Blackwater backwater for VIP daughters

By Scott MacLeod

WAITOMO - The Clinton and Shipley daughters were secretly flown to tiny Waitomo for a spot of adventure caving yesterday as their more famous parents talked in Auckland during Apec.

But the secrecy was compromised when two Iroquois helicopters rattled the early-morning teacups of residents of the King Country town.

Chelsea Clinton, Anna Shipley - the daughters of United States President Bill Clinton and New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley - and a posse of security officials landed at the local sports ground and were whisked to the Black Water Rafting company to don wetsuits.

The party of seven spent more than three hours on a 35m abseil, an underground flying fox and a wet inner-tube journey through labyrinthine limestone caves.

But the media were hot on the trail, and there was a series of brilliant decoy moves by security officers which kept the frustrated photographers one step behind until their quarry flew out at 3 pm.

Chelsea left an entry in the caving log book. It read: "Thank you for a terrifically adventurous and wild time. Chelsea Clinton."

Above it was Anna's comment: "Nothing like a few crazy Americans to provide some motivation! I won't forget that abseil in a hurry!"

Caving guide Angus Stubbs said he wasn't told of the visit until 8.30 am. The company was informed the previous night.

"They were great, exactly the same as any other touring group," he said. "Even the bodyguards were pretty laid back about being thrown off walls and cliffs."

It was the first time Chelsea had been caving. There was "lots of screaming and hooting and carry-on" when the visitors used the flying fox.

Police said Chelsea was becoming annoyed by the intense security and media interest surrounding her visit. She had just one security guard in the US.

The visit sparked concern among police when the young VIP's helicopter didn't arrive on time. "I thought I'd lost the President's daughter," said one officer.

But the helicopter had taken a detour to Hamilton for more fuel.