Keeping waterways safe for all
Name: Craig Blake Job: Queenstown Lakes District Council deputy harbourmaster, Wanaka
Q What jobs did you do before this one?
Almost everything, including Treble Cone skifield groomer driver, snowmaker and lift operator, commercial jetboat driver in this country and the United States, fishing guide, and tourist boat skipper.
Q Why did you choose this job?
It chose me.
Q How did you get into it and when?
A phone call from Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black almost a decade ago.
Q What qualifications and training did you need?
Maritime New Zealand certifications, relevant sea time, a good history of safe boating and a sound knowledge of applicable rules and regulations.
Q What personal skills do you need?
You need to have the ability to approach and converse with people from all over the world about a wide and varied range of topics, particularly with regard to keeping safe while enjoying our district’s waterways.
Q Any physical requirements?
Just the ability to put in a long hot day’s work.
Q What do you do on a daily basis?
Patrol the area’s waterways, attend to council or public issues and inquiries, deal with sunken vessels and boats that have broken their moorings, identify and mark new and known hazards, when necessary, educate and enforce Maritime New Zealand rules and local bylaws and generally assist the public with anything relating to use of the waterways in the QLDC.
Q What is the most challenging aspect?
Attempting to get any person using our waterways in an unsafe manner to understand that the rules we have in place are for the good of all waterways users.
Q Are there any particular health and safety issues?
Yes. Mother Nature plays a great big part in what we do but suitable training and appropriate personal protective equipment serve to minimise health and safety issues.
Q What is the most interesting assignment you’ve had?
Perhaps the salvage of sunken vessels.
Q How has the job changed since you started?
The increase in waterways traffic has been mindblowing.
Q What’s something people generally don’t know about the job?
People may not know that our primary goal is just to see everyone home safe at the end of every day.
Q What are the highs of the job?
Easy. Rescuing anybody or their gear.
Q What are the lows of the job?
Participation in search and rescue with less than ideal outcomes.
Q What’s the strangest thing you’ve had to do?
Rescue a duck with a jandal stuck over its head.
Q Where will you be 10 years from now?
Who knows what the future will provide?
Time will tell.