Sixty-five Kuranui College year 10 students were camping at Totara Reserve in Manawatu in the days leading up to last Friday's collapse of a riverside cliff that killed three children. Kuranui College principal Grey Tuck said the 14 and 15-year-olds were at the reserve on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last weekand were even scheduled to go on a walk taking them to the river, but didn't. "I thought we were going to do the river walk but we didn't, we went the other way." A teacher with a geography background, Mr Tuck said looking at the cliff it was clear the meander of the river was eating into it, but it was not something that looked dangerous. "You wouldn't think about it. You'd be more worried about obstacles under the water." ?? Meanwhile a riverbank collapse is unlikely at popular Wairarapa swimming hole The Cliffs, according to Carterton District Council staff. Despite erosion of the sheer bank at the Ruamahanga River site, it is "stable" and unlikely to suddenly give way, roading engineer George Rink said. Mr Rink said such a collapse is "not an issue ?V not in summer". Carterton District Council assets and recreation manager Brian McWilliams said the danger to swimmers comes not from the 10m cliffs but what lies beneath the water and they truly should look before they leap. Mr McWilliams said the high cliff area of the popular swimming spot is on a public road, Dakins Road, and is not on council reserve land that also includes a picnic area. "I think you'll find that's a public road at the top," Mr McWilliams said. "The reserve actually starts further along. The section called The Cliffs is actually not part of my reserve." He said in the course of his work he has seen young people behaving dangerously at the swimming area. "I've seen them get out of the car and just jump out without even looking," Mr McWilliams said. "It's scary. But these kids are 19 or 20 years old and if you tell them they don't listen to it."
