Kiwi tradition of wharf jumping back in Devonport, after council back-down

Friday, 28 September 2018

Auckland Council is reversing a ban on wharf jumping at Torpedo Bay.

Auckland Council has reversed a decision to ban jumping from a Devonport wharf, after protest from the community.

North Shore councillor Chris Darby says a sign prohibiting diving and jumping will be amended at Torpedo Bay wharf, following community fears a Kiwi summer tradition and a rite of passage would be lost.

One long-time resident, political columnist and speechwriter David Slack, welcomed the news.

'This is a sensible outcome. Jumping off the wharf is one of the most enjoyable things teenagers and anyone can do,' Slack said.

Most weekends throughout summer, you will find the Springall family of Devonport jumping off Torpedo Bay wharf.

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Beachgoers are warned against a host of activity on Devonport's Torpedo Bay wharf, including diving and jumping.

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'It's a quintessential Kiwi thing. We like to be bombing into the water whether we can or not and it's magic.'

While the signage was an 'admirable response' to a tragedy of a child drowning after falling off the wharf in November 2017, Auckland Council had 'overreached' with the ban, Slack said.

'There's a difference between falling off and teenagers jumping off.'

There are four signs erected by Auckland Council along the length of Torpedo Bay wharf warning people of its main hazards.

After Stuff brought the issue to the attention of councillor Darby, he pressed Auckland Council to outline the problem and how staff arrived at the 'fix' of prohibiting wharf jumping.

'The signage was an advisory on everything except 'no diving or jumping'.'

Gavin Parish is campaigning to have better signage on wharves preventing people from diving and injuring themselves as well as educating people on the dangers of doing so.

He said council staff came back to him on September 26 recommending 'wording changes', so what was effectively a ban against jumping or diving would be changed to an advisory.

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

People jump off the wharf at Maraetai Beach in Auckland on Boxing Day, 2016.

Darby said deaths at Hunua Falls and an incident at Maraetai wharf which left Auckland man Gus Vaeono a tetraplegic were the background behind such health and safety decisions.

Gavin Parish, president of the Association for Spinal Concerns, told Stuff the inherent dangers of wharf jumping should not be dismissed.

With wharves like Maraetai and Magazine Bay, where the water was shallow around low tide and it was difficult to see the bottom, signage and education was needed, rather than outright bans, Parish said.

'Spinal cord injury seldom happens but when it does, it has major consequences for their [victims'] lives and is a devastating injury.'

Parish said people just needed to be aware of the risks when 'diving or tumbling'.

'We don't want to stop people having fun.'

Although locals might know when not to jump, Reuben Williams of The New Zealand Wharf Jumping Association said visitors to Torpedo Bay might not.

'A hazard warning sign is a good idea because we all talk of 'Kiwi tradition' etc, but if tourists or recent immigrants see wharf jumping and want to give it a go, they may assume that conditions are static and that if it's safe on one particular occasion, then it's always safe, which is not the case.'

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chairman George Wood was disappointed the council had not consulted with the local board.

'We are taking the backlash that we're impotent and haven't done our jobs properly. It's draconian and unfair, as we haven't had input at all,' Wood said.

'We should do the consultation properly and get consultation from the community before we make decisions.'

With wharf jumping back on the cards at Torpedo Bay, Darby said the rite of passage would continue for Devonport's youth.

'Come November all of the wharves will be chocka and swarming with school kids.'

Auckland Council's Agnes McCormack confirmed the signs were being amended to reflect the fact the organisation did not have an official ban against using the wharf.

'We are conscious that the wharf is popular with swimmers. However, we are also aware of the unique hazards at the wharf. It extends far into the sea where there are very strong currents, especially at high tide when jumping is in demand.'