Surf club bans community board member

Rob Taylor

Leaders of the surf club that guards one of the country's most dangerous beaches have banned an elected community representative after he said members' driving damaged the environment and risked the safety of pedestrians.

Waitakere community board member Rob Taylor, who lives at Karekare Beach, on Auckland's west coast, was served with a trespass notice barring him from setting foot on club property.

It was served by Karekare Surf Lifesaving Patrol chairman, Kubi Witten-Hannah, who is a fellow community board member.

Mr Taylor said yesterday the ban was ludicrous and retaliation for his trying to get the club to "clean up its act" by not driving vehicles through a stream and on a walkway to reach their clubhouse.

He said the clubhouse was a 200-metre walk from the beach's carpark over an area controlled by the Auckland Regional Council.

He wanted the ARC to stop members driving on the southern footpath except in times of emergency and to restore a former access route for use before "a kiddie is run over."

A resident for 15 years but not one of the club's 100 members, Mr Taylor said he was doing the job he was elected to do.

"The ban is a petty, vindictive act on me for daring to speak out. It will only affect my two kids who are enthusiastic club juniors. I won't be able to go to the club to support them."

Club president Stephen Pye said the management committee's ban was a result of Mr Taylor's repeated attacks over many years on more issues than just the one about the club's road access.

"We patrol one of the three most dangerous beaches in the country. It's a community service and we don't deserve to be abused.

"The club has had enough. This is one course of action available to us.

"On one hand, Mr Taylor cannot enjoy the benefits the club provides and on the other hand abuse the club, it's membership and management as he sees fit.

"His children are welcome in the club but he is not."

Mr Pye said members had to drive through the stream to reach the clubhouse and there was no danger to pedestrians.

The ARC had stringent requirements on the club to manage its area.

"We manage that relationship with the ARC admirably and sometimes members do the wrong thing and we address that."

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, who is the club's patron and veteran's patrol member, said the club had the right to serve a trespass order.

Community board chairman Christine Shepherd said Mr Taylor had not breached the board's code of conduct for members.

He was acting in a personal capacity in the dispute rather than on behalf of the community board.