’s Laura Stuart 2nd and Jordan Grogan of Tauranga 3rd.

The Liberty class was won by Tony Vaka of Auckland, Robert Coulter of Auckland 2nd and Tom Scott from Tauranga 3rd.

The regatta also doubled as the Blind NZ Sailing Championships with the 303 Double B1 Gold won by Toby Ireland of Wellington.

The 303 Single B2 Gold was won by Paulien Chamberlain of Tauranga, the B2 Silver went to Dave Allerton of Taranaki and the 303 Single B3 Gold went to Davey Parker from the Bay of Plenty.

Full regatta results are available at www.ltyc.org.nz/page/590676.

Conditions are perfect for sailing.

The crew of the Kura are hard at work.

High speed action In November the club hosted the newest Olympic sailing class – the Windfoiler Class.

Alan says these are probably the fastest sailing craft ever seen on the lake.

He says competitors sailed to the rock carvings and back at speeds only matched by the fastest power boats.

In mid-March the club also hosted a fleet of 29er sailors, competing for the

Taking their ‘Chance’ on Lake Taupo. waterline April 2021

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Survive the Dive certification launched The NZUA is delighted to announce the launch of its Survive the Dive online training and certificate platform.

Sponsored by Water Safety NZ and Maritime NZ, the ground-breaking web application allows divers to refresh and test their diving and boating safety knowledge with a gamified quiz and apply for an NZUA-endorsed certificate.

Created by Fathom, an Auckland-based web marketing and digital development agency, the Survive the Dive application is an exciting opportunity to offer the NZUA’s extensive diving and boating knowledge base to every New Zealand diver in a fun, engaging and meaningful manner.

Growing popularity

Ben Christie of Water Safety NZ, sums up the Survive the Dive application well.

“Water Safety New Zealand is thrilled to fund this new initiative and continue its strong partnership with NZUA,” says Ben. “We are blessed with places to dive in this country.

“Diving in all its forms continues to

grow in popularity across all demographics.

“It’s so important that every diver makes safety a priority and gets the knowledge they need to stay safe in the water.

“This free interactive learning platform will make access to that critical knowledge so much easier.”

The low-down The Survive the Dive web application is available in six languages: English, Te Reo, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi and Simplified Chinese.

Thanks to sponsors, Water Safety NZ, Maritime NZ and Air Purity Limited, Survive the Dive certification is available free.

The Survive the Dive platform is an engaging way to refresh diving and boating safety knowledge. It’s suitable for divers of all levels, as well as dive boat operators.

It’s gamified, allowing participants to save high-scores and track their learning process.

It doesn’t replace commercial dive

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is advising people to plan ahead when visiting the beach as they prepare to end their patrol season.

Some patrols across Bay of Plenty beaches have come to an end with most of them finishing up after the upcoming Easter weekend.

The recent Beach & Coastal Safety Report released by SLNZ highlighted an alarming rate of fatal drownings in New Zealand, 48 per cent more per capita than in Australia.

There have been 33 fatal drownings in the Bay of Plenty during the 10-year period 2010 to 2020 and the last oneyear overview showed three fatal drownings in the region, matching the annual average.

It is a number that is too high in the opinion of SLNZ lifesaving manager for Eastern Region Chaz Gibbons-Campbell.

He highlights specific concerns such as the disproportionately high rate of males involved in fatal drowning incidents and an overall poor national average.

“Most of our beaches are finishing up or have finished with the last patrol weekend Easter,” says Chaz. “But obviously it is still quite warm out there and we are still seeing a lot of people visiting even the beaches that have finished there are still people out there booking bachs and 38

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qualifications, so if you’re unqualified and planning on diving, please take a formal, professional dive training course.

Again, all aspects of the Survive the Dive platform are available at no cost.

Everyone who passes the final exam with 80 per cent correct answers receives an NZUA-endorsed Survive the Dive certificate, valid for two years.

Ready to play Survive the Dive?

There are two stages: A gamified quiz with 10 randomly generated questions.

Take the quiz multiple times to cover all the material. Save your high scores to track your progress.

An online exam with 20 comprehensive questions. If you pass the exam (scoring 80 per cent or more), you’ll receive an NZUA-endorsed Survive the Dive certificate, valid for two years.

Try the Survive the Dive certificate application at: www.certficate.nzunderwater.org.nz

stuff like that.”

Chaz is telling beachgoers who are set to attend unpatrolled beaches in the remaining warm weather postEaster to be prepared.

“Our message is to plan ahead. Check the weather, the surf forecast, check to see if there is a patrol operating on the beach and make a bit of a plan with your family or friends so that you know what you are going to do and who is going to be there. Make sure you have got all the right kit for any watersports and obviously make sure somebody is with you.”

Ideally, Chaz hopes these are protocols swimmers, surfers and boaties already follow.

If you do see someone in trouble, dialling 111 and asking for the police is the advice given.

“We will still have our callout squads operational throughout the season so if we do need to call anyone out there is that capability to get some lifeguards out there.”

Chaz admits that in the BOP we have an ‘awesome playground’ in our backyard but that the waters can be unpredictable. If someone is unsure about whether the water is safe, he has a simple message.

“If in doubt, stay out.

“People really need to assess the risks and their ability and if there is any doubt there then stay out or go to a safer location.”

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