Ripiro Coast finally has some lifesavers again

For the first time in decades the wild Ripiro Coast has surf lifesavers and a flagged swimming area.
The red and gold guards began patrolling on Saturday at Ripiro Beach in the settlement area known as Baylys Beach on the Kaipara coast, and are a welcome sight to both locals and visitors.
Five people have drowned at the beach since 1980. The three-week trial has been prompted by calls to bring back patrols after two people drowned within days of each other in 2006.
Senior lifeguards Steven Granshaw (Port Waikato), Kris O'Neill (Piha) and Amber Prestegard, an exchange lifeguard from San Diego in the United States, say with the exception of Sunday the number of swimmers has been kept small because of the inclement weather, however as weather improves they expect numbers to swell.
Mr Granshaw said the patrol had received a good response from the public, but he asked motorists to be more vigilant and keep their speed down between the flagged area.
"Everyone just has to be aware of children in the area," said Ms Prestegard.
She said the guards had met with the local community on Saturday to learn the commonly known trouble spots, rip locations and general orientation of the beach.
It is advisable to swim in the patrolled area because rips can change on a daily basis according to tides and wind and new ones can sometimes appear. Patrols are from 11am to 6pm daily.
Around six local people began training with Surf Life Saving Northern Region instructors last Sunday.
It is hoped that the trial, combined with a water safety campaign and recruitment drive, will lead to the restoration of a local lifeguard service.