Cape rockfall just ‘an everyday occurrence’

A man who has been driving tractors for Gannet Beach Adventures at Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay, says the rockfall that occurred this week injuring two people was ‘‘run of the mill’’.

Rod Heaps, who has been driving the tractors from Clifton to the cape for 45 years, said Wednesday was ‘‘just another day’’.

The Hastings District councillor was not driving a tractor when the rockfall occurred at 2.30pm on Wednesday, but he has seen plenty similar.

‘‘Slips that size . . . we get probably one or two a year,’’ he said. ‘‘The only difference here is that someone was there at the time and got hurt.’’

Two Belgian girls were injured in a similar event about 30 years ago. ‘‘That was about 1989. They had their ankles fairly badly damaged,’’ Heaps said.

‘‘Put it this way. There is a certain degree of luck, but with the tours – it’s knowledge, education and experience that means no-one gets hurt.’’.

Heaps owned the business for 17 years before selling it to current owner Colin Lindsay in 2008.

‘‘[Rockfalls] are an everyday occurrence. The problem at the moment is there are just so many people walking it and the Department of Conservation are promoting it without giving any indication of the dangers,’’ Heaps said.

A series of photographs, above, supplied by Gannet Safaris Overland, which travels to the cape on a track above the cliffs, show how muck rock fell on Wednesday.

When it fell, two people walking nearby were injured and were flown by rescue helicopter to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

A woman aged in her 20s remains in a critical condition. A man, also in his 20s, is in a stable condition.

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said beach access from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers remained closed to vehicles and pedestrians and the public were ‘‘strongly advised to keep away until further notice’’.

Gannet Safaris Overland’s overland trips have not been disrupted and are still running.