kayaking the pacific islands. - Canoe & Kayak

Kayaking the Pacific Islands.
ISSUE 46
$7.50 NZ
$7.50 AUST
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Discover Another World
white water • RIVER • sea • multisport • fishing • lakes

Issue 46
Summer Satisfaction. 6
Lake Rotoiti - The South Island Version. 8
Loads on roof racks. 11
Surfing Ahipara. 12
Sensational Samoa. 14
Help Coastguard make your boating safer. 16
New Faces in Manukau. 17
Wild Water and fragile craft - Canoeing in the fifties 18
New Auckland By-laws. 20
New Waikato By-laws. 21
Mayor Island (Tuhua) Trip Report. 22
Mokihinui Magic. 24
Kayaking Mokihinui. 25
Discovering the ‘Lost Coast’. 28
Beijing Olympic Slalom 2008. 32
Products available. 40
Product release - S Wing from Prorack. 41
Buyers Guide. 43
2008
Akarana Kayaks
Cambridge - Hamilton Race & Cruise
Sunday 14th September 2008
Brian Kettle
Photo by: Larraine Williams
Front cover photo: Ella Koning
Photo by: Larraine Williams
This premier North Island river race of approximately 23 kilometres is open to all types of canoes, kayaks and surf skis.
A short distance event of 11km from The Narrows is also available.
Entries close at 6pm on Monday 1st September 2008.
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE DAY OF THE RACE, but you may email them to
KayakRace@AkaranaKayaks.com or fax your entry to (09) 631-5344 before 6pm on Monday 8th September 2008.
Competitors lunch, a quality T shirt and generous Race Pack is included in the entry fee of $49 adults, $25 under18.
Spot Prizes - over $15,000
Including 2 kayaks and a Sea Kayaking holiday in Fiji for two people.
The only requirements are that you must be present at the prize giving and have actually paddled!
11am race briefing at Riverside Reserve, Dominion Ave, south of Cambridge. 11.30am Race starts.
12.30pm Juniors start at Acacia Reserve, just past the Narrows Bridge at Tamahere
Buoyancy aids MUST BE WORN.
Race finish and prize giving at Hamilton City Hawks Clubrooms, Grantham Road, Hamilton.
Prize giving will start at 2.30pm.Trophies will be awarded to the first three finishers in each class/category.
Sponsors
Safari Lodge (Fiji) Ltd Ocean Kayak Q-Kayaks Canoe and Kayak Ltd
Akarana Kayaks, Ampro, Back of Beyond, Comfort Technologies, Craig Potton Publishing, Day Two,
Diversified Products, Donovans Chocolates, First Training /Outdoor Discoveries, Mission Kayaking,
Paddling Perfection, Party DJ Co, Point 5 Watersports, Ruahine Kayaks, The Boatshed Cafe & Kayaks,
Trek'N'Travel, Thule NZ, TV3, Ultimate Surf Products, Waimarino Kayaks, Wet Shoes
For Race information, phone (09) 631-5344 or 0275-529251 (0275-kayak1)
Race Director: Su Sommerhalder
4 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

EDITOR:
Peter Townend
Ph: 0274 529 255 Fax [09] 421 0663
Email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz
DESIGN & PRODUCTION:
Canoe & Kayak Ltd
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James Fitness
Email: james@canoeandkayak.co.nz
New Zealand Kayak Magazine
At the time of printing the prices in this
magazine were accurate. However they may
change at any time.
Hibernation! It is cold and wet out there! That’s one point of view, but it’s not mine.
I like to enjoy the stunningly still, short winter days and amazing water visibility to
the max.
Recently Mike took Julie and me out for a great day fishing, learning new soft bait
techniques off Kawau Island. As always I took multi-layers of neoprene, polypros
and a paddle jacket, but was more than comfortable in neoprene shorts and a single
polypro top and bottom.
We fished from 11am to 4pm, rewarded with a feed of Snapper and Trevally, a lunch
of hot fritters and a sunbath on a deserted beach. Winter yum. And an important
detail when people are feeling a bit jittery about the economy, it cost very little!
True the up front cost of buying a kayak, equipment and a course on how to be safe
is on a par with diving and skiing, but then kayaking, like tramping, offers great
holidays and adventures at no more than the cost of reaching the chosen site. Then
it is probably cheaper than staying at home.The fuel to paddle your kayak is food
that you would be eating anyway, the cost of cooking is offset by your power bill
saving. You enjoy stunning locations in very affordable tented accommodation made
comfortable by the huge amount of equipment you can carry. Easy conversation
while paddling side by side with your paddling mates is an agreeable bonus.
The back to basics of every day living, travelling between camp sites, pitching tents,
cooking and sitting around the camp fire at night, provide adventure holidays in
New Zealand’s wilderness you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Cheers and happy, safe paddling.
Peter Townend
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ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 5

Summer Satisfaction
Lake Okareka offers solitude, beauty and trout, so I kayak
there each New Year to spend a week or so with friends.
But pesky ski boats, behaving as if they own the lake, wreck
the solitude, distract attention from beauty, and probably
scare the trout. They surely upset me.
One day this summer, I got my revenge. At 9 a.m., on water like glass there
was not a breath of breeze. Trout were rising everywhere. Speed paddling
around the peninsula to work off last night’s taste of Scotland there it was – a
disabled ski boat, a lady attempting to steer, one guy using a water ski as a
paddle, another doing nothing. I was no longer the victim! Oh no, I was in
charge. I sped to the rescue. “You guys ok”
The idle one, clearly an Aussie, replied, “The motor just
sputtered and stopped!”
I joked, “Tried push starting it”
He scowled. He obviously didn’t have a sense of humour.
I paddled to the ski boat’s bow. “Like a tow”
“What! With that thing You have to be kidding.”
The water ski paddler, perhaps sensing relief, more hopefully asked
“Do you think you can”
I hooked a tow rope to the bow ring, had a good work out, and in 30 minutes
we were back at shore.
She at the steering wheel exclaimed “I am sooo embarrassed!”
The Aussie said, “I ain’t going to tell any one about this!”
I went home for a well-earned coffee and smirked!
Two days later it was blowing a good South East’er 20 to 25knts. I thought
I could sneak around the shore to the top end of the lake and boy! what a
ride back under sail it would be. The sneaking paddle was just as hard as
I thought it would be and I hardly noticed a ski tug, slightly bigger than the
last, drifting and probably jigging for trout.
The first 200 metres back under sail was bowel slackening to say the least!
As I screamed past the ski tug I heard on the wind a plaintive “Can you
help us”
Sail down, I paddled back thirty or so metres. “What’s the problem
“We have run out of gas.”
I h o o k e d a t o w r o p e t o t h e b o w r i n g , h o i s t e d t h e s a i l
a n d p a d d l e d h a r d f o r s i x o r s e v e n h u n d r e d m e t r e s .
We found shelter from the wind amongst raupo reeds where a second fizz
boater, enjoying a relaxing smoke, turned up to fill the empty fuel tank.
“Cheers”, I was out of there as fast as my sail could get me!
Footnote:
No one acknowledged or appreciated being towed by a kayak.
But then I guess I was using their lake!
Nick Webb.
Eco-bezhig
Auckland clubbie, 2 yrs
Getting a tow home.
6 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Lake Rotoitithe
South Island version
By Stephen Le Couteur
Christmas Day, paddling toward southern end
of Lake Rotoiti.
Christmas Day 2007, the skies have cleared blue and we’ve
just landed our double sea kayak on a beautiful small
pebbly beach shaded by native trees, surrounded by views
of mountains draped in pristine native forest and golden
tussock, topped by rocky ridges and a few pockets of snow.
This then, is definitely not the Lake Rotoiti known to most
North Islanders who’ve never been fortunate, or
motivated enough to explore that other, bigger island
just south of Wellington.
It’s the Nelson Lakes National Park version. After an easy one and a half
hour paddle we set ourselves up
comfortably for the afternoon under
the shade of a South Island beech
tree. I take a breathtaking dip in the
crystal clear lake water, dry off in the
sun and can’t suppress a grin of pure
delight. My partner Imelda, beams
a huge smile too. We seem to have
the whole lake and the mountains to
ourselves. Not another person, not
a kayak in sight, just an occasional
motor boat about half an hour apart.
We can’t help but wonder, why at
this time of year bother sea kayaking
Abel Tasman National Park along
with hundreds of others who endure
bun fights every night over a space
to camp on a beach or even a patch
of sand to laze in the sun. And apart
from all the water taxis, did you know
there are now also scenic helicopter
flights over the Abel Tasman bays As the writer of another article in this
magazine some time ago wisely suggested, forget Abel Tasman in summer,
kayak it in winter.
This, the very first day of our Nelson Lakes excursion, is pure bliss. The only
things missing, and it seems silly, given the huge amount of hatch space on
board our Sea Bear double, are a foldable table, white table cloth (make
that linen), champagne and glasses, and Christmas Turkey. But we’re not
complaining, especially after the long escape from Auckland by car and the
sea journey from Wellington to Picton on the InterIslander ferry. Surprisingly,
the friendly vehicle check-in lady waved us through without charging extra for
the kayak with its metre-plus overhang at the rear of our station wagon. We
had to book the return sailing back in August to get an ‘early saver’ type fare
Time to stretch those kayakers’ legs. View over Lake Rotoiti on the
way to summit of St Arnaud Range.
8 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

totalling $540 for vehicle, two
passengers, and as it turns
out, got the kayak for free,
which was very nice.
Our totally compatible Thule
roof rack and kayak cradle
system combined with bow
and stern adjustable tiedowns
secured to tow-hooks
under the front and rear of the
wagon performs faultlessly.
For long journeys like this
you need a really good set up,
more so with a large and not
exactly feather-light double
kayak. The last thing you
want is to have to stuff about
tightening down every 100km
or so.
Getting ready to glide across crystal clear waters of
Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park.
It’s a pleasant one and a half
hour drive from Picton and
up the Wairau Valley to St
Arnaud, a delightful lakeside
village right on the edge of
Lake Rotoiti. That’s the great thing about getting to this destination- it’s so easy, sealed roads all the way to Kerr Bay where we launch our kayak.
There are DoC campsites next to the lake at Kerr Bay, St Arnaud, and West Bay at the western arm. Both come with complimentary sandflies, but we opt for
a cosy, reasonably budget-priced holiday cottage on an elevated site with a great view of St Arnaud Range, hardly any sandlfies and only a three minute
drive down to the lake. We had to book the cottage in July as we’ve learnt that accommodation in nice places next to the sea or a lake in the South Island
is snapped up early.
At 620m above sea level Lake Rotoiti has no humidity to speak of, even in mid- summer. Mornings are crisp and clear. That is, unless it rains.
Being a mountain and forest region it receives a fair bit of rain so a degree of good luck is involved. Most of the Park is sheltered from prevailing westerly
Tui Excel
A versatile, go anywhere kayak
Penguin
A tried and true winner that
delivers affordable excellence
Tasman Express
An exceptional performance
sea kayak
Dusky Bay Classic
Leisurely cruise, open waters, or a
kayaking adventure
A tried and true design just got better
For information on our complete range and stockist,
visit www.q-kayaks.co.nz or phone 06 326 8667
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 9

weather by the Paparoa and Victoria Ranges but Lake Rotoiti still receives
about 2000mm per year. As it turns out, luck is on our side, helped by the fact
that this was the start of a near record summer that we’ve all enjoyed.
The other lake in the National Park is Lake Rotoroa. It’s larger and longer but
not quite so dramatic, receives twice the amount of rain per year as its sister,
and is accessed by a gravel road from the main Nelson- Buller highway. Our
intention was to kayak it but as Lake Rotoiti seemed such a really nice place
to hang out we didn’t quite make it..
Kayaking isn’t the only outdoor pursuit on the agenda. We chose a perfect
day to hike to the top of St Arnaud Range, walking through the shaded beech
forest then ascending onto tussock slopes above the bushline to reach the
rocky ridge at about 1750m. There we had fine views of the lake and endless
mountains to the east, west and south. It’s a five to six hour return excursion
on a well marked track.
Next day again dawns brilliant fine, so we make the most of it and kayak to
the very south end of the lake and explore the western arm. What pleasure
to sit back in the comfort of our kayak and admire the top of St Arnaud Range
where we had grunted by foot the day before. We spot a brown trout jumping.
Kayakers have a choice of two DoC huts at the southern end of the lake,
Coldwater Hut which sleeps 6, or Lakehead Hut (sleeps 30).
Lake Rotoiti doesn’t offer much of a challenge to a kayaker, unless there’s a
roaring southerly whipping up the lake. At less than 10km in length it is not
large enough for multi-day kayak touring, such as you would find on Lakes
Manapouri or Te Anau in the deep south ( but what a hell of a long drive that
would be for North Islanders) or Lake Waikaremoana in the North Island. But
it offers such easy access to lovely bays for launching your kayak, numerous
small pebbly beaches scattered along the eastern shoreline on which to enjoy
a stop off, and most of all the feeling of being right amongst the mountains
and native forests. And more good news: being a National Park, jet skis are
banned! Which means you can actually hear scores of tuis cavorting about
the tree tops.
We considered driving the two hours or so to Abel Tasman National Park for
a day’s kayaking but the tranquility of Lake Rotoiti wins over the thought of
peak holiday crowds at Kaiteriteri and Marahau, swarms of back-packers and
dozens of commercially guided sea kayakers. A shame that one of the most
outstanding kayaking locations in the country, if not on the planet, is just too
damned popular during the summer months.
Instead, leaving the kayak behind, we drive to charming Takaka for gourmet
pizza and then to Pohara beach, where we find at Totally Roasted café the
most delicious coffee we’ve just about ever had, anywhere in New Zealand.
It’s organic and Fair Trade coffee. We can just imagine how well it would go
down after a day or two sea kayaking.
Further on around the coast towards the end of the sealed road we catch a
glimpse of the northern/western end of Abel Tasman National Park coastline. It
sure looks alluring and, having walked the coastal track many yonks ago, I know
just how beautiful the beaches are. Sometime, maybe very early spring, or even
winter we’ll drive down to this part of the country again with our kayak.
We would though, also return to Nelson Lakes National Park without a second
thought. Dial up some nice weather and Lake Rotoiti is a truly rewarding
destination for relaxed kayaking, and walking in the mountains. There are not
many places offering such a special and satisfying combination.
Looking back towards the sun from
southern end of Lake.
10 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Loads on roof racks by James Fitness
Transport Authorities know that ever more kayaks are
being carried on our roads. This may cause you grief.
Nicholas reports an incident
We came back from Mt Maunganui carrying a Qk Tasman Express, a Perception
Eco Bezhig and a Bliss Stick MAC1 on my roof racks. With a flag attached the
load overhung the car’s tail by about 1 metre. But as usual with weekend
kayaking we were behind time and driving home in the dark. Leaving
Hunterville we were pulled over by a police officer for not having a light on
our overhanging load. Luckily for us the officer was in a nice mood and let us
off the $350 fine with a warning.
He suggested that all we needed was a bike light and, since our flag was faded
and thrashed from lots of use, we should probably get a new one.
Nicholas, finding no information on the regulations, asked NZ Kayak Magazine
for help.
The bare facts are;
Regulations on overhanging loads.
If a load extends more than one metre beyond the front or rear, or 200mm
beyond the sides of your vehicle, during daylight you must attach: flags
(coloured white or fluorescent red, orange or yellow, at least 400 mm long
by 300 mm wide)
or
Standard hazard warning panels (coloured yellow/green with an orange stripe,
at least 400 mm long by 300 mm wide).
During the hours of darkness, you must have lights on the load visible in
clear weather for at least 200 metres:
at the rear and facing backward, coloured red (if the load extends sideways
or to the rear)
at the front and facing forward, coloured white or amber (if the load extends
sideways or forwards)
(reference: www.ltsa.govt.nz/road-user-safety/motorists/glovebox-guide)
Suggestions
Before you buy a roof rack, check the weight your vehicle can safely carry
on its roof. (Look in the vehicle’s manual) Check the roof rack’s safe load.
Consult your roof rack specialist to find the system which best suits your
vehicle and the accessories needed for your specific load.
While weight will seldom be your problem, bulkiness and length are very
likely to cause trouble.
When a kayak overhangs, and regardless of the accessories used to mount
it, you must tie the bow to the front of the car and the stern to the back to
prevent the boat from lifting in the wind. There is huge leverage at the end
of a kayak which could well rip your roof rack off! And no, this will not be
covered by warranty.
The normal spacing of roof racks to suit the shape kayaks is about 700mm.
Any further apart and your kayak will touch the roof between the bars.
The accessories you’ll need will depend on the number of boats to be carried,
what the kayak is made of, and what else you are carrying.
If you are carrying composite boats you should invariably use a set of kayak
cradles. These 4 pads hold the kayak firmly in place without the need to overtighten
the load straps and cause compression cracks. There is often space
on the roof rack to fit two cradles alongside each other for two kayaks, or to
hold one kayak and a box and bike carrier for the multisporters.
Upright bars are more practical when carrying up to 4 boats. Stack them on
either side of the bars, with hulls facing hulls to prevent indentation from
the cockpit shapes.
Obviously, the more you have on your roof, the sturdier the straps will need
to be. Bungy cords are never substantial enough.
Remember that ...
• the more weight on the roof, the less weight can be carried inside your
vehicle.
• roof racks increase wind resistance and buffeting.
• you may need to travel slower and your vehicle will use more fuel.
ne Kayaks
1 metre
Maximum forward overhang 3 metres
(measured from front of seat)
1 metre
Maximum rear
overhang 4 metres
Designers & Constructors of Multisport
& Adventure Racing Kayaks
Phone 06 875 0043 Fax 06 875 0983
E-mail:- kevin@ruahinekayaks.co.nz
P O Box 11146 Hastings
Website:-www.ruahinekayaks.co.nz
This fast, stable kayak is designed
for the larger paddler looking for
a longer, stable boat.
Gladiator
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 11

Surfing Ahipara
by Catherine Price
Preparing for the surf.
Where’s Wally!
Easter 2008, we wanted to go to the beach to relax and maybe try some surfing. Ahipara, on the southern end of 90 mile
beach, was recommended by friends who go there often.
So the 4 of us headed up: Dave and I with kayaks and Maurits and Richard with their boards. Esther, their dog, was the fifth member of our group and was a
surprisingly good surfer (but she didn’t like the really big waves). The waves were a mixed bag from being very big to quite gentle, but there was something
there for everyone. Unfortunately I didn’t seem to have my kayak with me when the waves were right for beginner kayak surfers but Dave had a lot of fun
in the big surf. Will we go back Definitely, but next time we will remember that Kaitaia is the closest place for good coffee!
More lessons on the surf.
Everybody is ready to head into the surf.
The waves were a good size.
Another successful run.
12 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

KAYAK
PARADISE
Kayak the Hauraki Gulf using
Island Passage as your home boat
Going out to catch a wave.
Sharing the wave.
For more information on all our cruises and
bookings contact Island Escape Cruises
on phone: (09) 358 1717,
email: info@islandescape.co.nz
or visit www.islandescape.co.nz
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 13

Sensational Samoa
by Richard Saysell
Approaching Namua Island
A flyer for a 4 night, 5 day, tropical Samoan Kayaking
holiday came the way of Yakity Yak North Shore member
Lesley. She and Richard, with Sue and Ian, and Jane from
North Shore, and Andrea and Nick from Auckland jumped
at the chance.
We arrived in Apia at the end of March. Here we spent a day shopping
and frolicking at the Papassea sliding rocks before going on the water at
Mutiahehele. Mutiahehele overlooks the Aleipata islands at the Eastern end
of the main island, Upolu. Our guide Morti, a ‘Samoanised’ Dane, provided a
fleet of Penguins and accommodation at a different resort for each night.
Sliding Rocks.
In temperatures which never dropped below 28C we experienced Samoan life,
Fale living in resorts which ranged from ‘the pipe through the wall showers
of Namua Is’ to the up market Virgin Cove Resort with its beautiful white
beaches. The coral formations at Lalomanu and the family atmosphere on
Manono Island were memorable.
And the food! Heaps of it, all locally produced. Beautifully prepared pork,
chicken, fish, coconuts, tropical fruits and vegetables formed the bulk of our
diet, washed down with coconut milk, Valima beer and duty free spirits and
liquors! Twice meals were cooked in an Umu, an above ground Hangi.
Kayaking kept the wow factor going. We will never forget a pod of 100 Spinner
Dolphins which surrounded us, or approaching the elusive turtles. And fish –
everywhere you looked, all shapes sizes and colours. Surfing through a small
opening in a reef as waves crashed on both sides was terrifying for some and
“lets do it again” for others. But just paddling through crystal clear water in
balmy tropical breezes, stopping to swim and snorkel amongst the stunning
coral, was a superb holiday.
We said “goodbye” to Morti and took a short ferry trip to the other main Island,
Savaii, hired a van and based ourselves at the beautiful resort of Tanu Beach on
the Northern Coast. A highlight was a traditional Fia Fia (Fire) dance show.
Touring around the Island we visited the tree hut in a huge Banyan tree
at Papa, marvelled at the south coast Lava arches, were awestruck by the
dozens of blowholes at Alofaaga, and experienced swimming with the Turtles
at Satoalepai.
We had a final fling at Aggie Greys, the 5 star resort, and it was back to NZ.
Was it worth it You bet it was, and by doing all the bookings ourselves
surprisingly cheap.
Would we do it again No way, not yet anyway – too many other Islands to
explore first.
14 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

The blowhole.
Secluded Fale at Virgin Cove.
Ian dwarfed .
Tafua Beach.
ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 15

Help Coastguard make your
boating safer. by Don Scandrett
Coastguard’s primary role is to save lives at sea. To do
this it provides Coastguard Rescue Vessels, Air Patrols
and fully trained volunteers who can respond quickly to
incidents, Coastguard also has an extensive communications
infrastructure to make boating safer. Kayakers, probably
more than other sailors, are aware of how to be safe when
on the water, but here are some key reminders.
• Make sure your kayak can be seen. The Auckland Regional Council’s
new bylaw about visibility has highlighted this issue, and it really makes
good sense to make sure that you and your kayak are visible, At sea,
everyone must follow the Rules of the Road, and keep a proper look
out for other craft, but that won’t stop all accidents happening. Make
yourself more visible and you reduce the risk of not being seen. At
night display an all round white light which can be seen from a distance.
Good waterproof, pole mounted lights, specially designed for kayaks,
are available. You might be able to see where other people are at night,
but can they see you
• Know the conditions. Conditions on the water can change quickly
with the time of day, the tide and the weather. You may be familiar
with part of the coast during the day, but can you say the same thing
at night An offshore wind against the tide is particularly dangerous
for kayaks. Coastguard runs a network of Nowcasting automatic wind
stations throughout New Zealand which measure the average and peak
wind speeds and direction. This is broadcast continuously throughout
the day, along with other tide and weather forecasts, on marine VHF
channels such as Channel 21 for the inner Hauraki Gulf. The service is
also available by text message.
• Let people know where you are going. It is a good idea to let people
know where you are going and when your plan changes. Many kayakers
carry waterproof handheld VHF radios these days and lodge a trip report
with Coastguard prior to leaving. When you intend kayaking through a
particularly difficult stretch of water, Coastguard can maintain a SAR
watch over you. You make a trip report and if you have not reported back
by the predetermined time, Coastguard will provide assistance.
• Carry at least two communication devices. Coastguard, or anybody
else, can’t help you if they don’t know where you are. You should carry
at least two forms of communication devices so if one doesn’t work,
you have a back up.
By far the best form of communication is a VHF radio. A cell phone
is the next best. Make sure it is in a waterproof bag and the battery
is fully charged. In most cases cell phone reception is pretty good, but
there are places where reception is difficult. In an emergency Flares
are easily recognisable. To be of use you have to have them onboard,
know how to use them and be able to reach them easily. At night you
need a waterproof torch with batteries up to the job.
To find more out about Coastguard visit www.coastguard.org.nz.
16 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

New Faces in Manukau
By Julie Reynolds
As this Magazine will be published and distributed
soon after we take over as the new owners of
Canoe & Kayak Manukau it seemed timely to
introduce ourselves.
Scott and I actually met through the Yakity Yak Club Manukau.
I’d been paddling for a number of years and had just relocated to
South Auckland and joined the Manukau Club. Scott was at the time
instructing Skills Courses for the club and we met in the car park,
outside Canoe & Kayak Manukau. I thought ok, he seems nice,
Scott no doubt thought; cool a single woman joining the club. Many
months later and after many paddle outings, club and otherwise
we went on our first date. Not great. He’d been playing backyard
cricket with mates and was sporting a fat lip and I chose the most
depressing movie possible to see. However all in all we’d got the
bad stuff out of the way by then, he already new what I looked like
in my paddle gear and that my taste in Movies wasn’t great so here
we are four years on buying the shop. Isn’t love grand.
We are looking forward to the adventure and to working with
Stephen Taylor who has thankfully agreed to stay on as the
Business Manager. Stephen will run the day to day operations and
Scott and I will focus on the business development.
Scott has his NZK2 star certificate and a real passion for Sea
Kayaking. With over 10 years of Kayaking and outdoors pursuits
experience he will be a real asset to this business. Scott did a
short stint working in the shop a few years back and has a really
strong relationship with Canoe & Kayak Manukau and its existing,
operators, members and staff. Scott’s into Nick Cave, long paddles
at sunset and quality wine.
Stephen is working his way to his NZK2 star certificate and has
been in retail for around 20 years. Stephen’s always been involved
in sports mainly tennis and rugby. A taste for Kayaking was first
discovered at Outward Bound and the Outdoor Pursuits Centre in
Turangi. He says it’s been a pleasure to discover an occupation that
combines retail experience with his love of sports. He love’s the
ability to get away from the City and experience the great Harbours
and waterways on offer around the Auckland Region. Stephen
loves food, wine, reading and experiencing new localities.
As for me, I also have over 10 years of Kayaking and outdoors
pursuits experience. Longer actually, but then that makes me sound
old. I’ve successfully completed the Canoe & Kayak skills course
and leaders course and have a four-year relationship with Canoe
& Kayak Manukau and the Yakity Yak Club.
I’m the newly elected KASK (Kiwi Association of Sea Kayaking)
President and this gets me involved with the National Pleasure
Boating Forum, Maritime NZ, Water Safety New Zealand and
Harbourmasters amongst other groups.
I’m fundamentally an administrator with again over 10 years’
experience in Sales Management, Business Development, General
Management, Human Resource and Employment. I hope all of
this will be of benefit too. I’m into classical music, long paddles at
sunset and quality Pinot Noir.
Canoe & Kayak Manukau has been in existence for the magic
number of 10 years and is well established. We have some exciting
thoughts being worked on to develop the business further so the
best thing you can do is pop in and see Stephen and register on
our database so that all new news can be sent to you.
The Manukau Yakity Yak Club is
awesome with some exceptional
people in the club and going
forward we hope to see this grow
and for new members to be able
to experience the adventures we
have.
Please come in and meet us, we’d
love to meet you.
Julie.
A new shop layout too.
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 17

Wild Water and Fragile Craft-
Canoeing in the Fifties
Part 2
Following our first expedition on
the Waikato, a year later there was
still canoeable river to be explored.
At Easter, aboard our trusty bus, we
headed for the Mihi Bridge on the
Rotorua Taupo road. We would use
one of the clubs dinghies, a very
acceptable alternative to paddling
canoes to the Whakamaru dam.
There is something to be said for dinghy travel.
Most of the time you don’t paddle furiously, just
lie back to watch the ever changing river scenery
glide past. You can gossip with the crew and when
you get hot drop into the chilly water and be ready
for the sight of wild white waves leaping above the
surface of the river heralding some more white
water excitement .
The first day finished again at Orakei Korako. Just
in time for lunch up by the hot pools,
Written By Doug Phillips
I stripped off and sat luxuriating in the milky
steaming thermal pool eating my sandwiches
and relaxing. And then, a ten year old Maori lass
perched on the edge of the pool and chatted.
Which was all right at first, the milky water covered
my nakedness. But soon I was starting to cook
and wanted to get out and recover my clothes. My
young friend may have not been embarrassed.
But I, sure as heck, would have been. So I stopped
talking and thankfully she went away.
We had an appointment with the mighty
Whakaheke rapids. Once again we headed down
river and once again we hurtled through the
blood tingling rapids. We pulled our dinghy out
and shouted. “That was just something. Let’s do
it again”
But this time we came unstuck. Near, the end of the
rapid our dinghy started to deflate and by the time
we were nearly through we were swimming and
guiding our sinking craft to the shore.
That was OK as we were safe and there seemed to
18 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

e plenty of dinghies available for the remainder of the trip.
That night, rain was obviously threatening and we had nowhere to shelter.
But a part of the Orakei Korako tourist attraction includes a large thermal
cave. “That’s the answer. We’ll paddle across the river and camp in the cave.
Nobody could stop us. There were no fences and we had simply to paddle
across the river tramp though the thermal field and we would have shelter;
Pretty draughty shelter but a heap better than out in a downpour. The owner
was understandably concerned. He didn’t want twenty odd canoeists, messing
up his tourist cave. “I have a better idea” He quickly responded “How about
you bunk down in my tearooms” That was the answer. We were much better
off and Jack and I did even better. Somehow we were ushered into their lounge
to sleep on their sheepskin mats. The ultimate in luxury!
The next two days we drifted down towards the Whakamaru dam. Inky green
pines clustered down to the shore. The disastrous forest fires of the mid forties
were all healed up now with prolific re-growth. The placid river interspersed
with the occasional wild water.
“Watch out for the Rainbow rapids. You wouldn’t want to get caught in them.
They are pretty fearsome” advised one old hand. And they were and we didn’t
get caught. The river tumbled over a sharp ledge and the standing wave at the
foot was truly awesome, a six foot hill of water rearing up beside you in an
almost unbelievable mound. You felt tempted to reach out and touch what
appeared to be solid glass like water.
“Somebody did go through this rapid.” Jack commented with a chuckle. “They
were drifting down towards the initial broken water. The crew was getting
pretty apprehensive. “We’ll be right I have done this bit of the river before”
one bloke told the rest. “I know where the Rainbow Rapids are and this is not
them.” But he didn’t have a clue. By then it was too late. They were in the grip
of rapidly flowing water. Over they went and under the standing wave. Two
or three attempted breaths and they surfaced. Thankfully nobody drowned.
But it was one heck of a mistake to make”
It was our last day on the river and one more adventure awaited us. We drifted
to the lip of a major rapid and as we often did, landed to prospect our line of
attack. The consensus was “Do a portage”
Then it happened. Paddy and his intrepid crew paddled into sight. At the last
minute they saw us dancing about trying to warn them. But it was too late.
They paddled manfully towards the shore, got caught in the current, were
swept under a log and were trapped on a rocky outcrop on the very lip of
this huge rapid. They clambered out of their rapidly sinking dinghy, climbed
onto a log atop the rock and gazed despondently at the surrounding water,
all churned into white. If they tried to swim for it they would certainly be
swept over the edge into the rapid. It was a desperate situation. Thankfully,
we had a long rope with which to swing a canoe across to the stranded crew.
It wasn’t easy but after a few attempts and bumps it reached the log. In two
trips we brought the crew to safety. That left Paddy, the self appointed captain,
rightfully waiting till last.
Then disaster, the canoe refused to swing across. Again and again we tried.
The canoe drifted tantalisingly close then swept away. Paddy was frustrated.
He paced up and down on his log. It looked like he was in for a long stay
on his tiny island. He stopped and stared at the water. We all knew what
he was thinking.
“It looks like I am trapped on this wretched log. What are my chances if I swim
I’ll have to swim through the rapid and could very easy hit a rock and drown.”
Then he made up his mind. “This is it. I’m off.” He made a quick prayer for
deliverance, crossed himself, and dived in. In seconds he was through; wet
and safe, thankfully safe. We breathed sighs of relief, carried our craft round
the rapid and an hour or so later reached our destination, the Whakamaru
dam. With a whoop and a yell we swept through the diversion channel right
under the nearly completed dam.
We were probably the last to canoe this section of that river. Within months
the dam drowned the scene of our latest adventures. In a year or so whole
river valley was flooded and the challenge of these rapids was gone for ever.
This was my last Easter on the Waikato. In future years I spent my Easter break
at Bible Class camps which were exciting in a different way. But I will never
regret the wild adventure of canoeing the Waikato.
After this adventure Jack sold me his partly assembled collapsible canoe.
He had done the difficult part, which required precise measurements, of
constructing the frame. Dad and I did the straightforward, long and tedious
job of hand sewing the rubberised hull to the canvas. Then we were ready for
our next trip. I’ll tell you about it next issue.
Drawings courtesy of Jason Kyle.
WWW.DAYTWO.CO.NZ info@daytwo.co.nz 07 345 7467
Luuka Jones, New Zealand’s first
female slalom Olympian chooses
Day Two kayak gear
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 19

New By-laws now in
force on the Waitemata
& Manukau Harbours.
– by James Fitness
The ARC (Auckland Regional Council) have bought in a
number of law changes which affect all boaties in the
Auckland & Manukau waterways from the 1 st July 2008.
The changes that affect kayakers are Clauses 2.14 & 2.17.
(See clauses on page 21)The clause on naming your vessel is not a major issue,
put your name and contact number on your kayak and you comply. Fairly
sensible really and helps recover stolen kayaks. (I never got mine back!)
The clause that has caused uproar is 2.17.
The worrying thing here is that the ARC took recommendations from John
Dilley, the Auckland Harbourmaster, that no changes to the law regarding
kayakers were required. They then put out public notices to a large data base
(5 x A3 page contact list) on which there was only one kayaking organisation. As
this law affects us so much, surely more kayakers should have been contacted.
The meeting was held and new laws passed.
The law is ambiguous and badly written. What is the definition of a “high
visibility vest”. According to the Harbourmaster this can be any colour except
grey! Black vests are classed as high visibility in certain conditions.
Accusations have been made that these laws are intended to take
the blame off the boatie. But I draw your attention to the maritime
safety rule 22 amendment.
Reflective tape works well.
20 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Amendment to Maritime Rules
Part 22: Collision Prevention
Rowing - Power vessels must now give way to rowing vessels as well as
sailing vessels. (Every overtaking vessel always gives way to any vessel
being overtaken.)
I have come to the opinion that these rules, albeit badly written, are not a
bad thing.
We all know we should wear buoyancy aids, fly flags and at night we should
display a light.
Unfortunately few of us fly flags and use lights. The specification that a light
must be visible from 2 nautical miles in good conditions indicates the power
of the light and not necessarily a hard and fast rule. Will it be seen against
the Auckland skyline at night Probably not, but then on a dark night a ship
is difficult to see against all those lights.
This law has been designed to encourage education, rather than prosecution.
With this law in place the ARC & Harbourmaster can get funding for an
education program, similar to the ‘even blokes wear life jackets’ campaign.
Put yourself in the shoes of the boatie. You look out and see nothing. Next
thing you know you’ve run someone over.
Surely it is the responsibility of both parties The boaties to keep a
vigilant look out and kayakers to make themselves as visible as practically
possible
Take courses on navigation, learn what other water users are likely to do
and try to keep out of their way. I have been under the harbour bridge in a
kayak with a racing fleet of yachts bearing down on me. It was only knowing
that they were likely to tack across the harbour to their finish line that I felt
comfortable.
I have been on the water all my life, as a yachtie, diver, fisherman, kayaker.
Everyone thinks that the other person is at fault. Yachties don’t like the wash
from Gin palaces. Who slows down for a dive flag No one likes Jet skis!
The reality is we all need to take responsibility for our own personal safety
and do our best to be seen. Who drives a car during the day with their lights
on to make sure they are seen I do (sad really).
As always, most of us are responsible. It is a case of
educating the remainder.
2.14 Vessels to be identified
1. The master and owner of a vessel shall ensure the vessel is marked
with its name or similar identifying marks. This shall be displayed, on
each side of the vessel. The number or name shall be a minimum height
of 90 millimetres and each character shall be legible.
2. Clause 2.14.1 shall not apply to non-mechanically powered vessels
of less than 6 metres in length. Such vessels should be marked with a name,
or the owner’s name or contact details somewhere on the vessel.
3. Clause 2.14.1 shall not apply to mechanically power driven vessels of
less than 4 metres in length. Such vessels should be marked with a name,
or the owner’s name or contact details somewhere on the vessel.
2.17 Visibility of kayaks and paddle craft
1. Every kayak and paddle craft that is navigating in waters beyond 200
metres from shore shall ensure it is highly visible to other vessels.
This shall include:
(a) wearing a high visibility vest or high visibility PFD; and
(b) use of reflecting tape on oars or paddles and also on clothing; and
(c) at night, showing a continuous white light visible in all directions
from a distance of two nautical miles.
This is all a boatie is likely to see!
Environment Waikato are reviewing
their rules too. – by Sue Tucker
During October and November this year 14 public
meetings have been scheduled to review Environment
Waikato’s navigation safety bylaw. The subject is ‘Safety
for all surface water activities’. Our contacts list includes
anyone who has submitted on the bylaw previously,
Iwi and those fishing/boating clubs, kayak clubs, water
skiing clubs, rowing clubs, boating retailers etc who have
requested inclusion. All will be advised by letter, and
public notices will appear in local papers.
Environment Waikato will repeat the ‘See and be seen’ campaign for
2008/2009, ‘Staying bright on top’. This ‘paddling to be seen’ safety
initiative has been developed by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) in
collaboration with the paddling community to encourage recreational
kayakers, canoeists and boaties in low profile watercraft to make
themselves more visible to others on lake, river or sea.
Skippers are required by maritime rules to keep a proper ‘look out’ and
maintain appropriate speeds near other water users, but it is difficult to
see kayaks and craft which sit low in the water. “The trick to being safe is
being seen. Use the right combination of colour, contrast and movement
to maximise your visibility”.
There are now more kayaks on the waterways and more complaints
about vessels failing to show lights. To avoid a collision, or being run
over, skippers need to know the rules... Maritime regulations require any
craft under oars/paddle to show a torch or lantern with a white light, in
sufficient time to prevent collision. Environment Waikato has produced
a card providing information about visibility ‘Day and night, keep it
bright’ ‘Out at night Show a light!’ Call our navigation safety team for
a copy: 0800 800 401.
Check our website:www.ew.govt.nz/navigation.
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 21

Mayor Island (Tuhua) Trip report
19th - 20th June 2008
By Robbie Banks (Hard Yakker) - Steve Knowles (Big Boss) - Warren Blundell (Wazza de Sea Dawg)
Three kayakers packing in the dark, made a final check
of essential equipment. Steve Knowles, responsible
for navigation and the weather , completed the G.P.S coordinates.
Robbie brought up the now casting report, Steve
& Warren confirmed the forecast suitable for departure.
On the dot at 7 a.m. we slipped out of Pilot Bay. My 83yr old mum & my daughter,
Jessie, tucked up warm in the car, watched three white lights disappear past
the Maori Chief & glide out of sight around the Mount.
We offered a traditional good luck koha to Kuia Rock – and in a Southeast
breeze of 10-15 knots, with a 1-2 metre swell, stopped at ‘A’ Buoy to assess
conditions. Big Steve sent a trip report to the Tauranga Coastguard, we took
photos and then, pointing our bows to the South East tip of Mayor Island 352
degrees magnetic north, the 38 kms adventure began.
With each paddle stroke the hum of Tauranga’s busy port weakened until only
the sounds of the ocean remained. Steve had said,“When we are far enough out
and the sounds of the city disappear, we will experience a Zen moment”.
Bow down on the swell, my kayak rode waves like a dream. Each paddle
stroke sliced through the water. I felt the power of the ocean. Then the waves
subsided and I looked back. The Mount has become hazy while ahead Mayor
Island was still a distant shadow. The isolation inspired awe, I was humbled
and excited.
Was this the Zen moment Steve talked about
A pod of dolphins, heading to East Cape, crossed our bows. They didn’t stop
to say hi, and neither did the container ship heading for Tauranga. We didn’t
even get a toot! 5.5 hours from Pilot Bay we dragged our kayaks up the beach
at South East Bay.
Sore bums soon forgotten we stretched our legs walking to the Crater Lake.
Then, with the Tuhua Trust’s, permission which Robbie had obtained, we
occupied one of their cabins for the night. In bad weather, hunkering down on
the beach while the surf thumped all night long would have been grim.
Next day, in unchanged weather we checked with the Coastguard and set off
on a roller coaster ride towards the Coromandel Peninsula. We had Gannets,
Fairy Petrels and Flying Fish for company. A broach/capsize & rescue in 2 metre
swells would not have been fun for anyone so, when Robbie felt a bump from
something below water, we stayed closer together.
After nearly 6 hours we reached the Whangamata wharf, to complete the final
36kms. The Whanga Sport & Gamefishing Club provided the beer.
See http://picasaweb.google.com/ksitmk for extra pix.
This is not a trip I would do alone, the team work is vital and reassuring, It is
important to know and trust the others.
Steve was the chief navigator & weather expert whom I trust and respect
implicitly.
Warren’s tactical approach and attention to detail, finely tuned from years of
advanced caving, are impressive.
The experience of regular paddling and extending myself for a year has
been empowering. A 9 day solo on the Coromandel taught me the speed I
can comfortably maintain in a loaded kayak over long distances. My muscle
memory maintains that optimum speed. The swell picks me up & I go with it.
Then commonsense kicks in & I wait to re- group.
Note:- The Dumb Numb Bums Award was given at the following B.O.P Canoe
& Kayak midyear dinner.
Robbie awarded the guys undies with smiling cushions sewed onto the butt,
& the Dumb award went to Big Steve & Warren for trusting Robbie & following
her up the big steep hill, across the ridge to the Devils staircase, on a mere 3
hour hike. It was good for stretching butt muscles.
Steve said, “I grade this trip off the charts!” Warren said, “The roar of a
prehistoric creature would not be out of place”.
And Robbie says, “When the guys dropped me off at home I joked, ‘Leave the
Stopped at A Buoy to assess conditions.
22 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

oat on the truck I’m going kayaking tomorrow’. Everyone laughed, but it
wasn’t a comment made in jest. I have caught the adventuring bug.”
According to Graham Charles: - “Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently
desire & enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass”. The words
written by Adventure Philosophy ring true - “An adventurous spirit lies at the
heart of a healthy society”.
Adventurous activity promotes & develops vital skills: self - confidence and
self- reliance, determination, initiative, and calculated risk taking. These are
the hallmarks of citizens in any progressive & healthy society.
Aside from the nurturing of skills & the potential to inspire, adventure is also
just damn exciting & satisfying!
“So what’s next guys”
P.S A big thanks to Irene for picking us up, without her we would’ve had a
long walk home.
Mayor Island (Tuhua) is a privately owned island. Permission to land
is essential, and we acknowledge & thank the Tuhua Trust for their coopertation.
Highlights of the trip: -
Experiencing the Zen moment.
Getting a primo ride on the waves, while doing a paddle twirl (Is that what
it is called)
Sharing my oranges and pikelets with the dudes.
My first step onto the island without falling over.
Having a dry cabin to sleep in.
Eating Steve’s chocolate.
Relief that the guys appreciated the view. After a hard slog up the trig.
Completing the trip & sharing a beer together at the Whangamata Sports Club,
while looking at the view of the coastline.
Challenges of the trip: -
Having a sore butt!
Paddling in the middle of nowhere heading up the coastline, rather than what
I instinctively wanted to do and head directly towards it. The mainland looking
hazy & unreachable.
No land in sight!
Bums up! We made it.
Triumph! Mega mission complete Ye ha!
We paddled how far !
Warren,Steve & Robbie
Ocean crossing complete.
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 23

Mokihinui Magic
by Debs Martin
U n d e r t h e w e s t e r n s h o u l d e r o f
Kahurangi National Park, on the
West Coast of the South Island, water
cascades off the mountains through
steep-sided bedrock canyons and
stunning, dark green beech forest to
become the Mokihinui River. It rushes
through an earthquake-shattered
gorge, emerges at Welcome Flat and
charges on to the sea.
In the heavy downpours for which the West
Coast is notorious the water level in the gorge
rises to 6 metres. It thunders past tall climber
draped podocarps and blossoming ratas.Twenty
endangered species live here. A long-finned eel or
a curious weka may join a lunch stop. Bats, kiwi,
and our large land snails (powelliphanta) hide in
the bush. The blue duck (whio), one of our most
endangered species, calls the Mokihinui River
home. If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse.
Kayaking or rafting the Mokihinui River is the best
way to experience the twisting, steep 14 kilometre
gorge. The crew I joined started from Welcome
Flat in a chopper, but an adventurous person,
prepared to spend 8 hours, might tackle the
ancient pack route to Karamea. Clinging to steep
valley sides it served the goldfield villages of the
1800s. Remnants can still be found in the bush.
An iron bridge, swept away in the massive slips
of the 1929 Murchison earthquake, is visible at
the confluence with the Rough & Tumble. The State
owned company Meridian Energy plans to build an
85-metre high dam to flood more than 330 hectares
within the gorge. It will obliterate the fantastic class
III & IV rapids, drown forests and river terraces,
and leave behind a rotting lake for electricity,
boaties and whatever can survive. It will destroy
rare wild life, deprive rafters and kayakers of an
outstanding helicopter/wilderness adventure, and
dismay Mick Hopkinson, NZ Kayak School, Hugh
Canard, NZRCA, and many others who support the
Rafting on the Mokihinui River.
campaign to Save the Mokihinui.
For information see Forest & Bird’s website
www.forestandbird.org.nz “Mokihinui”.
Debs Martin is the Top of the South Island Regional
Field Officer for Forest & Bird. In moments of sanity
away from the office she enjoys the wild rivers of
New Zealand.
Thanks to Graham Charles of Image Matters
for the photographs on pages 24 & 25.
24 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Kayaking the Mokihinui
by Ben Jackson
The Mokihinui River (pronounced mo-key-he-nui) offers two
sections for kayakers and rafters. The upper section known
as the North Fork, is fantastic for kayakers seeking 10 kms
of continuous class III and class IV rapids.
Portaging is easy around too adventurous rapids. The lower section,
known as The Forks, begins at the confluence of the North and South Forks.
At lower flows the river runs with pool drop rapids, half a dozen almost
class IV. These can be portaged if need be. At higher flows the rapids run
together and a lot faster. Big wave trains and sizable hydraulics keep you
focused and make for a wild ride.
The remote Mokihinui River, flowing through the most stunning native rain
forest on the West Coast of the South Island, offers a real wilderness river
experience for Kiwis, tourists and future generations. Its destruction, a
further savage rape of New Zealand’s wonderland, would be terrible.
For more information on flows and logistics check out Graham Charles’
‘New Zealand Whitewater, 125 Great Kayaking Runs. Ben Jackson often
spends the summer with the NZ Kayak School in Murchison looking for the
ideal run on the West Coast. Ben’s footage of the Mokihinui River can be
found on youtube.
White water play time.
Graham Charles.
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ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 25

The Yakity Yak
Join to
PHONE 0508
HAWKE’S BAY
15 Niven Street
Onekawa,
Napier
PHONE: 06 842 1305
TARANAKI
Unit 6, 631 Devon Road
Waiwhakaiho,
New Plymouth
PHONE: 06 769 5506
WAIKATO
The corner Greenwood St &
Duke St, SH 1 Bypass,
Hamilton
PHONE: 07 847 5565
WELLINGTON
2 Centennial Highway
Ngauranga,
Wellington
PHONE: 04 477 6911
BAY OF PLENTY
3/5 Mac Donald Street
Mount Maunganui
(off Hewletts Rd)
PHONE: 07 574 7415
For up coming Yakity Yak trips see

Kayak Club
ay!
KAYAKNZ
MANUKAU
710 Great South Road,
Manukau
Auckland
PHONE: 09 262 0209
NORTH SHORE
Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive
(off Ascension Place),
Mairangi Bay, Auckland
PHONE: 09 479 1002
www.canoeandkayak.co.nz
AUCKLAND
502 Sandringham Rd
Sandringham
Auckland
PHONE: 09 815 2073
SILVERDALE
DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
6 Tavern Road, Silverdale
Auckland
PHONE: 09 421 0662
TAUPO
77 Spa Road,
Taupo
PHONE: 07 378 1003

Discovering the ‘Lost Coast’
By Nathan Fa’avae
Tide, Jodie in the front with Zephyr and
Jessie in the back.
My three kids were born while I was a professional adventure
athlete, travelling to the far corners of 6 continents in search
of pristine wilderness to explore. Prior to that I had a career
in outdoor education and adventure tourism. Now I organise
adventure-sporting events. My work tools are bikes, kayaks,
rafts, kites, skis, maps and compasses. My office is strewn
with worn out bike tyres and running shoes.
Whether they like it or not (they seem to like it) adventure is what I know, enjoy
and probably the only thing I’m actually good at. So Jessie (5), Zephyr (3) and
Tide (1) get to go on adventures. Jodie my wife and I have had identical career
paths and we both place high value on adventure.
Our latest one was New Caledonia’s ‘La cote Oubliée ‘ (‘The Lost Coast’ –
sometimes referred to as the ‘Forgotten Coast’).
It is a 90km stretch of untamed coast between Yate and Thio in the South East,
and the only one not developed. There are no roads, very few scattered Kanak
Villages and one Nickel Mine accessible only by air and sea. It’s similar to the
Abel Tasman National Park but four times the size, ten times more remote and
with one million more fish … plus one shark – seen close up while snorkelling
with Jessie, my five-year old. Thankfully for us, the shark found the tuna more
to its liking.
The coastline is inside a barrier reef, a repeating pattern of paradise … golden
beaches, crystal clear coral reefs, scattered islands, tidal lagoons, river deltas
and marine life. Turtle and dolphin sightings are common most days, whales
if you’re lucky.
In planning, our main decision was what craft to paddle. Incept Marine at
Taihape make a whole range of inflatable boats and since I was aware they
have the best reputation for commercial white water rafts I had complete
confidence in their products. We were excited to discover they also made
inflatable kayaks and canoes. Scrolling through their website we found ‘Big
Nathan Fa’avae
28 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Under kite power!
Jodie and Jessie reading, Tide and Zephyr playing.
‘Big Red’
Red’ (officially ‘Explorer C52T’), a 4-person inflatable canoe that at 5.3 metres
long easily had room for the 5 of us with gear – it was a beauty. The canoe,
rolled up into the size of a big suitcase and weighing 30kg, can be checked in
as baggage for the flight over.
We did a trial paddle before departing, loading our camping gear and using
our dog Sunny to simulate the weight of fuel we’d need for the 9-day voyage.
Pleasing outcome! The boat floated, Jodie and I could easily paddle it, and we
could eat the equivalent weight of a dog.
We’d never been to Noumea and were surprised to find it run down.
The service was poor. As we were only passing through on route to the Lost
Coast. It didn’t overly phase us. All we needed was food.
Walking off the graffiti splattered streets into the supermarket was surreal.
It was as if we were walking into a Super Mache in Paris. It was a delectable
delicatessen stocking all foods, fine cheeses, salamis, cured meats and
baguettes. That alone made the trip a success as far as I was concerned.
The next day, we made a two-hour jeep trip from Noumea till, while the kids
played with hermit crabs, we pumped up our canoe. Half an hour later we
were off, paddling northwest in search of marvellous adventure, fun and the
tribal village of St Roch. Minutes into the 90 kms trip there were flying fish,
massive displays of under water life around coral stacks and turtles sticking
their heads up to see what we were all about.
The prevailing South Easterly aided us for 15 kms until we stopped at camp
1; a stunning beach of undisturbed sand nestled between aqua blue waters
and protecting coconut trees. Our pattern started. Pull the canoe onto the dry,
pitch the tent, kids play, Jodie and I relax, dine under the setting sun eating
fine European cuisine. At least 5 times a day for the rest of the trip we had to
pinch ourselves – this place is simply too good to be true. As day one drew to
a comfortably warm 14-degree night, we agreed no matter what happened,
the trip was now an official success.
But it just got better and better. As if out of wounded pride nature seemed to
go on show. The water got clearer; the beaches got more beautiful; the sea got
warmer; the sun got hotter (average 25 degrees) and even the turtles stuck
around longer. One night we stayed at the mining village of Ouinne, hosted by
We’re off!
ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 29

Camp 1, Zephyr in the
foreground.
a kiwi family who have managed aviation at the mine for over 20 years.
Karen, Tom and their son Liam treated us to a BBQ and gave us some
good local tips. Another special night we stayed at a Kanak village B&B.
They brewed coffee on the fire, took us for a bush walk and cooked local
food – complimented with wild passionfruit.
While we swam in the warmth of the tropics and absorbed the sun’s
life giving rays, New Zealand was getting a winter blasting of rain and
snow, again convincing us that winter trips to the Pacific have to be
good for you.
Regarding our choice of vessel, we could not fault the inflatable canoe.
Incept have created the perfect, portable family adventure boat. We are
now making a list of river and lake trips for this summer. Next winter
we will have another Pacific Island mission – either to Tonga or the
Solomon Islands. The C52T, keeping in mind it is an inflatable boat,
is rock solid stable, glides through the water at surprising speed and
is easily manoeuvred. We loaded up one seating compartment with
four Sealline Multiple tie-down dry bags. They were easily stackable
in the canoe and easy-to-carry on land. The bags are perfect for rafting,
canoeing, or lashing to the top of a vehicle. Because of their heavy-duty
scrim-reinforced vinyl construction, we packed all our gear into them
in NZ and checked them at the airport.
Not a lot of gear is required for the trip. We had one tent, 5 Thermarests,
one set of paddling clothes (shorts and t-shirt) and one set of dry land
wear. Added to that we had one blackened billy for cooking on the fire
and some utensils for meals, snorkeling gear and books that had been
waiting too long to be read. We slept in silk bag liners.
The only safety gear we took was a spare paddle and a first aid kit but
we agreed an EPIRB and a Sat phone would be taken in the future – we
felt very ‘alone’.
The Lost Coast was a brilliant trip. It had everything we wanted and was
much more than we expected. Free camping in the Pacific Islands with
no one else around is unique and a wonderful experience. For six nights
we saw no people, had beaches, rivers, swimming spots, campsites and
islands completely to ourselves. The sea for 8-days was mirror calm with
light tail winds most afternoons. It was idyllic, a superb mini-expedition
for anyone, kids included.
Swimming Stop
30 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

There was plenty of
room.
Tide is quite at
home.
April through to October are okay months for the trip, but June, July and August
are best. November-March, when high trade winds thrash the Lost Coast,
should be avoided unless people are very experienced kayakers. Wild seas
and fierce gales are likely.
If you think the trip sounds like something you’d like, but think it may be
beyond you, my youngest daughter Tide will be 2 years old very soon and it
won’t be long before she can talk – I’m sure she’ll be happy to give you the
confidence and reassurance you need.
But for more information on the Lost Coast contact
Andrea at www.wild-side.co.nz.
The boat.
Reef Shark.
Award Scheme
The NZKI Award Scheme was formed in response to a
growing need in the Kayaking Industry to have more
people with Kayaking qualifications, to encourage more
kayakers towards expanding their skills and knowledge
and to continue to increase the safety of our sport.
The NZKI Award Scheme is structured around the
assessment of skills and knowledge that are required for
the type of activity to be undertaken by the Instructor
or Guide.
A star is awarded for each level achieved, starting off
with the NZKI One Star for personal paddling skills and
knowledge and moving up to the NZKI Five Star for
an Assessor.
For more information phone 0508 5292569
www.nzki.co.nz
ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 31

Beijing Olympic Slalom 2008
by Andy Fuller
Luuka Jones has qualified to become the first ever New
Zealand woman to compete in Slalom kayaking at the
Olympic Games.
Following in the footsteps of Donald Johnstone, in 1992, and Owen
Hughes in 1996 Luuka will be proudly representing NZ slalom, aged only
19. She is from Tauranga but has spent the last 2 winters in Nottingham,
England for several months, in order to get training with top level
paddlers and coaches.
She qualified to race for NZ earlier in the year by being the top NZ
paddler at the Oceania champs in Australia. She won the national
champs for the first time in Kawerau and raced 2 world cup races in
Prague and Ljubljana justifying her inclusion in the NZ Olympic team.
The NZ Olympic Committee confirmed her spot on the 1 st of July to her
delight which made her the subject of quite a few news articles on TV
and radio.
Luuka’s goal is to win the 2012 Olympics in London. Realistically she
doesn’t expect to win in Beijing, but racing there will be a valuable
experience and huge step towards her goal in London.
The artificial channel built specifically for the 2008 Olympics provides
a continuous, very big whitewater course. Powering against the huge
waves and holes all the way down, there will be no opportunity to
ease off.
Luuka Jones winning the national
slalom champs at Kawerau, Easter ‘08
Luuka has been very lucky to secure some sponsorship to help her achieve
her dream. She would like to thank 1st Web Design who run her personal
website, Fulton Hogan for her shiny new Olympic kayak, MD Pool & Spas and
Cooney Lees and Morgan for all their help and DayTwo kayaking for a full set
of race gear for the Olympics.
The Olympic slalom races will be held from the 11 th to 14 th of August.
Whitewater Slalom NZ
by Andy Fuller
What is Whitewater slalom
Slaloms are held on grade 2 and 3 rapids for 150 to 300 metres. Paddlers
negotiate 18 to 25 ‘gates’ of 2 poles suspended above the river. 6 of the gates
are upstream. Races test paddling skills without experiencing dangerous
rapids. They usually take 2 minutes.
Where in NZ
The main centres for slalom in NZ are the Bay of plenty (with permanent sites
in Rotorua, Kawerau and Taupo), Napier, and Mangahao slalom course near
Palmerston North. In the South Island there are the areas around Wanaka,
Queenstown, Alexandra and Dunedin.
Besides these there are other great places for slalom. You can practise on
flatwater, testing yourself on hard gates, then progress to harder courses
on rougher water.
When
Most slalom races are held during the Summer with Nationals and the
secondary schools usually at Easter, the end of the season. However, camps
and races, held year-round, include ‘pool slaloms’ during
really cold weather.
Who
Anyone! Come along and test your skills. Most of NZ’s top kayakers are slalom
paddlers or past slalom kayakers. They include Ben Fouhy, Donald Johnstone,
Mike Walker, Mick Hopkinson, Graham Charles, Gordon Walker, Andrew
Martin, Owen Hughes, Jared Meehan.
The skills slalom gives you will make you better at river running, polo, sprint,
down river and multisport. You’ll be more confident, skilled and better able to
handle moving water. ‘Easy’ slaloms are held at Reids Farm (Taupo), Kaituna
river (Rotorua), Hawea River (Wanaka), Waipori (Dunedin) and on one of the
easier courses in Kawerau. To test your skills further there are races at the
Wairoa (Tauranga), Tarawera river (Kawerau), Mangahao river (Palmerston
Andy Fuller
focuses hard!
North), Buller river, Kawarau river (Queenstown).
For further information go to www.slalomnz.org.nz and read the newsletters
under the documents area. There’s a pool slalom coming up in Rotorua on
23 rd August followed by races in Alexandra towards the end of September.
Also, if you want some top advice, members of the DayTwo team coach at the
Kaituna river on a regular basis. (e-mail: info@daytwo.co.nz).
Andy Fuller shepherds young Kelly Travers down the slalom
course in Kawerau.
32 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Email: sales@roofrackcentre.co.nz
For all your roof rack requirements.
See www.roofrackcentre.co.nz
BAY OF PLENTY: 07 574 7415
WAIKATO: 07 847 5565
WELLINGTON: 04 477 6911 NORTH SHORE: 09 479 1002
AUCKLAND: 09 815 2072
HAWKE’S BAY: 06 842 1305
TARANAKI: 06 769 5506
TAUPO: 07 378 1003
MANUKAU: 09 262 0209

Successful Winter Fishing
by Jason Milne
Kayak fishing guru Stephen Tapp of Limitless Ventures
recently invited me to join him and friend, Shamus for some
winter fishing off Bland Bay, 45 mins North of Whangarei.
It was an opportunity to learn from the best how to avoid
winter’s normal hard going and ‘fish smarter’, and a great
chance to put my new Mission Catch 390 through its paces.
I should have guessed, having fished with Stephen on
several occasions that the ‘catch’ was rolling out by 4.30am!
Try getting a good coffee this early in Whangarei!
Starting early and paddling for 2 kms or so , our first baits went down just after
sun up when fish are feeding eagerly. Almost immediately I landed some good
snapper. I secured a couple to the fish stringer and placed them under the
insulated cover in the stern. However Stephen was pulling in 20lb + snapper
not far from me so I needed to find out how to get one of those on my line.
I stayed close to Stephen and watched intently as he repeated the process of
paddling over the fish watching his sounder, spotting a fish worth targeting
then dropping the sea anchor to slow the drift. The previously baited rig would
be deployed and the moment it got to or near the target Wham!! The rod bent
and he was into the fight, which repeatedly produced Snapper close to & over
20lb. He released all that were not gut hooked.
Applying what I had observed I used my fish finder to spot the target fish,
paddled over them, set the anchor running rig with sea anchor attached and
dropped the bait. My slowed drift back allowed time for correctly weighted bait
to reach the fish. Then Wham!! Off went my line, I quickly pulled on the running
rig line to move the sea anchor from the bow to the stern and played this fish
out of its depth of 45metres to alongside my kayak. Out quickly came the gaff
when I saw, coming to the surface what looked like, and later proved to be,
my first 20lb snapper! This fish was promptly attached to the fish stringer and
stowed in the rear tank well under cover. I continued to apply this technique
throughout the day to great success, I started the day with 25 Pilchards, landed
16 fish and had 6 baits left over. If my bait had failed to reach the target’s depth
at the right time I would either have lost it to other fish or caught nothing, which
was happening earlier before applying this technique.
During the 9hrs and 25kms of paddling/drifting we chased Snapper, Kawahia,
Trevally, Skip Jack Tuna and Kingfish. This hunter-gatherer was tired and very
satisfied. Moreover my new Catch 390 performed well and proved comfortable
for the whole trip. A well-designed practical deck for fishing made this day’s
outing run smoothly. I look forward to applying this style of fishing to the same
success in my local fishing locations on the Whangaparaoa coastline.
Useful tip
Watch the sounder (fish finder). Throughout this trip my eyes seldom left the
view on the sounder. This kept me aware of the environment below at all times
heightening the chances of catching fish and giving a sense of truly hunting
the fish. A GPS unit is an advantage as I could easily mark the fish and target
them effectively. More often than not we were heading for GPS mark but never
actually made it due to spotting fish worth targeting on the way. My unit is a
compact black & white GPS chart plotter fish finder, conveniently mounted
on the deck directly in front of me, using the attachment kit specially made
for the Catch 390. The transducer and power supply are mounted internally
using the mounts provided with the Catch 390.
34 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Take the Plunge: 1 st Weekend of the Grade
Two Certificate Training. By Craig Pritchard
Thoughts of cracking a thin layer of ice on the pool crossed
my mind as I drove down the motorway towards Northcote
College. The day was icy and miserable, but Sam from Canoe
& Kayak North Shore welcomed me warmly and led the class
to the pool for the start of Grade 2 Kayak training.
In the heated pool, covered from the wild elements, we paired up to learn
techniques for righting a capsized, still manned, kayak ; to relax under
water and give the distress signal , 3 taps on the bottom of your boat. We
covered basic paddling strokes with emphasis on the low brace position to
stop tipping out.
At Canoe & Kayak, North Shore lunch was hot tomato soup and freshly baked
bread rolls straight out of the oven. Hail pelted down. So much for choosing
warm Auckland for my first training weekend!
In the storm we drove down the motorway to Lake Pupuke, Takapuna, donned
gear and took to the water sharing it with indignant black swans and a little
man in a bright yellow jacket, who was fishing from a kid’s rubber dinghy.
Mercifully the weather cleared for Sam to coach us on forward and backward
paddling, T-Draw strokes, sweep strokes, stern rudder, the essential low brace
position and brace support. He also covered T and X rescues. Testing the true
extent of my Gladiators secondary in- stability I experienced an involuntary
and bone chilling wet exit in the lake that afternoon.
That night, while the storm continued to terrorize parts of the country, I was
sore but I hit the pillow satisfied by a great day in and out of it.
Rob instructing, 35 Knot gale force south easterlies were predicted for the
second day. In the Orewa bridge carpark the lads were in polyprop tights
talking of practising ‘fairy glides’. I was puzzled until Rob explained the
terminology new to me (ferry not fairy) and recapped on the previous day’s
training. He warned that if it chopped up too much we would abandon training
and reschedule.
But all was well. On a turning tide we hit the water under the Orewa bridge
to practise forward paddling and sweep stroke turning. Then it was eddy
entries, low braces and railing. We switched back and forth between fast
moving water and an eddy.
Down stream towards the estuary mouth the tidal flow increased and eddy
lines strengthened. In these more forceful conditions practising eddy entries
dunked 4/5 of us trainee paddlers. The importance of railing and having
confidence in the low brace was reinforced.
‘Ferry Glides’, forward and reverse, followed the eddy training. We had a
quick session on what to do in pins and wraps and a combat swim in fast
following water practising rope rescues. A paddle back up the estuary against
the tide with a decent head wind provided a final challenge before a snack
and change into warm gear.
It had been a fantastic weekend, enjoyed by all, conducted in a professional
and yet relaxed atmosphere. Both Sam and Rob were down to earth &
approachable. Adding to core training they provided good feedback and
general tips to improve our kayaking. Safety was paramount. Two experienced
paddlers, Brian and Jane, assisted the instructors and provided support over
the weekend.
From my experience I highly recommend the Grade 2 White Water course and
encourage you to take the plunge and enrol.
Grade Two River Certificates
Ask anybody who has competed in a multisport race and they will say
One or two weekends training
Is just NOT ENOUGH!!!
We believe our comprehensive Grade 2 Training & Certification is the best you can get.
To gain the skills to confidently paddle on white water, you need at least
3 weekends on the water with our instructors.
PHONE NOW 0508 5292569
OR CALL IN TO YOUR LOCAL CANOE & KAYAK CENTRE
FOR MORE DETAILS AND COURSE DATES
2008 Multisport Package $995
Accommodation available in Taupo
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 35

Cambridge to
Hamilton 2008
by Su Sommerholder
The Cambridge to Hamilton Race was started 31 years ago
by Auckland Canoe Club.
Due to its suitability for most ages, kayak models, and kayaking abilities, it
has proved to be enduringly popular. Kayaks, canoes, sit-on-tops, outriggers,
surf skis and waka - in fact any craft which is paddled - were all welcome to
enter.
It has always been run over two distances. 23km from Cambridge to Hamilton
or 11km from The Narrows to Hamilton. Participants could either enter the
handicapped race or just cruise down. It was not unusual to find families of
three generations competing, sometimes stopping off on the way to enjoy a
picnic lunch.
Competitor numbers varied between 20 and 80. Most people knew each other
and enjoyed meeting up once a year. Participation was much more important
than winning. There were medals for the first three place getters of each age
group and chocolate fish for everyone else.
By the late 1990’s, numbers were growing and it was difficult to find volunteers
within Auckland Canoe Club who could dedicate enough time to organize
the race. In 2002, nobody was willing to take it on and it looked like the race
would end. To avoid this, Auckland Canoe Centre took it over, made it into a
commercial venture, and approached their suppliers for sponsorship.
Paddling Perfection immediately sponsored a multisport kayak and the
tradition of having one or more kayaks as spot prizes, began. Tremendous
support from kayak and accessory manufacturers as well as suppliers of
other interesting products saw the value of sponsored prizes rise to almost
$20,000 last year.
Four years ago when Canoe and Kayak purchased Auckland Canoe Centre, the
race was retained by race director Su Sommerhalder, who now organizes it as
Akarana Kayaks Cambridge – Hamilton Kayak Race and Cruise.
The race continued to grow and in 2007 reached a record 350 competitors in
320 kayaks. Similar numbers are expected this year. Competitors come from all
over the North Island. The youngest competitor so far was three (he paddled
with his father) and the oldest eighty. The eighty year old even won a trophy
in the over-sixty age group.
Kayak shops hire kayaks to competitors who don’t have their own, and some
of them from New Plymouth, Auckland and Hamilton organize group trips to
the race. This ensures those with less experience can still join in the fun.
Launching kayaks at
Cambridge 2006.
A new experience is on offer this year. Donald Calder, of Rotorua has imported
two 15-20 seater canoes. He is taking these to the race and encourages people
to participate who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to paddle.
Bookings are essential and all the equipment is supplied. Text or phone Donald
on 021-343980 for more information.
The Race Briefing is at Riverside Reserve south of Cambridge, at 11am. The
first kayaks away at 11.30am. Hot showers are available at the race finish.
Lunch for the competitors will be ready on arrival in Hamilton. Trophies will
be presented at 2.30 pm followed by distribution of the major spot prizes.
The entry fee is $49 for adults and $25 for people under 18. This includes a
race pack with a drink, nibbles and useful gift; also a quality T-shirt and lunch.
Plus the chance of a valuable spot prize.
Major prizes this year include:
Q-Kayaks Kiwi Touring Kayak, $1250
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 with rudder and seat $1749 plus Carlisle Arctic
Carbon Paddle $250.
Sea Kayaking holiday in Fiji with Safari Lodge.
For further details and to enter on-line check out www.kayakrace.co.nz .
Entry forms can be collected from most kayak shops and canoe clubs, or contact
the Race Director, Su Sommerhalder on kayakrace@akaranakayaks.com
Phone/fax (09) 631-5344 or 0275-529-251 (0275-Kayak1.)
Katilla Kramer & Hedo Rientsma
Rex Barlow & Charles Hoy
36 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

Canoe & Kayak BOP
is For Sale!
Canoe & Kayak Bay of Plenty benefits from a high exposure
site in Mount Maunganui with time to run on the lease.
It includes a specialist kayak store with retail and on water activities. It is the
Home of the BOP Yakity Yak Club, BOP kayaking school and is the specialist
BOP Roof Rack Centre. Above the kayak shop is a 65m 2 self contained unit,
currently rented to a small business.
Steve and Karen started the Centre in 2003. Since then it has been a tip top,
well regarded, profitable and growing business. It is now run by one owner
and one staff member.
BOP Canoe and Kayak Centre is one of 9 linked to the largest specialist Kayaking
Company in New Zealand. Licensed to Canoe and Kayak Ltd the owner enjoys
the Company’s proven business systems, purchasing power and on going
head office support.
To ensure continuing business success from day one, the Company provides
a comprehensive training course for new owners followed by bi-monthly
meetings of fellow owners to discuss and share strategies, marketing
and operations.
A rare opportunity to purchase a profitable life style business in this exciting
and growing industry.
Please call me on 0274 529255, for a chat.
Peter Townend, Managing Director,
Canoe & Kayak Ltd
Canoe & Kayak Bay of Plenty.
In store BOP
Taupo Canoe & Kayak For Sale.
The Castle
The Lodge Taupo
This fantastic lifestyle kayaking business is for sale. Canoe &
Kayak Taupo has been established for over 10 years and is
now in a superb location in the most recognisable building
town.
‘The Castle’ is on one of Taupo’s busiest roads, with huge exposure.
The business - a specialist kayak store with amalgamated Roof Rack Centre - has
a healthy turnover and continues to grow. We also offer White Water, Multisport
and Sea Kayak instruction. Our guided trips on Lake Taupo and the surrounding
rivers are extremely popular. Hire of kayaks and equipment is also offered.
Above the shop is a 3 bedroom, 95sqm Flat. Open plan, 1 bed en suit, mountain
A Fantastic Lifestyle!
and lake views, currently rented out. Canoe & Kayak Taupo is 1 of 9 stores on
the North Island, part of a licenced operation. Income is approx 50% retail and
50% tourism and instruction.
At present it employs 3 full time members of staff and many ‘on call’ guides
and instructors.
Thorough training is given by Canoe & Kayak Ltd with plenty of on-going
support.
Also there is the opportunity to buy the Kayakers Lodge, a 4 bedroom self
contained house on the banks of the Waikato River. 14 beds, a renovated, 1
bedroom sleepout (also rented out) and double garage. The house is set up
to accommodate clients while on kayaking courses, and and is shared with
the current owner.
This business is reluctantly for sale due to change in circumstance.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity, live the dream...give me a call on 0274
529255 and I will happily talk to you.
Peter Townend, Managing Director
Canoe & Kayak Ltd
ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 37

Norway 2008 with Josh Neilson
Norway, a country of contrast, beauty and world class white
water, is slightly bigger than Germany but with 95 percent
less inhabitants. While learning to kayak I was drawn to the
photos and film of kayaking there and this would be my first
close up experience. On the plane to Oslo butterflies tore
around in my stomach. Rumours about thrashings, swims
and broken bones flew through my head, soon replaced by
excitement when I was met by fellow Kiwi, Sam Sutton, in
our brand new Renault rental car. With a few bits of wood
screwed Kiwi style to the roof for racks, a car full of food Sam
had brought from Germany, and our boats strapped down
we were off to Telemark, a few hours south.
Telemark holds some of Norway’s steepest white water. Within minutes of
arrival we were running a huge slide which we thought was a bit low. It turned
out to be on the high side, but still good fun!
We spent three weeks based on the lakeside at Austbygdai. This small town
sits right where the river meets the lake and at the base of some amazing
mountains. The Austbygdai River has a few sections of class 4-5 White water,
one where Sam, on a fine day, fired down a huge slide and off a 35foot drop.
It isn’t normally run! He styled it, but was glad to
reach the bottom! Right after this was the main
waterfall on the river, Spanemfossen, a cool drop
with a lot of water and a super soft landing!
The steepest river I have ever seen was
Husevollevla, which was on our must visit list.
The section called ‘project 2000’ had been run once, a few years ago, and not
been touched since, though many have looked. At the top is a plateau before
the river drops 400m in a stretch of only 500m! The run started well with clean
drops and slides. About half way down Tim Starr dropped into a slide, was
pushed left and his deck popped. He swam the slide and luckily made it out
before the next drop. When running white water this steep, safety has to be
paramount. Since just about every river in Norway has a road right alongside,
it’s easy for a last minute decision to pull over and start paddling. Tim ‘pulled
out’. The rest of the run was without fault and Sam was super stoked to get
on this one.
A few more cool creeks under our belts and we were off to the Voss region for
Voss Extreme Sports Week. This includes over 10 different extreme sports,
each sport with a few competitions. This year there was a head to head, time
trial and team’s race for kayakers. Right before the event two other Kiwi mates,
Mike Dawson and Bradley Lauder met us and travelled with us for the rest of
the trip. The time trial was on the first day. Mike Dawson took first place by a
huge margin. On the second day the team event on the same river included
a higher section. In about 20 minutes of racing class 4-5 drops and slides in
groups of three, First, Second and Third were taken by the Kiwi teams. Cool
on the podium! The final day was head to head racing. Mike, Sam and Brad
then stood on the podium. New Zealand 3 firsts, 2 seconds and 2 thirds!
Kiwi Association of Sea
Kayakers N.Z. Inc.
(KASK)
KASK is a network of sea kayakers
throughout New Zealand
KASK publishes a 200 page
sea kayaking handbook which
is free to new members: the
handbook contains all you
need to know about sea
kayaking: techniques and
skills, resources, equipment,
places to go etc.
KASK publishes a bi-monthly newsletter
containing trip reports, events, book reviews,
technique/equipment reviews and a ‘bugger’
file. KASK holds national sea kayaking forums.
Website:
www.kask.co.nz
Annual subscription is $35.00.
Kask
PO Box 23, Runanga 7841,
West Coast
Sam Sutton - Austbygdai - Photo Josh
Neilson
38 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

A great effort by our country!
Over the week we saw awesome displays by the BASE jumpers and Wing suit
fliers off huge cliffs, and freestyle big air skiing just out of town.
The festival wrapped up with a closing ceremony and a film competition. I
entered a short film which I’d compiled over the week. It contrasted the real
and unreal. Our film, shown to an audience of a few thousand people, took
second place. With everyone on a high from a week of excitement and success,
we celebrated and danced the night away.
The festival over and the town emptying out fast we turned to the guidebook
for more adventure. The weather cleared and now, free from the crowd of
kayakers, we paddled almost every super classic run in Voss. But we had
missed the prize run on Tiegdale River every time it came in.
So we loaded up the car and went north to find some new white water. Half
way up we paddled a small creek on the high side of good but took off early
when Brad was flipped in a hole and hit his head quite bad. The rivets on his
helmet, smashed right down, gave him a bit of a fright. We hiked to our car
where a txt message from a crew back in Voss was waiting. “Tiegdale River
back in. Good to go tomorrow.”
We aborted the north mission and headed back for a morning put in. Great
excitement at camp that night! At the put in, excitement turned to frustration.
The river was dry. We had missed this run for the third time. Sitting at the base
of the famous double drop, a clean 10m with a 2m pool then a 15m drop, we
planned to be back for a fourth attempt in 2009.
In six weeks Sam and I had paddled a huge range of creeks with a lot of cool
people. I left Norway thinking of Jens Klatt’s words in the Guide Book “Paddlers
come with high hopes expecting to run everything, time permitting. But even
after four weeks you only gain a rough impression. The gorges and rivers of
Norway provide the modern white water paddler with absolutely limitless
options. Let the power and beauty of Norway enchant you on your journey.
Enjoy the ride.”
Sam Sutton.
Could be NZ!
Frozen Lake.
Josh Neilson- Skogsaa Falls -
Photo - Sam Sutton
Josh Neilson homerun -
Photo Sam Sutton
ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 39

Products available in store by ordering from
info@canoeandkayak.co.nz
Only $270.00
Just $148.00
Rhino Folding Upright Kayak Carrier
Rhino rack produce the RX and RXX carrier system to contain a single boat or two boats together where
roof space is an issue. This system carries the boats securely and safely and can be folded down when
not used.
They are available for a variety of bars and include padded tie straps.
Roof Racks
for all
occasions
The Rhino-Rack
Multi Purpose holder.
The Rhino multi purpose holder is capable of holding a multitude of items
including fishing rods , skis or ski poles as well as kayak paddles. They fit
to many bar profiles with the included Rhino ‘ wrap’ fitting making these
a simple easy fit.
Only $52.00
40 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

The World’s Quietest Roof Rack
Prorack has released a new design in Roof Racks. The S wing is an innotive
solution to an age old problem. When changing cars you need to replace
your roof racks too.
This unique system utilises the core foot pack and bar which can be upgraded,
at a modest expense, to suit all styles of roof. Unlike many other roof rack
systems, S-Wing offers a choice of bar style designed to suit different load types
and personal preferences. The European-style Through bar extends out over
the mounting foot to accommodate wide or larger loads. The Flush bar is ideal
for those looking for a more streamlined, ‘factory-fitted’ look. With the correct
fitting kit they will also fit the roof rails on your station wagon.
“S-Wing’s patented technology is the result of more than ten years of research
conducted with Canterbury University. Tested downunder in the adventure
playground of the world, this exciting new generation roof rack features
Whispbar technology which radically reduces roof noise and enhances
aerodynamics.” says Jonathan Hubbard of Hubco Ltd, manufacturer of
Prorack.
Innovative Whisbar noise reducing technology stops sound waves collecting
behind the crossbar. The wing-shaped design interrupts the vortex stream
that produces the annoying hum usually associated with roof racks and
makes S-Wing whisper quiet. The aerodynamic shape also reduces wind
drag – tests by Canterbury University show the S-Wing crossbar has 40 to
70% less wind drag than leading competitors’ roof racks, making for great
fuel savings..
Not only saving money at the fuel pump, but starting at $299.00, they’re easy
on the pocket too!
ISSUE FORTYsix • 2008 41

Learn To Kayak Phone 0508 529 2569 to book
Sea Kayaking
white water
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 1
Stage 2
SKILLS COURSE
A comprehensive course designed to
cover the skills required to become a
technically correct and safe paddler.
The course progresses so you develop
techniques and confidence at an
enjoyable pace with great end results.
This course is run over a weekend or by
request in the evenings.
COST $399
ESKIMO ROLLING
This course covers the skills required
to become a technically correct Eskimo
Roller. You increase your confidence,
allowing you to paddle in more
challenging conditions. Being able
to eskimo roll will make you a more
competent, safe and capable paddler.
Course: 4 evening sessions
COST $200
INTRO TO WHITE WATER
A comprehensive course designed to
cover the skills required to become a
technically correct paddler. Starting off
in a heated pool and progressing through
flat water to moving water, it allows you
to develop techniques and confidence at
an enjoyable pace with great end results.
Course: Weekend
COST $349
ESKIMO ROLLING
This course covers the skills required
to become a technically correct Eskimo
Roller. This will increase your confidence,
allowing you to paddle in more
challenging conditions.
Course: 4 evening sessions
COST $200
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 3
Stage 4
WEATHER & NAVIGATION
Understanding the weather and ability
to navigate in adverse conditions is vital
when venturing into the outdoors. Learn
to use charts and compasses and forecast
the weather using maps and the clouds.
Course: 4 evening sessions
COST $150
OCEANS COURSE
An advanced course designed to build on
your skills. Covering paddling technique,
kayak control, rescues, preparation,
planning and decision making.
Course: Weekend/overnight.
COST $350
RIVER SKILLS
On this course we continue to build
on the skills gained on Stage One and
Two Courses. Developing your skills,
technique and confidence on the faster
moving white water of the Waikato
River and progressing on to a Sunday
day trip on the Mohaka River. Includes,
eddie turns, ferry gliding, rolling, surfing
and building new skills in River Rescue
techniques and River Reading.
Course: Weekend • COST $349
MULTISPORT
During this course we build on the skills
gained on the Stage One to Three Courses.
Developing your moving water skills,
technique and confidence in your Multi
Sport Kayak. We start on the Mohaka
River on Saturday and progress to the
Whanganui on Sunday for some big
water paddling. River racing competency
letters are awarded to those who meet the
standard and criteria as outlined on the
Grade Two Competency Certificate. A copy
is available from Canoe & Kayak Centres.
Course: Weekend • COST $349
Stage 6
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 5
KAYAKING SURF
Surfing is heaps of fun when you know
how. We will spend the evenings starting
off in small surf and building up to one
and a half metre waves. We will use a
range of sit-on-tops and kayaks to make
it fun and easy to learn. Skills to be taught
include surfing protocol, paddling out,
direction control, tricks and safety
Course: 4 evening sessions
COST $349
RESCUE COURSE
You need rescue skills to look after
yourself and your paddling buddies in
adverse conditions. This course covers
towing systems, capsized kayaks,
T Rescues, paddle floats, stern deck
carries, re-enter and roll.
Programme One Evening
Cost $60
ADVANCED WHITEWATER
This course is designed to sharpen your
whitewater skills and start learning simple
rodeo moves. We will focus on skills
such as river reading, body position and
rotation, advanced paddle technique,
playing in holes and negotiating higher
Grade 3 rapids. We recommend you are
feeling comfortable on Grade 2+ rapids.
Ideally you should already be paddling the
mid section of Rangitaiki or equivalent.
Course: Weekend • COST $349
RIVER RESCUE
This course is covers likely scenarios
on white water rivers. It is suitable
for paddlers who feel comfortable on
Grade One to Two rivers. You learn
rope skills, muscle techniques, team
control, heads up, risk management and
combat swimming. Also covered are
skills required in the following situations:
entrapments, kayak wraps, swimming
kayakers and their equipment.
Course: Weekend • COST P.O.A.
Awards
Contact your nearest Canoe & Kayak centre to develop a
personalised course to suit your needs.
For more information phone 0508 5292569
www.nzki.co.nz
42 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

SWALLOW
INTRIGUE
GLADIATOR
The next step up from the entry level kayaks.
Fast with good stability. Medium skill ability is
required to enjoy racing this kayak. A very popular
Coast to Coast kayak.
Prices start at $2710, $2940 Kevlar
Length: 5.4 m, Weight: 14kg Glass, 12kg Kevlar , Width: 480 mm
FIREBOLT
This kayak is ideal for the beginner/entry level
kayaker who is looking for a quick, light kayak
with great stability. Also suitable for first time
Coast to Coasters.
Prices start at $2460, $ 2740 Kevlar
Length: 4.94 m, Weight: 14.5kg Glass, 12kg Kevlar , Width: 540 mm
Available online at
info @canoeandkayak.co.nz
This fast, stable kayak with its larger cockpit is
built for the bigger paddler looking for a longer,
stable kayak for Coast to Coast etc.
Prices start at $2860 Glass $3170 Kevlar
Length: 5.9 m, Weight: 15.5kg Glass, 13.5kg Kevlar, Width: 530
mm
ADVENTURE DUET
This new, very user friendly kayak with its
excellent combination of speed and stability
supercedes our very popular Opus. It is suitable
not only for the intermediate / advanced paddler,
but also for the busy, but keen ‘Weekend Warrior’.
Prices start at $2860 Glass, $3170 Kevlar
Length: 5.9m, Weight: 14.5kg Glass, 12.5kg Kevlar, Width: 455 mm
REBEL KEVLAR
Multisport
OCEAN X
This lightweight, very fast and recently updated
Adventure Racing double kayak continues to
dominate adventure racing in NZ and is a great
recreational double.
Prices start at $5260 Glass, $5760 Kevlar
Length: 7m, Weight: 29 kg Glass, 24 kg Kevlar, Width: 550 mm
MAXIMUS
The Rebel is designed for paddlers of both
genders up to 75kgs. At 5.65 metres long, the
Rebel is half way between the length of the
Swallow and the Opus or Firebolt and is faster
than them all.
Prices start at $3150
Length: 5.65 m, Weight: 11 kg , Width: 450mm
THE ELIMINATOR
The Ocean X is suitable for kayak racing in the
many harbours, estuaries and lakes of New
Zealand and lends itself well to the kayak sections
of many multisport races.
Prices start at $3200 Glass, $3700 Kevlar
Length: 6.4 m, Weight: 18kg Glass, 16.5kg Kevlar, Width: 500 mm
SURF SKI
Fast ocean going Racing Sea Kayak. The broad
bow allows this kayak to ride over waves like
a surf ski without losing any speed and is easy
to control while surfing. A low profile reduces
buffeting by the wind in adverse conditions.
Prices start at $3620
Length: 6.43 m, Weight: 16 kg, Width: 510 mm
VIPER
A fast stable racing and training ‘Sit -on’. It has an
adjustable dry seat and a cool draining system.
Ideal for the paddler wanting a good fitness work
out.
Prices start at $1695
Length: 5.0 m, Weight: 22 kg std, Width: 584 mm
An excellent training and competition surf ski, can
be used with under-slung rudder or rear mounted
rudder.
Prices start at $1795
Length: 5.3 m, Weight: 22 kg kg std, Width: 510 mm
This boat is designed as an entry level alternative
to expensive composite crafts, has good stability
and speed. Colours: Stone grey, Mango, White
granite, Lime, Yellow.
Prices start at $1695
Length: 5.2 m, Weight: 22 kg std, Width: 550 mm

TUI EXCEL
PENGUIN
SHEARWATER
A versatile touring kayak for lake, river and sea.
Stability, speed and easy tracking make for an
enjoyable day’s paddling. A larger cockpit allows
for easier entry and exit.
Prices start at $1930
Length: 4.4 m, Weight: Std 24kg, Width: 620 mm
TASMAN EXPRESS
Has all the features for multi-day kayaking with
ease of handling in all weather conditions. With
great manoeuvrability this kayak is suitable for
paddlers from beginner to advanced.
Prices start at $2430
Length: 4.80 m, Weight: 26.5 kg std, 23 kg lite ,Width: 610 mm
TASMAN EXPRESS ELITE
A comfortable performance orientated sea kayak
which will suit all sizes of paddlers with plenty
of foot room for the bigger ones. Handles well in
rough conditions, a fun boat to paddle.
Prices start at $2475
Length: 4.80 m, Weight: 26.5 kg std, 23kg lite, Width: 610
Available online at
Responds to rough conditions. Its low profile and
flared bow enable it to perform well in adverse
conditions. It is designed to give the paddler
maximum comfort, with adjustable footrests,
backrest, side seat supports and optional thigh brace.
Prices start at $2695
Length: 5.3 m, Std. Weight: 29 kg, Lightweight: 25 kg, Width: 620 mm
SOUTHERN SKUA
As per the plastic model, the kevlar Tasman
Express responds to rough conditions but its
decreased weight, and increased stiffness, gives
even better performance.
Prices start at $4260
Length: 5.3 m, Weight: 22 kg std, Width: 600 mm
FOVEAUX EXPRESS
Sea K
TORRES
The Southern Skua has a low deck profile enabling
it to perform extremely well in windy conditions,
while its longer hull gives it greater speed and
allows it to respond in a following sea to surf the
waves. It gives maximum stability in the open sea.
Prices start at $4235
Length: 5.4 m, Weight: 22 kg kevlar , Width: 600 mm
C&K BOUYANCY AID
A very responsive and playful sea kayak. Comes
with a moulded thigh brace. The dolphin nose
with flair, allows lift in the ocean swell. A fun,
nimble kayak.
Prices start at $4160
Length: 5.4 m, Weight: 14.5kg, Width: 540 mm
FOAM PADDLE FLOAT
A fast and stable sea kayak capable of handling
extreme expeditions. Huge storage and lots of leg
room.
Prices start at $4320
Length: 5.6 m, Weight: 23 kg kevlar carbon, Width: 600 mm
CAMP SHOWER
Increase your visibility in these yellow bouyancy
aids. They can be adjusted with side, shoulder and
waist straps. There is a pocket with a ring to store
keys, knife or whistle on the inside.
$99.50
A paddle float you don’t have to inflate!
The reflective webbing trim and a metallic chrome
front panel enhances visibility. Deployment is easy
with a large pocket for your paddle blade, and a wide
adjustable leash to secure the paddle shaft.
$109.90
The Camp Shower is great for washing.
It’s time to trade up! Constructed of durable PVC, it
has a separate fill cap, on/off valve and a hanging/
carrying handle. The Camp Shower is also great for
washing dirty hands and feet.
$24.95

ACADIA 370
CONTOUR 450
CONTOUR 480
Flat water cruising, well appointed, a nifty
adjustable backrest, an access hatch in the back
which is great for carrying your extra gear.
Prices start at $1299
Length: 3.7 m, Weight: 20 kg std, Width: 680 mm
info @canoeandkayak.co.nz
This kayak is designed for day tripping and light
overnight expeditions. It’s great fun to paddle and
handles easily.
Prices start at $2300
Length: 4.5 m, Weight: 26 kg std, Width: 640 mm
CONTOUR 490
Is a roomy, manoeuvrable, easy to handle boat.
A channelled hull provides outstanding tracking
which helps keep you on course. Its upswept,
flared bow makes crossing rough water a breeze.
Prices start at $2550
Length: 4.8m, Weight: 27 kg, Width: 620 mm
ECO NIIZH 565 XLT
ayaks
ECOBEZHIG 540
This double Sea Kayak is an ideal day tourer with
the easy ability to do those weekend camping
expeditions. It handles well, is fun to paddle and
has well appointed accessories.
Prices start at $3199
Length: 4.87 m, Weight: 35 kg std, Width: 800 mm
POINT 65 NEMO
This model is proving a hit with its lighter weight
and some excellent features. We now have a
plastic double sea kayak that is great to use for all
those amazing expeditions and adventures.
Prices start at $4250
Length: 5.64 m, Weight: 45 kg std, Width: 760 mm
POINT 65 505
An enjoyable sea kayak, fast and nimble with huge
storage, great features and the most comfortable
seat your butt will ever meet.
The Point 65 Nemo is comfortable and stable
recreational kayak for the whole family. It is
designed for stability and comfort and is aimed
at entry level paddlers looking for an affordable
kayak easy to handle on and off the water.
A fully-fledged touring kayak designed for entry
and medium level paddlers, it is an affordable
and high-quality touring boat. At 505 cm it offers
great glide and tracking.
Prices start at $3199 Prices start at $1099 Prices start at $2299
Length: 5.4 m, Weight: Std 27 kg, Width: 590 mm Length: 3.5 m, Weight: Std 22 kg, Width: 630 mm Length: 5.05 m, Weight: Std 25kg, Width: 580 mm
COBRA MHH325 VHF
CUDA 168 FISHFINDER
CUDA 168P FISHFINDER
Cobra handheld marine VHF radio. Complete
with AC & DC charger. 1, 3 & 5W output. Instant
emergency channel access. Submersible to JIS7
standards. Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery.
$249
A top selling member of the Cuda family for it’s
great on-the-water performance and value! 4”, 4
level greyscale screen. 200kHz transom mount
transducer. 168x132 resolution. Fishtrack & Fish
symbol I.D.
$239
Comes with Porta-Power Pack case and portable
200kHz Skimmer transducer with suction cup
mounting bracket. (Batteries not included)
$349

FLOW
SWING 400 PLUS
CATCH 390
Stable and easy to paddle, it handles surf with
ease. Simple to use for the beginner, yet exciting
for the more experienced paddler.
Prices start at $879
Length: 2.95m, Weight: 19kg, Width: 750 mm
SWING 470 PLUS
Fishing, cruising, well appointed with gear storage
inside. Also includes an optional extra pod that
detaches, which is great for carrying your fishing
gear to your favourite spot.
Prices start at $1199
Length: 4.0 m, Weight: 24 kg, Width: 760 mm
SURGE
Features to satisfy the keenest angler. Ideal for beginners
& experienced fishermen alike. Front & rear bulkheads.
Watertight fishing rod chute. Flush mount rod holders
behind the seat .
Prices start at $1650
Length: 2.95m, Weight: 19kg, Width: 750 mm
Available online at
A fantastic two person cruising kayak which is stable
and fast. It has plenty of storage and great features to
make your adventures fun.
Prices start at $1399
Length: 4.7 m, Weight: 34 kg std, Width: 830 mm
A fun double sit on top kayak with the option of a
third person sitting in the middle. The kayak has
ample stability and speed and performs well in
the surf.
Prices start at $1299
Length: 3.90 m, Weight: 28 kg, Width: 850 mm
Recre
SQUIRT
ACADIA 280
ACADIA 470
A Sit-on-Top for the family. Able to seat an adult
and a small child. It is easy to paddle and is very
stable. Easily carried by one adult or two kids.
Prices start at $449
Length: 2.7m, Weight: 17 kg, Width: 760 mm
MICRO DRY STUFF SACKS
A light easy to use family kayak. Enjoyable
paddling for the whole family in sheltered waters.
Prices start at $799
Length: 2.8 m, Weight: 17 kg std, Width: 660 mm
SAFETY FLAG & LIGHT
A great fun family boat with plenty of freeboard
allowing for a heavy load. Excellent for sheltered
water exploring. Paddles quickly and has excellent
stability. Dry storage compartment.
Prices start at $1599
Length: 4.7 m, Weight: 34 kg std, Width: 830 mm
BOP SAFETY FLAGS
Compact splash proof protection for all your
valuables and electronics. Constructed with 70D
Hex rip-stop nylon with an easy-to-use three roll
closure system.
$29.90
Be seen day or night with Great Stuff’s Safety Flag,
LED light unit. Comes complete with Rod Holder
or alternative deck fittings. A must for all open
water kayakers.
$99.00
These Flag & lights have a rigid fibreglass pole
that threads into a surface mounted bung. The
waterproof safety light runs on 2 AA batteries and
is visible for up to 3km in good conditions.
Deck flag $75.00, Deck light $125.00
Deck light & flag $155.00

FIREFLY
ESCAPEE
ESCAPADE
Here is a little cracker! The Firefly is designed so
the kids can have some fun. Little and light. Easy
to handle and nice and stable. Here is a kayak the
kids will love, if they can get Dad off it!
$496
Length: 2.4 m, Weight: 16 kg kg, Width: 700 mm
info @canoeandkayak.co.nz
Probably the closest you will come to finding one
kayak that does it all. Surfing, fishing, snorkelling.
Prices start at $810
Length: 3.3 m, Weight: 23 kg , Width: 740 mm
WANDERER
An extended Escapee for the larger paddler to fish,
dive and have fun in the sun.
Prices start at $1020
Length: 3.46 m, Weight: 27 kg std, Width: 750 mm
TANDEM
ational
PLAY
A stable fun kayak which is easy to handle. This is
an enjoyable kayak for all the family.
Prices start at $1695
Length: 4.5 m, Weight: 34 kg std, Width: 820 mm
STRIKE
A ‘two person’ kayak, ideal for fishing, surfing and
exploring. It has room for great hatches to store
your adventure equipment. Available with three
person option. It is often used by one person.
Prices start at $1295
Length: 3.81 m, Weight: 25.90 kg, Width: 915 mm
EXPLORER
Great for the paddler who wants a fun fast surf and
flat water kayak. Kids love this Sit-on as it is not
too wide for them to paddle and yet is very stable.
Prices start at $749
Length: 3.10 m, Weight: 18 kg, Width: 711 mm
TOURER
A Wave Ski which the whole family can enjoy.
Fantastic in the surf, it‘s a fast and manoeuvrable
sit-on-top.
Prices start at $895
Length: 2.9 m, Weight: 16 kg std, Width: 686 mm
FISH N’ DIVE
Ideal for fishing, surfing and exploring and one of
the driest ‘Sit-ons’ you will find. Great hatches for
storing your goodies are available.
Prices start at $995
Length: 3.43 m, Weight: 18.18 kg std, Width: 790 mm
MARAUDER
The low profile hull of the Cobra Tourer cuts down
on windage, enabling paddlers to maintain high
speed and straight tracking with easy handling in
all conditions.
Prices start at $1295
Length: 4.55 m, Weight: 22.68 kg , Width: 711 mm
The ultimate fishing/diving kayak. A large well is
located in the stern and holds up to three tanks.
There is one centrally located seat and a smaller
companion seat near the bow.
Prices start at $1195
Length: 3.8 m, Weight: 28 kg, Width: 914 mm
The Marauder is for the serious kayak fisherman.
Fast, stable and loads of deck space. Excellent
performance in surf.
Prices start at $1395
Length: 4.3 m, Weight: 24 kg std, Width: 780 mm

PADDLERS BILGE PUMP
PADDLE FLOAT
ROD/ PADDLE LEASH
A must for any boater. Our 36 litres per minute
Bilge Pump features an easy-grab handle,
super-strong pump shaft and heavy-duty impact
resistant plastic.
Two chamber float for added safety. A 2nd
chamber for use when you need extra buoyancy
or if one chamber is accidentally punctured.
Unique quick-release-at-paddle feature allows
paddle to be quickly & easily attached/detached
to/from leash. Constructed with a heavy-duty snap
hook for maximum durability and an internal Kevlar
cord filament for maximum breaking strength.
$59.90 $84.90 $34.90
LATITUDE STUFF SACK
SUPER LATITUDE
Available online at
With full horizontal access, our Latitudes
eliminate the hassle of having to dig vertically to
get at what you want. Built with a polyester body
and heavy-duty vinyl ends, Latitudes are built
to perform, but at a value price!
10Ltr $54.90 - 21Ltr $64.90 - 51Ltr $99.90
OPTI DRY STUFF SACK
Eco-friendly PVC Free Super Latitudes feature
the great wide mouth-lateral design. Slides easily
into kayak hatches. Our hands-free Autopurge
valve automatically purges the air as the bag is
compressed.
10Ltr $69.90 - 21Ltr $79.90 - 51Ltr $119.90
OMNI DRY STUFF SACK
OMNI DRY BACKPACK
Prod
The Opti Dry is super-tough and super-clear.
Constructed with heavy-duty clear vinyl and an
abrasion resistant bottom.
10Ltr $29.90 - 21Ltr $34.90 - 41Ltr $44.90
MIGHTYMITE CART
These all-purpose bags are great for any
adventure. The Omni Dry Bag features a
waterproof 3-roll closure with D-ring, vinyl body
and heavy-duty abrasion resistant bottom.
10Ltr $39.90 - 21Ltr $44.90 - 41Ltr $54.90
STANDARD TROLLEY
140 litres
Huge says it. We put a guitar in one last weekend,
huge storage. A heavy-duty 3-roll closure system
$99.00
HEAVY DUTY TROLLEY
Our new Mighty Mite Cart is small enough to fit in
most Kayak holds, With pneumatic wheels, anodized
aluminium frame, a single tie-down, and a stand, this
cart offers great features at a low price.
$149.00
These wheels are the step down from the heavy
duty version. Large wheels still make any terrain
a breeze, while a pin holds them in. They still fold
away into your back hatch. A lighter weight trolley
for moving mainly empty kayaks.
$199.00
Easy to carry a sea kayak loaded down with
all your gear! Heavy duty stainless steel
constructions. Wheels fold down conveniently to
fit in a back hatch.
$349.00

SPORTSMANS DROGUE
SEA ROVER COMPASS
PACK SINK
A great small-craft safety accessory.
These heavy duty Sea Anchors are built in tough PVC
for maximum abuse. With tubing sewn in, they stay
open to deploy quickly. Designed to work both as a
sea brake while drifting, and sea anchor.
300mm dia. opening 580mm length
$79.00
info @canoeandkayak.co.nz
The Sea Rover features a large compass with easy
to read markings—no squinting here to read where
you’re going! With a simple, yet elegant base, the Sea
Rover attaches easily to deck lines or sits nicely on
top of a deck bag. Quick-release buckles allow for
easy attachment.
$79.90
STD DECKBAG
Our 15 litre capacity square camp sink can’t be
beat. The Pack Sink’s unique square shape makes
cleaning larger items simple and it folds flat for
easy (out of the way) storage when not in use.
$35.90
DELUXE DECK BAG
ucts
YAKITY YAK KAYAK
CLUB
Our Standard Deck Bag offers exceptional value!
The entire bag is radio frequency welded to
keep waves and rain out. Our splash proof,
HydroKisscoated zip is sealed in with no excessive
needle holes for water to find.
$119.90
KAYAK CENTRES FOR SALE
The Deluxe Deck Bag offers a unique window view
access, high capacity and light reflectivity.
A clear window allows for easier gear location and
a higher profile for better gear storage.
$149.00
BUY A SUBSCRIPTION
Join the club. You will get a weekend skills course
to teach you techniques and safety skills and a
year’s membership. If you are keen to learn more
there is a bunch of courses which teach everything
from Eskimo Rolling to becoming an instructor.
$399
NORTH SHORE
Unit 2/20 Constellation
Drive (off Ascension Place),
Mairangi Bay, Auckland
PHONE: 09 479 1002
AUCKLAND
502 Sandringham Rd
Sandringham
PHONE: 09 815 2073
SILVERDALE
DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
6 Tavern Road, Silverdale
PHONE: 09 421 0662
MANUKAU
710 Great South Road,
Manukau
PHONE: 09 262 0209
WAIKATO
The corner Greenwood St &
Duke St, State Highway 1
Bypass, Hamilton
PHONE: 07 847 5565
BAY OF PLENTY
3/5 Mac Donald Street
Mount Maunganui (off
Hewletts Rd)
PHONE: 07 574 7415
HAWKE’S BAY
15 Niven Street
Onekawa, Napier
PHONE: 06 842 1305
What a great way to earn a living. Working in a
recreational retail business with heaps of time
outdoors, floating on the sea with great company.
Phone Peter Townend on 0274 529 255,
James Fitness on 0275 414 474 or
email info@canoeandkayak.co.nz
for more information.
TARANAKI
Unit 6, 631 Devon Road
Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth
PHONE: 06 769 5506
WELLINGTON
2 Centennial Highway
Ngauranga, Wellington
PHONE: 04 477 6911
TAUPO
77 Spa Road, Taupo
PHONE: 07 378 1003
6 issues for only $40, saving nearly $5.00 off
the news-stand price, delivered free. This great
magazine will give you heaps of information and
ideas to make your kayaking more enjoyable.
Subscription price to anywhere in NZ
$40
Please Note:
For the kayaks advertised, the
price is for the kayak only. It does
not necessarily include any of the
accessories, hatches, seats etc shown
in the photos. The prices were correct
at the time of printing however due
to circumstances beyond our control
they may alter at any time. Please
contact your nearest Canoe & Kayak
Centre and they will put together a
great package of the best equipment
available for your kayaking fun.

Directory: Things To Do
TAUPO Maori Carvings Waikato River Discovery
Mohaka Whanganui River Trips
Half day guided trip to the rock carvings,
Lake Taupo... only accessible by boat.
$90 per person (bookings essential).
Call freephone 0800 KAYAKN for details.
2 hour guided kayak trip. Experience the
magnificent upper reaches of the mighty
Waikato River - soak in the geothermal
hotsprings - take in the stunning
environment... a perfect trip for all the family...
Price: $45 adult $25 children Special
group and family rates. Call freephone
0800 KAYAKN for details.
Need some excitement Take a kayak down
this wicked Grade II river run... this is a
whole day of thrills and fantastic scenery
down the Mohaka River.
Price: $125 per person. Call freephone
0800 KAYAKN for details.
Phone: Taupo 07 378 1003,
Hawke’s Bay 06 842 1305
Interested in a great adventure on this
Magnificent River
Give us a call and we will give you a
memory of a lifetime.
Canoe & Kayak Taupo
Price on application.
0800 529256
TAUPO Accommodation
Waitara River Tours
Mokau River
Sugar Loaf Island
Accommodation available to Yakity Yak
club members and their families... Ideal for
sport and school groups... Situated on the
banks of the Waikato River our Kayakers
Lodge accommodates up to 15 people, is
fully furnished, with plenty of parking and a
quiet location.
$30 per person per night.
Phone: 0800 529256 for details
For those who are slightly more adventurous at
heart, this is a scenic trip with the excitement of
grade two rapids. Midway down, we paddle
under the historic Betran Rd Bridge where
we will stop for a snack.
Allow 2 hours paddle only. Priced at $50.
Phone: 06 769 5506
Enjoy this beautiful scenic river which
winds through some of New Zealands
lushest vegetation. Camping overnight
and exploring some of New Zealands
pioneering history. A true Kiwi experience.
Two day trips $230.00 or
one day $80.00.
Phone 06 769 5506
From Ngamutu Beach harbour we head out
to the open sea to Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf
Island Marine Reserve. View the Taranaki
scenic, rugged coastline as we draw closer to
the Sugar Loaf Islands. Enjoy the seal colony
and experience the thrill of close up views of
these fascinating marine mammals.
Allow 3 hours subject to weather.
$55.00 per person. Phone 06 769 5506
Glow worms Cruise
Join us for a picturesque paddle on Lake
McLaren and into the narrow canyon to view
glow worms by night or beautiful waterfalls
by day. This trip takes about 1.5-2hours and
is suitable for paddlers with no experience,
all gear, hot drinks and nibbles are supplied.
Price $65 per person.
Phone Canoe and Kayak BOP for
bookings. 07 574 7415
River Tours
Exploring beautiful estuaries. Enjoy a scenic
trip with wildlife and great views.
Phone Canoe & Kayak
on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details
Kayak Hire
Taupo - Open for the summer and by
appointment. Long Bay, Auckland - by
appointment only. Have some paddling
fun on the beach or let us run a Tour for
you and your friends and explore these
beautiful areas.
Phone Canoe & Kayak
on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details
New Zealand Kayaking Instructors
Award Scheme
Become a kayaking Instructor and Guide.
Get into gear and get qualified!
It’s fun and easy to do.
Don’t delay phone 0508 5292569 now
Paddle to the Pub
Kayaking to a local pub is a unique way of
spending an evening, bringing your group of
friends together by completing a fun activity
before dinner and making a memorable
experience. These trips are available to
Riverhead, Browns Bay and Devonport Pubs.
COST: $59.00 each • GROUP DISCOUNTS
AVAILABLE!
Phone Canoe & Kayak
on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details
Twilight Tours
Departs from one of your local beautiful
beaches. Enjoy the scenic trip with the sun
setting as you paddle along the coast line.
Group discounts available!
Phone Canoe & Kayak
on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details
Customized Tours
• Work Functions • Schools
• Clubs • Tourist groups
Whether it’s an afternoon amble, a
full days frolic or a wicked weekend
adventure we can take you there.
If there’s somewhere you’d like to paddle
we can provide you with experienced
guides, local knowledge, safe up to date
equipment and a lot of fun.
Contact your local store
on 0508 KAYAKNZ
Join the Yakity Yak Club
Want to have fun, meet new people, have
challenging and enjoyable trips, and learn
new skills
PLUS get a regular email newsletter and
this magazine! Also, get a discount on
kayaking courses and purchases from
Canoe & Kayak Centres.
Then, join us!
Phone Canoe & Kayak
on 0508 KAYAKNZ to find out more
50 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8

High
performance
fun
with Aquatx Cobra Kayaks and
enjoy high performance fun, riding
the foam, fishing or just paddling!
The Aquatx range of Cobra Kayaks meets the full
range of on-water paddling needs from surfing fun,
serious fishing, diving and touring, to multi-sport high
performance.
Aquatx Cobra Kayaks all feature polyethylene hulls for
super tough performance, with a 10 year guarantee
to prove it. The self draining reinforced scuppers
throughout give unparalleled hull rigidity and a drier
ride.
Aquatx Cobra Surf & Fun Kayaks are specially
designed for family fun at the beach or on the river.
The light-weight but strong design means they can
be easily mounted on roof racks or trailers and then
simply carried to the water.
The ‘sit on top’ design with self draining scuppers
means a drier, safer ride.
Aquatx Cobra Touring and Fishing Kayaks
are unique because they offer a range of specialist
accessories to configure your kayak to your own needs
for sports fishing and distance touring.
All Aquatx Fishing and Touring Kayaks can be fitted
with a motor bracket for an electric trolling motor.
Plus with the largest hatches on the market, there is
still plenty of room left for rod holders, scuba gear, the
battery, tackle box, bait tank, and much more.
Aquatx Cobra High Performance Kayaks
are the kayaks of choice for low-cost, robust training
gear. Designed for both speed and distance, Aquatx
High Performance Kayaks offer a great deal whether
you are new to multi-sport kayaking or you are an
experienced veteran seeking a training boat.
Aquatx Cobra Kayak Accessory System is a
completely configurable system with a huge range of
custom options.
Call 0508 AQUATX or visit www.aquatx.co.nz
2 7 8 2 8 9
Call us now for our
dealer locations or
visit the Canoe and
Kayak dealer nearest
you and find out how to
make your dreams a reality
on the water this summer.

DISCOVER ANOTHER WORLD
AUCKLAND
TAUPO
TARANAKI
HAWKE’S BAY
NUKUHAU
CITY
DOMINION ROAD
BALMORAL ROAD
SANDRINGHAM ROAD
502 Sandringham Rd
Telephone: 09 815 2073
Arenel Ltd
T/A Canoe & Kayak Auckland
SOUTH
ST LUKES RD
S.H.1
TONGARIRO ST
LAKE TERRACE
SPA ROAD
RUAPEHU STREET
TANIWHA STREET
S.H.1
77 Spa Road, Taupo
Telephone: 07 378 1003
Acme Kayaking Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Taupo
NORTH
NORTH
WAIWHAKAIHO RIVER
DEVON ROAD
SMART ROAD
Unit 6, 631 Devon Road
Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth
Telephone: 06 769 5506
Peter & Bronnie van Lith
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Taranaki
TARADALE ROAD
NIVEN STREET
15 Niven Street
Onekawa, Napier
Telephone: 06 842 1305
Canoe & Kayak Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Hawke’s Bay
NORTH
NORTH SHORE
SILVERDALE
MANUKAU
BAY OF PLENTY
UPPER HIGHWAY (16)
NORTHERN MOTORWAY
NORTH
CONSTELLATION DRIVE
Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive,
(Off Ascension Drive), Mairangi Bay,
Auckland - Telephone: 09 479 1002
Flood Howarth & Partners Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak North Shore
WAIKATO
KILLARNEY ROAD
SH1
BYPASS
DUKE STREET
KAHIKATEA DRIVE
NORTH
GREENWOOD ST
DUKE STREET
KAHIKATEA DRIVE
ASCENSION PL
The Corner Greenwood St
& Duke St, State Highway 1 bypass
Hamilton
Telephone: 07 847 5565
On Water Adventures Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Waikato
NORTH
EAST COAST ROAD
MAIN NORTH HIGHWAY
FOUNDRY RD
6 Tavern Road,
Silverdale
Telephone: 09 421 0662
Canoe & Kayak Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Distribution
WELLINGTON
NORTH
NGAURANGA GO RGE RD
CENTENNIAL HIGHWAY
STATE HIGHWAY 1
TAVERN ROAD
MALVERN
L V MARTIN
2 Centennial Highway,
Ngauranga, Wellington
Telephone: 04 477 6911
J & M Downey Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Wellington
FIRST
DRIVEWAY
GREAT SOUTH RD
TOYOYA
BRONCOS
WIRI STATION ROAD
SOUTHERN MOTORAWAY
NORTH
710 Great South Road, Manukau
Telephone: 09 262 0209
Canoe & Kayak Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Manukau
JOIN THE
PHONE YOUR NEAREST
CANOE & KAYAK CENTRE
TO TAURANGA BRIDGE
MACDONALD STREET
MAUNGANUI ROAD
LIQUORLAND
HEWLETTS ROAD
KFC
3/5 Mac Donald Street
Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd)
Telephone: 07 574 7415
Jenanne Investment Limited
Trading as Canoe & Kayak Bay of Plenty
These Kayak
Centres
Available Now!
Phone
Peter Townend 0274 529 255
Email
pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz
www.canoeandkayak.co.nz