Kiwis are being urged to take a safety first approach this long weekend, with wild weather forecast and Omicron circulating in the community.
The NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) say people planning to go outdoors on land or into the water this Waitangi weekend should learn about their destinations keep an eye on weather warnings.
The organisations say they encourage people to enjoy the country’s tracks, mountains, rivers and beaches, but are urging a conscious safety approach this weekend.
"As Omicron circulates in the community and the current weather system rolling across the country, making a good plan, and taking extra precautions is as important as ever. "
MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley says Waitangi weekend is traditionally one of the most popular long weekends for outdoor adventures.
“We see thousands of walkers and trampers setting out on planned multi-day trips, or their local favourite tracks, and over the past decade, there have been twice as many tramping injuries and search and rescue call-outs during Waitangi Weekend compared to a typical weekend,” Daisley says.
Unfortunately, the tramping community has seen its first fatality for 2022 on Tuesday after a male tramper’s body was recovered from the remote Mt Adams Wilderness Area in the West Coast.
Daisley says the death is a timely reminder to prioritise safety, and that includes factoring in the increasing spread of community Covid-19 cases and the extreme weather events currently affecting both main islands.
He said MSC’s new app, Plan My Walk, could help trampers find, plan and prepare for walks of any length. Users could also access track alerts and MetService weather warnings.
He said the recent Christmas and New Year period was a dark time for drownings in New Zealand with a total of 15 lives lost, and a total of 74 for 2021.
"Drowning is the leading cause of recreational death and the third highest cause of accidental death in New Zealand.
“New Zealanders love to play in the water, but there is always risk. We all need to be aware of and think, for a few minutes, about water safety before heading to the water. It could save your or your loved one’s lives.”
WSNZ says that underestimating the risks and overestimating ability are the biggest mistakes people make when they’re in the water.
Postpone trips
MSC and WSNZ are advising anyone with outdoor recreation plans across the South Island, in particular the West Coast, Tasman and South Westland to postpone planned trips as MetService has issued multiple severe weather warnings.
Additionally, anyone in neighbouring regions should approach rivers with extreme caution. Heavy rain in the headwaters of river catchments will cause rivers to rise significantly making river crossings extremely dangerous. Trampers and hunters are urged to avoid river crossings during this period. High river levels are likely to last well through Waitangi weekend.
