Motorists caught on camera hooning along north Auckland beach

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Motorists have been caught on camera fishtailing, doing back slides and performing handbrake turns along Stanmore Bay beach.

Residents live in fear that cars hooning along a north Auckland beach will result in serious injury or death.

Motorists have repeatedly been caught on camera fishtailing, doing back slides and performing handbrake turns along Stanmore Bay beach.

Ute drivers and go-kart and dirt bike riders are among the culprits.

'We're pushed from pillar to post or just ignored by the council. There is a serious accident waiting to happen with young children or animals,' resident Mike Minns said.

There is permanent signage on all vehicle accessways to the beach at Stanmore Bay, warning motorists to stay off.

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Minns walks his dog daily along the beach and comes across motorists 'probably at least once a week'.

He said some did not know the rules, but others simply ignored them or were aggressive and violent.

One resident, Claire Teirney, has been in contact with the police and Auckland Council about vehicles on the beach since mid-2015.

One resident spotted this 4WD on January 6 driving 500 metres along Stanmore Bay beach to the jet ski lane.

In 2018, she made a presentation to the Regulatory Committee and the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board to have the issue enforced and to push for current signage at the beach's entrances to be clearer and spell out the rules.

She had also been making complaints to the police stretching back to 2016 about vehicles on the beach, the bulk of which included video of the incidents.

'If I don't do something and something happens I'll feel awful,' she said.

Under the council's Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw, vehicles on beaches are prohibited except to launch and retrieve a boat.

People can drive on Karioitahi and Muriwai beaches but permits are needed.

Stanmore Bay local Andy Falkner said he wanted to see Auckland Council step up to enforce the rules.

'It's not a hard fix – 10 metres of chain and three padlocks – no more problems,' Andy Falkner said.

'It's a waste of police time to enforce the issue – they've got better things to do than monitor idiots driving up and down the beach.'

Senior sergeant Steve Pivac of the Waitematā North Police told Stuff vehicles on beaches were not a 'significant issue' throughout the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area.

He said the death of 17-year-old Robbie Cederwall on Rothesay Bay beach in June 2018 was a 'tragic, one-off incident'.

'Driving on beaches can be dangerous with a constantly changing environment and debris and we remind motorists that it is unlawful to drive on beaches that do not permit vehicles driving on them.'

Inspector Bruce O'Brien, Waitematā North area commander, said police also had no evidence of vehicles driving dangerously along Stanmore Bay beach which would warrant a specific operation.

'We will take action when there are reports of dangerous driving that puts the safety of those in the vehicle, or members of the public, at risk.'

Auckland Council had recently installed larger signs advising no vehicles were allowed on the beach, apart from launching and retrieving boats.

A spokesperson said the council was also investigating the Langton Rd boat ramp designation, which was a launch ramp for trailers pulled by hand, and the implications of changing the designation.

The council encouraged anyone who saw vehicles driving on the beach other than to launch and retrieve boats to call the police.