Community fights to save Kiwi tradition of wharf jumping

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

The Devonport community is fighting to save the Kiwi tradition of wharf jumping after Auckland Council introduced signs banning it at Torpedo Bay wharf.

A community is fighting a council ban on wharf jumping, saying it is a Kiwi summer tradition and a rite of passage.

In November 2017, a child drowned after falling off Devonport's Torpedo Bay wharf, and the following month Auckland Council decided to install signs advising against swimming, diving and wharf jumping. The signs went in over winter provoking an outcry.

Devonport's Lesley Springall said her whole family enjoyed jumping off the wharf over summer, including dog Mango.

'My two boys climb on the railings and jump off with the big navy guys now. It's a real family thing and it teaches the kids about tides, the sea, jumping safely, and being safe in the water with friends and family.'

Most weekends throughout summer, you will find the Springall family of Devonport jumping off Torpedo Bay wharf. Mum Lesley Springall says her family will continue the 'rite of passage' despite, signs warning against diving or jumping.

* Wharf-jumping: When so-called 'Kiwi culture' turns deadly

* Auckland Council won't ban wharf-jumping despite safety fears**

At nearby Murray's Bay on Auckland's North Shore, the family of the Murrays Bay Resident's Association late president, Richard Beachman, were the first ones to jump off the newly rebuilt wharf in honour of their father.

Springall said her family looked out for each other and understood the tides.

'The tragedy of that little pre-schooler drowning last year wouldn't have been prevented by banning jumpers, in fact, if there had been jumpers and people in the water that day, the little boy probably wouldn't have drowned,' Springall said.

Springall wrote to Auckland Council and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board asking for the signage to be removed.

Another resident told Stuff wharf jumping offered an activity for teenagers.

'I'm a big one for fun and there's not much around here in Devonport for teenagers to have fun. It's a Devonport tradition and something they'll remember for the rest of their lives,' Soulsprite's Kate Walden said.

Council signs warn against a host of activities on Torpedo Bay wharf, including diving and jumping.

'I guess there's that whole politically correct thing where they have to go to the extreme end because there's always a blame game if something does happen,' a mother-of-two told Stuff.

On a community Facebook page, many posts echoed the view the council was overreacting.

At Murrays Bay, the annual Birdman contest takes wharf jumping to a whole new level.

On November 11, 2017, 5-year-old Haoran Chen drowned after falling into the sea off Torpedo Bay wharf on an outgoing tide. Bernard Riedl, 28, who almost drowned trying to save Haoran, said the water was choppy.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Mike Cohen said residents knew when not to jump.

Residents fear the signs on Devonport's Torpedo Bay wharf, while not legally enforceable, will cause tensions with fishermen who are supposedly not keen to share the wharf with jumpers.

'The big question when jumping in and swimming is which way the tides are going. Locals know that the time you do it is when the tide is going into the harbour.'

Local board chairman George Wood said he agreed with the sentiment and purpose of the sign, but Auckland Council needed to elaborate on the reasons for it.

It was well known by locals there were strong rips around the wharf and the outgoing tide was particularly dangerous, Wood said. 'You've only got to get a cramp and it can be very difficult to get back.'

Wood and deputy chairman Grant Gillon, who received several emails from residents, said the board had not been consulted.

Auckland Council claimed it had advised the board.

North Shore ward councillor Chris Darby said council was in an 'invidious position' due to Haoran's death.

'It's the product of the need to be risk-averse, in response to health and safety legislation.'

Auckland Council's Agnes McCormack said the safety signage was installed in June following a recommendation by its community facilities' health safety, quality assurance and environment unit in December.

McCormack said the unit thought it would be prudent to have signs with symbols highlighting the wharf's main hazards.

Four signs on the Torpedo Bay wharf warned against a host of activities, including swimming, diving and jumping

However, the sign did not constitute an official ban against swimming off the wharf.

As there was no bylaw, the 'ban' could not be enforced, Gillon said.

Springall said her family would continue jumping this summer, regardless, although the signage could cause tensions with fishers.

'It will be harder as the fishermen who were 'unkeen' to share last summer can now point at the sign which specifically says 'No diving or jumping' and we won't have a leg to stand on. It's just ridiculous.'