$200 law hits boogie boards

By CATHY ARONSON and AINSLEY THOMSON

Boogie boarders, surfers and windsurfers at many of New Zealand's most popular beaches will have to wear wetsuits or lifejackets or face $200 fines.

The beaches affected include Raglan, Whangamata, Waihi, Paihia and Waipu Cove.

Surfers are outraged and their national organisation has criticised the move, which even covers youngsters using boogie boards.

Surfing and boogie boarding are among the 10 most popular sports for adults aged 18 to 24, with about 200,000 people across the country participating, according to the Hillary Commission.

The new rules have been introduced by the Northland and Waikato Regional Councils as part of wider bylaws making it compulsory for anyone on a boat to carry a lifejacket. They will be enforced by harbourmasters who patrol beaches and lakes.

Regional councils have been given the responsibility for water safety under a Local Government Act law change and have until 2003 to introduce bylaws.

They will have to meet minimum national rules being drafted by the Maritime Safety Authority that are due to be implemented by 2003.

Authority legal adviser Tim Workman told the Herald that wetsuits provided buoyancy if a board user was knocked unconscious and helped to protect against the cold if he or she drifted out to sea.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Alan Muir agreed that wetsuits, which cost between $80 and $400, provided some buoyancy as well as keeping the wearer warm and protected from the sun.

But he did not think the use of wetsuits should be compulsory.

"Five-year-old kids playing in the shallows with their parents on the body board they got for Christmas should not have to wear a full wetsuit. That's taking it a bit far."

Mr Muir said his organisation supported making it compulsory for all boats to carry lifejackets. If authorities wanted to make boogie boarding safer, the compulsory use of flippers would be of more value than wetsuits.

Surfing New Zealand president Gary Quinn said surfers would not wear wetsuits if it was hot and would refuse to pay fines.

"It is the dumbest piece of legislation I have ever heard of," he said. "New Zealand will be the laughing stock of the surfing world."

He said wetsuits restricted movement and were not worn unless it was cold.

"You would die of heat exhaustion before you died of the cold in summer.

"A wetsuit won't make you float. Your flotation device is attached to your leg rope - your surfboard."

In the past 20 years, six people have died surfing, four windsurfing and nine in other watersports, including boogie boarding.

This compares with between 10 and 20 swimming deaths each year.

The Waikato regional council, Environment Waikato, introduced its bylaw in July, covering anyone using a "surfboard, sailboard, windsurfer or any like vessel".

Navigation safety manager David Pearks confirmed that the bylaw included boogie boarders and said those caught breaking the rules this summer would be warned under a grace period. Fines would eventually be handed out.

Mr Pearks said people had complained about the new rules and the bylaw could be reviewed in the new year if necessary.

"We wanted to provide some sort of protection for this group. If it turns out to be impractical we might reconsider."

Northland introduced its bylaw last week with similar wording to Waikato's.

Auckland has not included a clause covering surfers or other board users in its water safety bylaw, saying the move was unnecessary, but some of the beaches affected are popular holiday and weekend destinations for Aucklanders.

A draft of the Maritime Safety Authority's national minimum guidelines will be released in the new year and will be open for public submission.

At Takapuna Beach yesterday, surfers and parents were opposed to the new rules.

Harriet Todd, a 10-year-old from Birkenhead, said: "I think it's stupid. You can wear what you want. I would just go in my togs."

Mark Goodison, an 18-year-old North Shore student, questioned how the councils would be able to enforce the rules.

"There are so many surfers," said Mr Goodison. "It's pretty stupid. People should be allowed to wear what they want.

"What difference does a wetsuit or lifejacket make? Usually surfers are careful."

Ryan Page, also aged 18 and from the North Shore, said: "I feel that it would take the fun out of the sport. It would make it expensive for people who just want to play around in the surf."

Harriet Todd's mother, Jo, was also against the idea.

"Parents should monitor [their children] rather than relying on a wetsuit. You would be fighting a battle getting kids into wetsuits."

Hans Venecourt, from Mairangi Bay, said: "I think it stinks. If it's for water safety, maybe they should employ lifesavers. I don't think a wetsuit would save a kid's life."

And Jonny Poi, a 21-year-old graphic printer from Eden Tce in central Auckland, thought that wetsuits were too expensive.

"You should be allowed to wear what you want."