Waiuku Forest

[charles23]

I heard from a very reliable source that a couple weeks ago that a rider was hospitalised after running into a fencing wire that had been strung up across a track in the forest. Apparently the police were called in and are investigating the incident. Does anyway have any further information on this or can corroborate what I have heard? Anyone who rides out there needs to beware.

[WRT]

Damn, I was just out there last Sunday! Didnt come across any wires, other than those that were part of existing fences.

Did get to stop and watch the rally cars go by tho, which provided a bit of light entertainment while we had a break.

[charles23]

Yeah I was there on Sunday also, had a great ride and stayed out of the forest

[WRT]

I found the beach a little boring and very busy (although my mates reckoned it was fairly quiet), but the area of forest you are allowed into is only tiny, so its best suited to just a half day I thought. Enjoyed it though, for my first outting down there.

[scott411]

have not heard that, although it is illegal to ride in the forest,

illegal riding in this area causes headaches for people that orgainise rides and try to get bike parks open in Pukekohe/Franklin as the councill officers like to use this to say all offraod bikers are law breakers. We had this brought up when inquiring about extended hours at Harrisville

[charles23]

Sure riding in the forest is illegal but the beach is free. I spoke to some guys down at Karioitahi the other day, they were from the Rodney Four Wheel Drvie Club and were camped out at the beach for the weekend. They said that the local Waiuku horse trainers were petitioning the Franklin District Council to ban all vehicles and bikes off the beach. It's not common to see 20 bikes and quads down there some weekends, not to mention all the four wheel drives and cars that venture down the beach. Fight for the right to maintain free public access and petition the Franklin District Council to maintain free access for all.

[Motu]

My cousin is one of the horse trainers - her son rides a dirt bike,and we used to take her quad down to the beach for a ride with the kids.So she's not against bikes.But she's against something else,and a blanket ban is an easy way to achieve it.

[Ixion]

I wandered into there a few weeks ago. I was on the Titan , so not going to venture off road. BUT- the big signs implied (quite clearly) that bikes were forbidden EVERYWHERE - including beach and road. So I rode up and down the roads for a while hoping someone would challenge me. But no-one did. Pity, I would have enjoyed giving them a piece of my mind. if cages are alowed, what's with banning bikes .

[Ixion]

Me, I'm going to petition to ban horses. Nasty things polluting everywhere.

[Motu]

And the ACC payouts to horse riders makes bikes look like a knitting circle.Every horse rider I've met has had a broken bone...my cuz has suffered more damge in her passion than I have in mine.

[mazz1972]

have not heard that, although it is illegal to ride in the forest,

illegal riding in this area causes headaches for people that orgainise rides and try to get bike parks open in Pukekohe/Franklin as the councill officers like to use this to say all offraod bikers are law breakers. We had this brought up when inquiring about extended hours at Harrisville

I'm with you there. In this area bikes either have to be registered and riders have licences to ride on the beach (otherwise big fines), but mostly not allowed on the beach at all. As for the forests, there are always people riding illegally in them (despite the signs) and causing damage (such as cutting fences to get in/out). The end result is that clubs are then denied use of the forest for the odd organised ride. So as usual, it is the few spoiling it for the many. Yes, it is frustrating that more and more areas are closed down to casual riding, but doing it illegally isn't doing anyone any favours as it cuts out the odd time when it could be legally used.

[GR81]

yea, a beach is classed as a public road, so need wof, reg and licence.

[charles23]

funny that you are so PC and law abiding when the quote on your web page says 'if your cheating - at least your trying'. You don't give me the impression that you are someone who rides along and observes the speed limit! A beach is not a road, it's a beach

[Ixion]

Land Transport Act 1998




LAND TRANSPORT ACT 1998

PART 1 - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

2.Interpretation—

.......



``Road'' includes—


(a)A street; and


(b)A motorway; and


(c)A beach; and


(d)A place to which the public have access, whether as of right or not; and


(e)All bridges, culverts, ferries, and fords forming part of a road or street or motorway, or a place referred to in paragraph (d):


(f)All sites at which vehicles may be weighed for the purposes of this Act or any other enactment:

...


They class beaches as roads. Though I've never been clear how far down this goes - mean high water ?

[David]

Hope my 5 and 6 yr olds don't get tickets down there for not having wof, reg and licences.

Seems to me that there may be a few dick heads who ride like idiots in the wrong places at the wrong time (have a few words with them and they normally stop) but instead of going down hard on them there are the do gooders (soft cocks) who would rather stop everyones fun. I've been riding down there since I was the kids age and never hurt anyone or done any damage to the beach just had loads of fun, so whats the problem?

[charles23]

Nice response from a fellow husky rider

[Motu]

If you've been going down there for years you must know what it's like on a good weekend - everyone is down there hooning around.I've seen cars full of kids go up the beach,and come back half an hour later with the roof caved in...you have to be carefull on a bike because the dune buggies come down the beach crossing it up in huge slides,they take up the whole high/low zone with their random swerves.It's a wonder there haven't been some bad accidents over the years - was down there one day,and was watching some paragliders.Got back to my mothers place in Waiuku and heard on the radio one of them had just died....must of happened as we walked away.I've been riding on Kariotahi since the early '70's - there is a very much bigger hoon element these days.The ''beach is a road'' rules don't need to be applied if everyone plays a clean game.....but give them reason and it will be....

[charles23]

The easy way to avoid them is to get there nice and early in the morning, when they're all passed out or nursing hangovers we're out there doing it.