Visitors to Gisborne sticking to safe swimming areas

Visitors from Hamilton, Eleanor McCarbill (right) and her grandchildren Lara and Leo Borgioli say they are not confused by what the red and yellow flags at Wainui Beach indicate. Australian research indicates that many Australians and foreigners misunderstand what the flags indicate. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley

Visitors to Gisborne’s beaches say they are sticking to safe swimming areas marked out by lifeguards, as research across the Tasman indicates some tourists may misunderstand the flags.

The red and yellow flags are an instantly recognised sight at Kiwi beaches over summer, including at Waikanae Beach, Midway Beach, Wainui Beach and at Tolaga Bay.

However, according to Australian research published by Safety Science, about half of Australian and foreign students misunderstood the flags and believed that surfers should also stay between the flags, while 21% of international students perceived this to mean that beachgoers who don’t or can’t swim need to stay outside the flags.

The research showed 30% of beachgoers surveyed at Sydney’s Bondi Beach believed the flagged areas were only for those who were swimming, or able to swim, and that activities such as wading or playing in the water needed to stay outside the flags.

Hamilton resident Eleanor McCarbill told the Gisborne Herald she was visiting Gisborne as her sister lived close to Wainui Beach.

She did not share the misconceptions indicated by the Australian research and said she was familiar with red and yellow flags despite living in a non-coastal city.

“We don’t often go to this beach, but the flags mean safety.”

McCarbill said the flagged area was where the lifeguards were.

“We’re all grouped together.

“We know what the flags mean. We walked down here [from further along the beach] to be between the flags.”

“This is where we’re supposed to be,” said granddaughter Lara Borgioli, a Hamilton resident making her first visit to Gisborne.

Christchurch residents Dave and Lissie MacGregor, also enjoying Wainui Beach, were visiting Gisborne for the 12th time.

Lissie said the flags indicated where it was safe to enjoy the beach and where lifeguards were patrolling.

“That’s why we plonked ourselves here,” Dave MacGregor said.

“We always swim between the flags.”

The couple are staying at Waikanae Beach Top 10 Holiday Park.

MacGregor said he was impressed with the Gisborne Holding-administered camp.

“It’s the best we’ve visited in the country. It’s really, really good.”

The couple also enjoyed the display of Māori culture and storytelling in the district.

Walking over Te Ikaroa a Rauru, the waka-shaped footbridge, had been a highlight.

The only disappointments for the couple were deciding to swim at Wainui Beach because of the wood debris on the city beaches and the emergency discharge of sewage into rivers and beaches during recent heavy rain.

Swimmers swim between the flags at Wainui Beach. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) said the red and yellow flags placed on many beaches during summer were effective in saving lives.

“The flags provide a consistent message for beachgoers to swim between the flags,” Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) communications manager Sara Cairney said.

SLSNZ did not have specific figures on whether people’s understanding of the flags themselves contributed to incident or drowning rates.

“We are closely aligned with Surf Life Saving Australia and have been using the yellow and red flags here since the 1940s.”

Australia have been using the red and yellow flags since the 1930s.

“While some people who are new to New Zealand could be unfamiliar with the flag system, flags are only part of the equation when it comes to keeping our beaches safe,” Cairney said.

The method of patrolling had evolved over the years, she said.

“Surf lifeguards monitor the flags closely and take a proactive approach to communicating directly with people on the beach.

“We are always looking out for any potential risks during patrol hours and we take preventative action to keep people safe, which can include redirecting people toward the flagged area, so they know this is the safest place to swim.

“This communication can include hand signals and whistles, and we take pride in being approachable and accessible for all beachgoers as part of our effort to raise awareness of beach safety.”

SLSNZ recommends choosing a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags, especially for those whose swimming and floating abilities in the ocean are limited.

Safeswim.org.nz shows which beaches in New Zealand are lifeguarded and when they are lifeguarded. The website also has live safety warnings to keep the public informed about hazards as they occur.