It’s raining, but at least you won’t get sunburn
Summer in New Zealand – it’s all about the bubbling road tar and iceblocks, the sunburnt shoulders and kids leaping off wharves, eh?
Except when it isn’t. Like when the Sunday Star-Times headed to Piha last week. The plan was to report on the crowds frolicking in the surf on Auckland’s wild west, and burning their feet on the hot black sands. There might, perhaps, be a dramatic rescue by the telegenic Piha lifesavers.
But, as is not entirely unusual for the post-Christmas week, the weather closed in. The crowds stayed home, but really, said Jason Friend at The Piha Store, the place still had plenty to offer.
When it’s raining, he pointed out, ‘‘you don’t get sunburnt’’. And the bush-walks are great with or without drizzle.
At the campground across the road, Terry Lythe-Brown was beneath a nearly-waterproof gazebo, playing Rummikub with his son, godson and niece. The rain was setting in but they weren’t bothered. They’d already had a beach walk, and the barbecue would work under the gazebo.
It’s quiet at the Piha Surf Life Saving Club. Five young guards up in the operations room; one more down on the beach with the dozenodd swimmers and boogie-boarders. Today’s stats: zero rescues, zero first aid incidents. But when good weather and public holidays collide, said Oli Stewart, the place goes nuts.
The biggest day in his six summers of lifeguarding was here on a previous New Year’s Day.
‘‘It was a really sunny day and everyone came to the beach, plus they were really dangerous conditions.
‘‘We were just pulling people out of the water all day.’’