'Dangerous' antics of jet-boaters cited

The "absolutely dangerous" antics of some jet-boaters on the Hunter River last weekend have caused complaints from anglers to Fish and Game Otago and the Queenstown Lakes District Council, with questions asked over a contradiction in council policies.

Fishing guide Dick Fraser said anglers fishing the river above Lake Hawea at the weekend were subject to "absolutely dangerous activity" by several jet-boaters, taking advantage of a special lifting of the 5 knot limit normally in place.

District council chief executive Duncan Field said jet-boats were allowed on the river after a consent was granted to the New Zealand Jet Boating Association to hold a special event there.

However, he understood the jet-boats which caused the complaints were not part of the event, but had decided to take advantage of the special dispensation.

Mr Fraser said the jet-boat drivers exhibited "just awful behaviour".

Dr John Hillock, of Queenstown, was fishing with Mr Fraser and said yesterday the incident was "regrettable".

Dr Hillock was unaware the restriction had been lifted until he heard the jet-boats coming.

"I was standing reasonably well into [the river], about knee deep . . . I held my hand up and my arm out . . . asking them to stop. The lead jet-boat ignored me and, in fact, sped up and went past me, no more than a rod-length away. I got soaked up to my waist."

Later, three boats went either side of Mr Fraser, who was standing in the middle of the very low river.

However, the worst incident involved a 78-year-old American tourist, Dr Hillock said.

"When the jet-boats went downstream, most of them went through the middle part [of the river].

One deliberately crossed the river, did a Hamilton turn and drenched [the man] . . .

It was a deliberate act."

Dr Hillock said the most disturbing part of the incident was the "ignorance" and "arrogance" displayed by the jet-boat drivers and loopholes in the council's policies needed to be examined to prevent the situation from happening again.

"It seems strange that two people might have the restriction lifted . . . and 100 people can go up there in jet-boats that are not party to the application."

The Hunter River is covered in the QLDC's district plan and also a bylaw.

Mr Field said the problem was the two policy documents contradicted each other.

The district plan stated the river should be open from September to March, but the bylaw excluded jet-boats due to a 5-knot speed limit.

The district council chief executive has the discretion to lift the speed limit for special events.

Mr Field said last weekend's lifting had been carefully examined before it was granted, subject to conditions.

"My understanding is the people that were up there [causing trouble] were not part of the event. We imposed a set of conditions on the Jet Boating Association and they complied with those conditions. But there may have been other boats up there that weren't part of the event."

Fish and Game Otago manager Niall Watson, of Dunedin, said lifting the speed limit permanently, one option being considered, would be "a disaster".