TikTok user 'Casey', who describes themselves as a 16-year-old, posted a video of themselves atop a crane in Auckland's central city.
A youth dangled from a crane 220 metres above Auckland’s waterfront.
The stunt was filmed and uploaded to social media.
Police and construction officials emphasised the risks of such actions.
A youth has staged a daring night-time feat on an Auckland waterfront construction site, dangling from the end of a crane boom with just one hand some 200 metres above the ground.
A video claims the youth, who said they were just 16 years old, clung on to the boom of “New Zealand’s tallest crane” 220m in the air.
The feat, which took place under the cover of darkness, appears to have been executed on the incomplete Seascape tower on Auckland’s waterfront.
Seascape, a residential skyscraper under construction in the Auckland city centre, with the daredevil hanging by one hand. Composite photo / NZME
The 30-second, since-deleted clip on TikTok shows the daredevil precariously climbing down a ladder against the backdrop of Port of Auckland far below.
A flashing red light of the crane illuminates the youth while he climbs to the edge and dangles above the city below using just one hand.
He then begins to do two-handed pull-ups on the bar before the video ends.
“Gotta be the best climb I’ve ever recorded, hanging one-handed off a 220-meter drop,” the caption of the video said.
A still image from a video published this month to TikTok showing a daredevil hanging by one hand from a crane at the top of the Seascape high-rise building construction site.
But the teen’s actions have been slated as incredibly dangerous and “stupid” by one crane operator.
Founder and owner of Christchurch-based crane hire company Smith Cranes, Tim Smith, told the Herald he could recall at least 12 similar incidents involving his cranes.
Smith Cranes was not connected to the crane at Seascape, but Smith said it was a hassle to deal with such a nuisance.
“Well hey, they want to be stupid. They don’t really do harm to the crane, they’re doing harm to themselves,” Smith said.
“It’s not that complicated, you climb to the end of a crane and you risk falling off the top.
“If they want to climb cranes so bad, they should come to me for a job.”
Police told the Herald they were not immediately aware of when this occurred.
“It’s really important our young people think about taking part in this sort of action. It puts them at risk of serious or fatal consequences,” a spokesperson said.
“There have been instances in recent years in Auckland CBD where we have located people unlawfully inside buildings or building sites. Those people have faced enforcement action as a result.”
The 30-second clip on TikTok shows the daredevil precariously climbing down a ladder against the backdrop of Port of Auckland far below. Photo / Supplied
High-rise construction project manager for CMP Andrew Moore told the Herald the base of a crane would be fenced off to prevent unauthorised access, a responsibility for the contractor.
Moore said: “It’s not the first time in New Zealand that someone’s done this, but it’s certainly not encouraged.
“Anyone who operates the crane needs to be licensed and experienced to do so, there’s a whole bunch of health and safety processes.”
Moore said he understood the site had been made secure and had security staff, “however, obviously someone’s jumped over the hoardings and managed to find his way around the guards”.
A spokesperson for the tower’s developer Shundi Customs thanked the Herald for bringing the incident to its attention but said it had not been told of the event by any other parties.
“It sounds concerning,” the Shundi Customs representative said.
He asked for evidence of the break-in and what had occurred at the site but also expressed confidence in the builder.
”I understand China Construction has implemented all required health and safety measures as well as security protocols.”
The developer acknowledged just how unsafe the youth’s actions were.
“While all measures are in place, it’s unfortunately not always possible to prevent individuals making such reckless actions by their own. I would suggest site team to report to police if any footage or photos are available.”
Auckland Council field surveying manager Jeff Fahrensohn told the Herald the council carries out bi-monthly inspections of Seascape to ensure the building remains safe and is not a danger to the public.
“Any security breaches would be for the building owners and contractors to manage, and not a matter for the council,” he said.
Construction company China Construction has been approached for comment.
It’s the latest in a string of stunts involving young people risking their lives on Auckland’s skyscrapers.
“I’ve been seeing this trend for years now. People will start to care when someone falls.”
Construction stopped on New Zealand’s tallest new building, the soaring 56-level, 221-unit, $300 million Seascape in August last year.
In September, it was reported work had stalled due to a dispute between the developer and the builder.
Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told RNZ at the time that an inspection had been carried out by Auckland Council and the building was deemed secure by structural engineers who carried out a floor-by-floor inspection inside and outside.
Simpson said the inspection was so detailed that each screw was checked to make sure it could withstand being out in the open.
Minor details such as a pile of scaffolding that needed to be removed were noted, Simpson said.
