Lifeguards don't need arrest powers, spokesman says

01.03.2010

Lifeguards say they do not want the power to arrest people who ignore beach closures, despite calls for them to be given enforcement powers.

Hundreds of beach-goers ignored lifeguards and took to waters closed by tsunami warnings yesterday, forcing surf lifesavers in Piha and Raglan to put up flags and open up swimming areas at the beaches.

New Zealand's tsunami alert was cancelled this morning.

Surf Life Saving president and Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey today told Radio New Zealand that lifeguards needed the power to arrest those who disregarded warnings.

Surf Life Saving northern spokesman Andy Kent agreed that beach-goers had not listened to lifeguards, which was "a frustration" but he said lifeguards would not want to have to police beach-goers.

"There are a lot of things that would have to happen before we would want that responsibility," he said.

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"We have never asked to be the sole people in charge of everything. Our message has always been to listen to lifeguards and use your common sense."

Changes to get more people to follow rules would be welcome, but he was concerned an enforcement authority would become extended beyond civil defence warnings, Mr Kent said.

"If we have the authority to keep people out of the water, and if that translates to having the power to say people must swim between the flags, we would spend half our time policing them.

"To make it an offence to swim outside flags or not listen to lifeguards would be an extra responsibility on lifeguards."

Police or council officers, if anybody, should have the responsibility of enforcement, Mr Kent said.

Earlier, Mr Harvey, a long-time lifeguard who has been Surf Life Saving president since September, told Radio New Zealand that council officers and lifeguards should have the power to keep people out of closed beaches.

"We have to up the ante and say, right, this is it. This beach is closed. Sir, go in that water and we'll arrest you.

"Is that what's needed? I thought common sense was all that's needed, and it seems that's a little missing in all of this."

Yesterday, speaking on behalf of Auckland's mayors, Mr Harvey said swimmers had no excuse for ignoring warnings. "We realise it's an inconvenience on a sunny Sunday, but I am adamant that this kind of irresponsible behaviour is just plain stupid."

Civil Defence Minister John Carter also branded New Zealanders who ignored the tsunami warning and raced to beaches to watch "stupid".

"What people need to understand is if they go and watch for a tsunami, it might be the last thing they ever do," said Mr Carter.

"This is a dangerous, dangerous thing. In the main it's been good, but we always get a few stupid people."

Despite a Civil Defence blitz on radio, internet and television warning of the risk of 1m to 3m waves hitting the east and west coasts, many New Zealanders refused to let their beach plans for the last day of summer be interrupted.

Others went to the coast specifically to see the tsunami.

One Auckland beachgoer said it was a case of crying wolf. "There's been so many warnings you think, 'Ah, it's just another one'."

An hour after Saturday night's earthquake, about 8.30pm, Civil Defence said there was no risk of a tsunami coming to New Zealand.

But later, at 11.20pm, the organisation issued a warning to stay away from beaches.

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said the first advisory was a serious mistake.

"Towards midnight, a warning was finally issued. This was unacceptable, in my view. It was far too late and explains why so many people on the beaches on Sunday morning had no clue a tsunami was even coming."

At Takapuna Beach, the warnings didn't keep 76-year-old Eugenia Patras out of the water.

Geonet had predicted waves would hit Auckland's east coast beaches at 10.52am after their 9600km journey from Chile.

At 10.50am Mrs Patras, on holiday from Wellington, was washing sand off her feet.

"I missed yesterday's swim, so I thought I'll have a quick swim," she said. "I made sure I was out on time."

Although the beach was quieter than usual, Mrs Patras' attitude to the risk was shared by many as North Shore boaties, waka ama paddlers and the Piha women's surf crew went out on the water.

Around the country, the story was repeated.

Annabelle Harris took her son Jack Calvert, 9, to look for the waves from the streets overlooking Lyttelton Harbour, near Christchurch. She felt she was safe watching from higher ground.

"If we'd had to scramble up the bank, I'm sure we could do that."

Director of Civil Defence John Hamilton said people were being naive.

"It's not an uncommon attitude - 'we'll be right' and 'I've done it before, I can do it again'. Our challenge is to make people aware of the risks."

Mr Hamilton denied Civil Defence could be accused of crying wolf.

"We are dealing with Mother Nature - and human nature - and both are unpredictable.

"I'd sooner be accused of crying wolf and putting out warnings that can be cancelled rather than the other way."

A North Shore City councillor says the council's tsunami-alert service sent out an automated message to residents' phones yesterday morning telling them the warning was a practice.

"It was only when I tuned into the 8 o'clock radio news that I realised the phone message was incorrect," said Chris Darby, who lives at Stanley Pt

"The failure by Civil Defence to load the correct message could have led to dire consequences. There was not even a follow-up correcting the error."