Boaties fume as poles cut

Parua Bay boaties southeast of Whangarei are fuming after a 50-year-old structure used to maintain and repair their vessels was chopped down without any consultation.

The four poles had been used since 1952 as berths for vessels, enabling work at low tide. But last Wednesday Whangarei district resident John Dyer removed them with the permission of the Northland Regional Council.

The Northern Advocate newspaper understands he will use the 8m hardwood poles in his garden.

Mr Dyer said he had asked the council if he could take poles at Onerahi but they had instead offered the Parua poles. Removing them took seven hours.

"When I finished, three locals came down and they were pretty irate," said Mr Dyer.

Boaties will now have to pay to use a Whangarei haul-out area.

"We are hopping mad," said resident Greg Hayes. "Boaties could come across to the only sheltered bay in the harbour on a nice day and check their boats out."

He said boaties were angry that the council did not consult them.

Council spokesman Allan Richards confirmed the lack of consultation but said past efforts to get locals to take responsibility for the poles had failed.

- NZPA