Moment of silence on a crowded beach

A pocket of Mt Maunganui's huge golden beach stood still for a minute at 1.59pm yesterday, but all around was noise and activity as people enjoyed a glorious sunny Sunday.

About 2000 spectators, gathered for the MoreFM pro-tour beach volleyball, observed the brief moment of silence to remember the tsunami victims. Some bowed their heads, a few appeared to be praying as the waves rolled in.

"It was a solemn moment, really," said one of the volleyball tournament organisers, Dave Mee.

"Being on the coast gave an affinity."

Looking over the idyllic summer beach setting after the pause, 22-year-old Melanie Luke said: "This is what it would have been like on Boxing Day. That is quite sobering."

Not far from the volleyball courts, people swam, sunbathed, strolled, pushed prams and rode bicycles.

A stone's throw away, cars passed in a bumper-to-bumper procession along Marine Parade. Across the road, under the high-towered apartment buildings, the cafe chat continued unabated.

But lifeguards on duty at the Mount surf club slipped down to the water's edge to mark the minute's silence.

Tauranga woman Trish Comber, 85, enjoying the volleyball from her deckchair in the shade of a sun umbrella, said the silent moment was "just beautiful, very tranquil".

"I was thinking, 'Thank God we are able to get out here and enjoy it all'."

About 15m away, jewellery stall-holder Josh Rumble, 21, was unaware of the national mark of respect.

He was simply wondering why custom had suddenly gone quiet.

Jodie Paniora at the Airbrush Tattoos tent kept up his rap music, and the neighbouring vertical bungy carried on business as usual.

Sheltering under a tree, Aucklander Bob Falconer, 64, was aware of the national memorial day but at the vital time, "I forgot".

His daughter, Kylie, was taking part in the Mt Surf Club Harbour to Surf 4km swim.

"The swimmers didn't stop."