Mutiny scuppered

After 40 years of doubling as a pirate ship, the treasured children’s play boat in Beach Haven has been deemed a ‘‘public hazard’’ by Auckland Council, and will be permanently removed from its seaside home.

Despite a community campaign to save the boat, the Kaipatiki Local Board voted unanimously on August 16 to retire it, on the basis of two risk assessments produced by Auckland Council.

Known as Frank Larking’s Boat, initial news that the boat would be removed from the water sparked outrage in the Beach Haven community in March.

A subsequent petition, signed by 1700 people, compelled the board to request Auckland Council to investigate options for retaining it.

However, the investigations condemned the safety of the boat.

At the board meeting, Ruth Jackson, the initiator of the campaign, asked the board to judge the two reports’ findings with ‘‘commonsense and sensibility’’.

The hazards consultants identified were the ladder, the rope and the water depth, among other wear-and-tear issues.

‘‘These are not new issues,’’ Jackson told the board.

‘‘For 40 years, the boat has lived at the beach and there have been no reported incidents.

‘‘You can’t eliminate every hazard, everywhere. That is not the real world.’’

However, Auckland Council’s renewals coordinator Kaityn White said the underlying issue is the boat’s location and the surrounding tidal area.

Board member Lindsay Waugh suggested the boat, which was originally a gift for the community, be transferred back to the community to look after.

However, White said, so long as it was on public land, Auckland Council had a duty of care.

As the boat is now officially labelled a risk, the Kaipatiki Local Board could now be liable for any future injury.

Therefore, the board agreed the play boat be established somewhere nearby as a memorial, and a ‘‘new beginning’’ for the boat will be discussed with the community, members said.

Kaipatiki Local Board chairwoman Danielle Grant said it saddened her to make the decision. In my heart, I stand with the community; but, as an elected member, I support the removal of the boat, Grant said.

‘‘Whatever we do next, we do with you [the community]. But it won’t be in the water.’’

❚ Who was Frank Larking? Page 3