A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
SURF Life Saving New Zealand has decided to relocate the BP Surf Rescue New Zealand IRB championships set down for Gisborne this weekend to Mahia.
The Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae club was to host the event at its home beach on Saturday and Sunday.
The move was made in consultation with the Waikanae organising committee and Gisborne District Council.
Entries closed last week, with 104 inflatable rescue boat crews (340 competitors) registered and several hundred officials, supporters and others expected to attend.
“The Waikanae event organisation committee was instrumental in assisting with the change of venue,” SLSNZ sport event manager Mark Inglis said.
“Everyone understands the full logistical issues with Waikanae Beach at the moment in the wake of the heavy rains, and with the beach covered in driftwood,” he said.
Health issues associated with 10 days of raw sewage flowing into the city rivers and Turanganui-a-Kiwa /Poverty Bay was another factor considered.
The emergency sewage discharge valves were finally shut on Sunday but health warnings remain in place until Friday.
“Local knowledge says that the water quality will improve by that time unless another rain event occurs, which is not currently in the forecast, but the beach is still unworkable as it is covered in debris,” Inglis said.
“The council emailed me on Friday stating that their assets are needed elsewhere and they are unfortunately unable to clean the beach of debris at this stage.”
The council priority remains the ongoing flood recovery work that continues at pace around the region.
“Mahia is a fantastic place to visit, and once again Gisborne is showing its versatility for events and SLSNZ very much appreciates the efforts of the Waikanae club and their members on the matter,” Inglis said.
“The change in venue is not a kneejerk reaction of any sort. It was signalled a week ago to all team managers that this was a possibility.
“The options of several fantastic beaches in and around the region showcases what a great event venue Gisborne is — that no matter what nature throws at us we can get a quality event under way.”
The championships will be staged at the end of Mahia Beach by Mahia Fishing Club.
“We will be operating out of the fishing club. SLSNZ has the blessing from the local iwi in Mahia and looks forward to working alongside our hosts in running a great event.
“Other than that we have had amazing support from Waikanae members — to assist with logistics for the transfer —and some prominent business owners in the local Mahia community,” Mr Inglis said.
Scrutineering for the championships will take place at Mahia on Friday.
“We will have security onsite Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 7am.”
Waikanae club chairman Grant Bramwell said as much as the club would have loved to hold the event on its home beach, it realised the chances of holding a quality event there this weekend would have been challenging.
“We can understand why the district council does not want to clean that piece of the beach again pre-winter,” Bramwell said.
“They have enough work to do at the moment around the flood recovery, and Mahia will be a good option.
“We would have much preferred to have held the championships on our home beach.
“It’s just really unfortunate because Waikanae is a such a good public viewing location and it would have been good to have been able to offer it as a viewing spectacle for the wider Gisborne community.”