Stay safe – you should not fish from the rocks

People have lost their lives in recent history while fishing here. Some have slipped on rocks and fallen, while others have been washed off by unexpected waves. Fishing from rocks at Papanui Point is extremely dangerous and not worth the risk. Although search and rescue teams have been able to eventually recover some bodies were not retrieved.

We strongly discourage people from going down onto the rocks to catch fish at Papanui Point.

If you want to continue fishing here, follow the guidelines below – but they do not guarantee your safety. You need to be ready to survive and get help if you end up in the water.

• Advise family or friends of where you’re going and when you expect to return. Ask them to call 111 if you haven’t returned on time.
• Wear a good, well-fitted lifejacket.
• Never turn your back on the water due to high risk of rogue waves.
• Never go to the site alone.
• Check tide tables and the weather forecast before going.
• Carry on your body a waterproof distress beacon which can be easily activated.

If you end up in the water at Papanui Point, getting back out is extremely difficult. When there is wind or swell, you would likely remain there.

This is a dangerous area

Papanui Point is on the western side of Karioi near Raglan, in Waikato. It’s a rocky and rugged outcrop surrounded by swirling and unpredictable seas.

Due to the nature and layout of the site, the sea can be rough and wild with multiple cross currents. People have lost their lives while fishing here.

The track down to the rocks is narrow and dangerous. It’s very dangerous in the dark, particularly in wet and windy weather.

Rāhui

Papanui Point has a long history in tribal narratives. It is one of a series of large pā that dotted the coastline from Karioi to Aotea.

West coast iwi and hapū maintain their customary interests along this coast. Papanui is a shared boundary marker (pou whenua) between Tainui hapū of Raglan and Ngāti Whakamarurangi of Ruapuke to Aotea.

Whenever a death occurs at Papanui, tribal protocol requires that the waters that flow along this coastal area be temporarily restricted from public access and that seafood gathering cease until further notice. Such a restriction (rāhui) gives solace to the bereaved, allows for decontamination of the area, and enables the natural equilibrium between people and place to be restored. 

When a rāhui has been invoked please follow the restrictions outlined above.

It is a collective tribal decision as to when the rāhui will end (lifted), a two week timeframe is not uncommon.