KEY POINTS:
Police will do patrols over summer of a Northland beach where a 13-year-old girl was killed last New Year's Eve.
Daisy Fernandez of Tauranga died on Ripiro Beach at Glinks Gully when she was struck by an unregistered motorbike driven by a 15-year-old boy .
Daisy's best friend, Claudia Billinge, was seriously hurt, and the motorcyclist received minor injuries.
The death has heightened concerns on the west coast about vehicles on the beach.
As a result, a police officer will be based full-time for six weeks at Ripiro Beach - which stretches from Pouto to Maunganui Bluff, north of Dargaville - in a joint initiative involving the Dargaville station and the Kaipara District Council.
Senior Constable Ian Anderson of Dargaville police will start his duties from Baylys Beach just before Christmas and will cover the length of Ripiro.
He will enforce road rules and work with the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries.
A survey last summer found 63 per cent of people questioned at Ripiro Beach identified vehicles as the most pressing problem on the coast and said action was needed.
Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller believed a police presence would make a big difference to public behaviour.
"Our west coast is not the wild west coast. It has rules and behaviour expectations like anywhere else."
Senior Sergeant Sue Leach said having police on the beach would have an effect, and she hoped it would be an ongoing arrangement.
Police are keen to borrow a quad bike. They also want help with patrols. Call Dargaville police on (09) 439-3400.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
