Beachgoers spark anger after drowning

Kaipara coast residents and officials are tired of people ignoring their warnings about the beach's dangers, after a weekend drowning at Baylys Beach near Dargaville.

They are also angry at the behaviour of some beachgoers they claim spoil it for beach lovers.

A Hikurangi man drowned on Sunday after he was dragged out to sea while net fishing.

Dargaville police said the 35-year-old man was fishing around 3.30pm when a rip caught him. He has since been named as Kevan Moore.

Resident and beach-watcher Bob Clark said there would have been about 100m sweeps in and out of the beach that day, which he described as "absolutely deadly conditions for netting".

Mr Clark said he and his friends would only fish two hours each side of high tide.

"At high tide there's too much water for good net fishing," he said.

Mr Clark said people often scoffed at locals trying to warn them about dangers in and out of the surf. He had seen a man who was dragged out to sea and would have drowned, if it had not been for the quick actions of a strong swimmer who happened to be at the beach.

"Thanks to him the guy who got into trouble could just pick his life up where he left off, but these people don't realise that the lifesaver's life is also at risk," Mr Clark said.

Beachcomber Neville Searle, who has been walking and fishing Ripiro Beach for more than 20 years, said he saw several small children, the eldest no more than six-years-old, wading out into a huge sweeping tide a few days ago.

"They could have been bowled over ... but the amount of abuse you get from adults who you try to warn them is unbelievable," he said.

Northland Regional Council Kaipara and West Coast harbour warden Des Subritzky said rips could sweep people out "real fast" when they are on the end of a net.

Mr Subritzky said boaties not wearing lifejackets was another worry.

"It's actually an offence not to wear them but there are still people who try to get away with it," he said.

All three men said unscrupulous drivers also created havoc on Ripiro Beach.

Motorbike and quad bike users, as well as boy racers, were hazardous to pedestrians and sunbathers.

Mr Clark said he has seen young men driving over 100 km/h on the beach.

Mr Subritzky said the beach was classed as a road, so all the rules of public roads applied.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)