Waka race rescue investigated

1.30pm - By J0-MARIE BROWN

The Maritime Safety Authority will investigate whether the organisers of a waka race in Tauranga yesterday breached new safety guidelines after 30 or so people had to be rescued in rough seas.

Strong winds had whipped up one and half metre waves in Tauranga Harbour and police and coastguard officials were called at 3:20pm yesterday when at least six waka overturned.

Incident controller Senior Sergeant Lyn Manning said the 40 knots winds were forecast but the race had gone ahead.

Local boaties and the Tranz Rail Rescue Helicopter were called in to help search and police initially feared people may have been swept out to sea.

"We were getting reports of people tipping out in different locations or being swept ashore in different locations and the organisers had no idea of what was unfolding," Senior Sergeant Manning said.

"They did have support boats with radios but perhaps the conditions were such that they weren't getting that information back".

Senior Sergeant Manning said there did not appear to be any life jackets on board the waka or support boats.

"The fact that they weren't [wearing life jackets] and they were all saved was probably miraculous," he said.

Maritime Safety Authority deputy director Tony Martin said voluntary waka guidelines were introduced last October after a number of accidents in Gisborne, Rotorua and the Bay of Islands.

The guidelines required race organisers to pay attention to the weather forecast and wear life jackets in rough conditions if they decide to proceed.

In calm weather, life jackets should still be carried either in the waka or by the inflatable support boats following behind.

"I think they've been quite successful and people seem to have observed them," Mr Martin said.

"We want to look in the course of this investigation just how closely those guidelines were followed on this occasion."