Every summer for the past 40 years, oyster farmer Alex Clifford has made sure kids in the Bay of Islands can take part in a long-standing Russell tradition.
The annual Russell Inter-School Wharf Sports Day involves more than 200 children competing in diving, swimming and relay contests in the sea off Russell wharf.
Last week, Mr Clifford once again gave up a day to bring in a pair of oyster barges, fixing one to the wharf as a starting platform, anchoring the other in the Bay as the finish line, and marking out swimming lanes.
As far as anyone knows, Mr Clifford - who went to Russell School as a child - hasn't missed a year since he was 19.
Russell School principal William Fuller said the event was unique. "It's one of a kind. The sea's a bit cooler than the pool but at 21 degrees, it's not that bad."
Another thing that sets the ports day apart from pool-based contests is that pools don't usually have stingrays. "Not that the kids know they're there. We chase them away with a boat," Mr Fuller said.
The scariest thing the kids know about is the ladder they have to clamber down to reach the starting barge.
Once the kids have completed their races, they swim to the beach for an iceblock reward - also provided by Mr Clifford.
This year about 220 children, aged 8-13, took part from Russell, Paihia, Opua, Oromahoe, Maromaku, Whangaruru and Waikare schools. They competed in diving, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and flutterboard in championship (for the serious swimmers) and non-championship categories.
To thank Mr Clifford for his 40-year contribution, parents baked him a cake and the school invited a TVNZ crew north to film a Good Sorts segment.
Most Sundays, the last few minutes of the 6pm news is dedicated to an outstanding volunteer somewhere in New Zealand. As well as interviewing kids, parents and Mr Clifford himself, the TV crew got 11-year-old Taylor Gordon to take some of the footage by strapping a waterproof camera to his head.
Taylor still managed to win his race, Mr Fuller said.
The segment will screen at the end of the TV One news on a Sunday within the next few weeks.
The last Northlander to feature on Good Sorts was Rawene man Rob Pink, who steers troubled kids back on a straight path by teaching them to ride and look after horses.
The wharf sports tradition goes back so far no one at Russell School is sure exactly when it started; all they know for sure is that the oldest trophy dates back 79 years. Anyone who can shed light on the event's early history is invited to phone the school on (09) 403 7016.