• New rules for jetskis on Ōhiwa Harbour do not take into consideration the impact on migratory birds, writes Meg Collins

n New rules for jetskis on Ōhiwa Harbour do not take into consideration the impact on migratory birds, writes Meg Collins

BAY of Plenty Regional Council has just released its navigation plan for the harbour.

Many organisations and interested people around the harbour made submissions to the hearings held earlier this year. They asked that the orginal regulations for jet skis be continued or otherwise ban jet skis.

This is quoted from the commissioners deliberations:

“Final decision: Due to concerns around the extensive sand bars, mud flats and increasing sedimentation, council have opted to restrict speed for all vessels in the harbour. This means that when the new rules become operative in mid-2025, powered craft will be allowed across the whole harbour, but all standard bylaws rules will apply e.g. 5 knots within 200 metres of shore, 50m of a person or vessel.

n Ōhiwa Harbour Jetski Exclusion

“We asked for feedback on removing the exclusion zone of jetski and personal watercraft from Ōhiwa Harbour.

“Ōhiwa Harbour is a very popular spot for recreation. Jetski and personal watercraft are currently excluded from most of the harbour.

“Unfortunately, because of changes in legislation, the council is not able to exclude any craft from navigable waters unless it is for navigational safety. This means that legislatively jetskis would be able to use the Ōhiwa Harbour like all other craft.

“Five knot speed rules still apply, within 50m of any vessel or person in the water; 200m from shore or any structure; within 200m of any vessel flying a diver’s flag.”

This ruling is a disaster for navigational safety on many fronts.

For a start, jetski owners do not like travelling at 5 knots, which would be the case over most of the harbour.

Even  going down  the channel from the Port Ōhope boat ramp  to the mouth  of the harbour, it would not go down well at a 20 knots restriction, which is far  too slow for them.

For instance, the jetskis could go all the way to the oyster farm, up Kutarere Channel, up the Ngukahou stream, all around Whangkopikopiko, in the inlet in front of the Tasman Ōhiwa camp ground, in the ski lanes and yachting spaces, not to mention annoying the people in kayaks, fishing, wind surfing and paddle boarding while traveling at 5 knots (yeah/right!!)

Even though this is a navigational matter, these rules do not take into account the devastation and mayhem they would cause to the thousands of migratory and shorebirds that inhabit the harbour for feeding, roosting and nesting.

There is no harbourmaster to oversee these regulations, and no council staff enforcing them, so this ridiculous situation is going to escalate, and make many people around the harbour very angry indeed.

A group of interested people will be meeting the director of regulations from the rcgional council next week, to clarify a few points and see what further actions can be taken. Further information can be found  at https://www.participate.boprc.govt.nz/navigational-bylaw/topic-3-Ohiwa-harbour