From Sunday, sections of the Tarawera and Kaituna rivers will have a new 5-knot speed limit in place.

Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters said following concerns around the potential safety of swimmers over the summer period, a 5 knot speed restriction was being introduced for a limited period through a harbourmaster direction.

“While the speed limits for these rivers have already been approved by the regional council as part of the recent Navigational Safety Bylaw review, we are currently awaiting infringement fee approval from the Ministry of Transport, which is likely to come through mid-next year.

“In the interim, given the popularity of these rivers by swimmers, I have used what is known as a harbourmaster direction, to introduce the 5-knot speed limits until the bylaws are fully operative. The new 5 knot zones will be clearly signposted, and anyone caught breaking the rules will be fined.”

For Tarawera River, the rule applies from the State Highway 34/Tamarangi Drive Bridge to the far end of the Kawerau Golf Club. On the Kaituna River, it applies from 200 metres downstream of the Waitangi railway bridge to 400m upstream of the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge.

For more detail and maps of these rivers showing the new 5 knot zones, see the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website.