Volunteer wardens keep beach safe
Twenty years since Waitarere group was established
Achaotic weekend 20 years ago, where cars were racing down the beach six abreast, led to the establishment of a warden group at Waitarere Beach. Boy racers had taken over the beach, prompting the Waitarere Progressive and Ratepayers Association to come up with a workable solution. Submissions were made to Horowhenua District Council, and it gained the support of then Mayor Tom Robinson, Deputy Mayor Dave Colling and HDC officer Denis Cole.
And so was born the Waitarere volunteer beach wardens, who celebrated that 20-year milestone at a preseason meeting at the weekend.
The group was a New Zealand first. The accreditation by HDC of a group of volunteers to be warranted in traffic control and as litter wardens on the beach was new. HDC supplied volunteers with warrants and vests, and vehicles were given signage.
The model was soon adopted at other beaches around New Zealand.
That first group of accredited wardens were Garry Fraser, Peter Wear, Evan Rose, Richard Hyde, Simon Rogers, Peter Wright and Craig Jones, whose work laid the foundation for safe beach etiquette and behaviour that had been followed ever since.
Beach warden coordinator Craig Dyson said the commitment and hard work that those seven wardens in setting the expected standard of behaviour and beach etiquette should not be underestimated.
“They set the bench mark for those who have volunteered since,” he said.
Dyson said the success of the beach wardens was shown by the local support during the last 20 years. More than 70 people had served as wardens, with 17 wardens active this year.
Wardens duties include monitoring traffic on the beach, preventing rubbish dumping, helping to enforce fire and liquor bans, making sure people fish and gather shellfish responsibly and safely, supporting the Big Dig event, and assisting in search and rescue operations.
“We do a lot of public education so people understand how to keep themselves and others on the beach and the environment safe,” he said.
“Most people are very cooperative and appreciative of what we do, but there is always that small minority who cause a problem and we do work closely with local police and appreciate their daily patrols over the height of the Christmas-New Year festive season.”
As well as active patrol, there was administrative work behind the scenes that took hours — rosters, vehicle maintenance, and liaison with WBPRA, HDC and Levin police.
A Suzuki Jimny vehicle was bought solely for beach wardens 10 years ago with sponsorship from AMI Insurance, Ross McColl Motors, Harcourts Levin, Waitarere Four Square, Parsons Signs. When it was replaced with a Holden Rodeo ute in 2019, the Jimny was gifted to the local Levin Waitarere Surf Lifesaving Club.
Dyson said an annual grant from HDC to cover operational expenses was a lifeline.
“We very much appreciate council’s contributions to ensuring the beach is a safe and happy place for all Horowhenua residents and those visitors from further afield to enjoy,” he said.
Dyson thanked Mayor Bernie Wanden, Cr Ross Brannigan, acting senior sergeant Bernie O’Brien, and WBPRA president Bruce Eccles for attending, and thanked all past and present wardens were thanked for their support.
He thanked all serving police for their support every summer — “without your support the warden group would have struggled to survive the busy times”. Two police liaison officers in particular were thanked — Ian Hamblyn and Ross Brannigan — for their support during the first 10 years, whether they were on or off duty.
Beach warden coordinators since 2002 were acknowledged at the meeting. They were: Peter Wright, Steve Allison, Adam Herlihy, Bill Palmer, Murray Hanlon, Ray Blackwood, Bill Baillie, and Dyson.