Opua dog swimming races sunk by health and safety rules

Hunter Kay of Opua prepares to launch his jack russell, Rosie, during the 2016 Opua Community Regatta dog swimming races. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A ''long-running and beautiful'' school fundraising regatta has been sunk by health and safety rules.

For almost 40 years Opua School in the Bay of Islands has held an annual community regatta featuring a kids' raft race, sailing and kayaking, food stalls and, most famously, a series of dog swimming races.

This year's Opua Community Regatta, however, has had to be replaced by a more traditional gala on the school grounds due to the cost of a traffic management plan, which is legally required because the regatta took place partly on Beechy St, a narrow road with no footpath along the Opua waterfront.

The Opua Community Regatta featured kids' raft races, pictured, and dog and human swimming races. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Opua School principal Simon McGowan said the district council was equally frustrated but had to enforce the legislation.

The PTA then had the difficult decision of whether to pay for a traffic plan, which could have cost $1000 for an event which raised little more than $3000, or move the event to the school grounds.

Mr McGowan said he was not blaming anyone and he could see why the legislation had been created.

''Unfortunately, it has had an impact on a beautiful and long-standing tradition. The event has just had to morph into something that's acceptable these days.''

Helen Robertson launches reluctant swimmer Lucy, a fox terrier cross, in the 2016 Opua Community Regatta. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

The new health and safety legislation came into force in 2016, requiring event organisers to ensure the safety of workers, volunteers and road users, but the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management, which sets out the requirements for traffic management plans, has been around much longer.

Mr McGowan said organisers had got away without having a traffic plan only through ignorance of the rules.

PTA chairwoman Katja Caulton said a lot of work had gone into trying to organise the regatta.

There was little the council had been able to do to help apart from trying to minimise the cost to the school.

She had been warned that if the regatta had gone ahead and someone had been hurt, the law could be ''ruthless'' with serious consequences for the organisers.

She urged Northlanders to support the school by coming to the gala, which would be held from 10am-1pm on March 24. It would feature old-fashioned games, food, swimming races in the pool, and kids' stalls.

Mrs Caulton hoped the regatta could return next year now the PTA understood the rules and had a year to prepare.

Hunter Kay of Opua prepares to launch his jack russell, Rosie, during the 2016 Opua Community Regatta dog swimming races. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Opua historian Myra Larcombe said the regatta started as a community hall fundraiser around 1981. In its heyday 60 dogs took part in the swimming races.

Other community events which have fallen victim to health and safety or food safety laws include the Rawene Races, replaced this year by a tamer, mounted games-style event and no food stalls, and the Ngunguru school gala and fireworks display.