Sign row delays start to tuna contest

Several Maori protested against an "apartheid" sign about an hour before the start of the Whakatane Sport Fishing Club annual four-day tuna tournament yesterday.

They locked the gate of a "spill-over" parking area to block vehicles towing boats.

Whakatane harbourmaster Brian Spake said the protesters insisted they were not objecting to contestants parking on the reserve near the sport fishing club. Rather, they took offence at a Whakatane District Council sign reading: "Over-flow parking area for boat trailers only. All other vehicles prohibited."

The protesters said that was apartheid. The standoff ended soon after police arrived and removed the unofficial lock.

There were no arrests.

"But I think the sign disappeared with them," said Mr Spake.

The first yellowfin was caught less than an hour after the 7am start yesterday.

The 142 boats carrying 560 anglers quickly scattered to favoured spots from six to 20 nautical miles out to sea.

Before noon, 25 yellowfin tuna and a striped marlin had been taken - close to the total number of fish caught over the four days last year. And the catches kept coming, right up to the evening weigh-in.

It is not only tuna that will take prizes in the popular competition, which has been a Whakatane fixture for about 30 years. Other categories include marlin, shark and kingfish.

Club manager Kevin McCracken said the contest, one of the biggest in New Zealand, could be the best for several years if the "fabulous" weather continued.

Harbourmaster Brian Spake also predicted a bumper contest.