Sidebar: Recent drownings at Akitio Beach:
* Dannevirke's Malcolm Cameron, 37, drowned at Akitio Beach in February last year while free-diving.
* Fijian rugby player 22-year-old Eroni Gaunavou drowned in April 2012 after suffering an epileptic seizure.
Chris Horrocks loves the beach at Akitio, but he also knows the risks associated with the sea.
Mr Horrocks has been holidaying at Akitio since 1969 and is living there while his house is built in Masterton and he's thrilled to see his campaign to have the Beware of Rips signs reinstated has succeeded.
"Following publicity in the Dannevirke News/Hawke's Bay Today in June this year, the national water safety organisation threw their weight behind my campaign and the Tararua District Council to get the signs up," he said.
There are now three warning signs erected along the beach front, one at the river mouth, one at the ablution block and one in front of Mr Horrocks' beach home.
"I know Peter Greatbach, chairman of the Akitio Ratepayer's Association, would also like to see a sign up where the boats are launched," he said.