I've thrown my submission in and will let a few others I know who kiteboard up there as well. Thanks alot for bringing this to our attention!

Done !

I emphasized that tourists are looking for kiting locations + that kite surfers from where i am from rescued a few lives from drowning.

Sent.

I mentioned the tourist value of kiting for both kiters and spectators.

You may want to contact your local tourist board. Presenting how much potential income
can come form kiteboarding will affect the outcome. Money talks.

However if you have concerns about access you also have to complain to the f%@king kite companies to stop putting out. Most of the videos they put out. 9 out of 10 of them show tricks and high speed maneuvers close to beaches, people, boats etc. The whole look and fashion in the marketing is "death metal" and "dare devil" style.

Just hope that the one's asking for the ban don't do research on you tube. All they need to obtain the ban is available on you tube and it was put there by the f%@king kite companies "marketing for dummies" promotion.

Hi Dave, good on you for bringing this to our attention. I have been reading the relevant documents to make sure that my submission will be accurate.
There are 2 issues we are addressing.
The first is the creation of a definition of estuary and estuary mouth. This will apply to areas covered by schedule 2, which for kiters means Ruakaka river, Waipu river, Pataua Sth. Areas such as Rangaunu, Hauhora, Mangonui, Matapouri are not covered by schedule 2, I guess they are schedule 1. This issue is about us stopping them creating a definition.The definition is reasonable but it is their intent, but is not actually being written into law YET, that they use this definition to enforce bans on kiteing. I fear that we may lose this battle as we are fighting a definition, not a ban. It maybe we will need to fight this later at the time when a ban is proposed. Still it's definitely worth a crack at this level.

The second issue relates to speed: I agree with you that we should defend our current right to travel faster than 5 knots within 200 m of land, but support the change to restrict speed to 5 knot within 50m of a swimmer. That seems responsible behaviour.

Any Kiwis reading this post need to get behind this issue. It's a holiday today and not much wind so spend 30 mins on your computer. If passed this will create a precedent that could affect other regions and seriously affect our sport.

Will submit one too...

Ask Christchurch camper-van rental operators how bad a lull in tourism can hit them... thinking of the Chch estuary - how many swimmers do you get in that muddy, stinky sink hole? idiots. And if dodgy youths who don't pay taxes can get whole skate parks built for them to get them off the streets, perhaps the council might simply set aside a bit of coast for kiting, hmm?

Got a reply !
Seems like you guys at NZ are very organized !

I also Got a response the other day.
New Zealand Councils are for real
Hope our forms helped and that you guys will be able to keep on kiting freely.

Hi Guys,

Thank you so much for your help, I'm sure that every one of your submissions made a difference.

Just seen in an NRC publication:

"The draft Navigation Safety Bylaw 2012 has been out for consultation during
December and January. Over 500 submissions have been received by the closing
date of 3 February. The submissions will be summarised and presented to council
prior to the hearings which have yet to be scheduled."

Well done everyone - 500 submissions is a LOT for a NZ local council bylaw! The more usual amount they would deal with would be 50-100, on pure numbers alone we have made an impact.

It will be at least a month before we hear anything more on this process, I'll keep this thread informed as information comes to hand.

Cheers

DK

NRC Navigation Safety rules update:

Deliberations are scheduled for 16 May 2012, at which the Hearings Committee will make its recommendation. The recommendation will then go to the full council for a final decision at its 19 June 2012 meeting. Click the link below to see the agenda which includes the staff recommendations on the proposed Northland Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw 2012 in response to the submissions.

http://tinyurl.com/bns2lzv

(edit 11/05 - link fixed)

Your link is broken

I have to say I was surprised to get a letter from them asking me if I would like to appear in person...lol