logo
Fiordland viewing platform where girl died being rebuilt

Fiordland viewing platform where girl died being rebuilt

The spot where Tegan Chen slipped into Marian Creek in Fiordland National Park was not fenced off. Photo: Supplied
A viewing platform above Fiordland falls where a young girl died last year is being rebuilt.
The Lake Marian track has closed for the month while the Department of Conservation worked on a new platform just off the lower Hollyford Road.
10-year-old Australian girl Tegan Chen slipped on rocks into Marian Creek in what locals called an "unforgiving" spot in January 2024.
The Department of Conservation (Doc) said the new platform would allow visitors to enjoy the dramatic view "away from the river's edge".
Doc had been planning for the upgrade before Chen died.
The platform marked the start of the Lake Marian track for advanced trampers.
"All visitors to Lake Marian track should avoid walking near the creek," the Department said.
"The rocks are slippery, and Marian Creek's current is strong. A fall into the water could cause serious injury or death. Stay on the track. Keep children within arm's reach and watch them carefully."
While the platform was being built, visitors could still see the lower rapids but not the upper falls.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man fined for harassing sea lion on Catlins beach
Man fined for harassing sea lion on Catlins beach

Otago Daily Times

timea day ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Man fined for harassing sea lion on Catlins beach

By Peter de Graaf of RNZ A Southland man has been fined $400 for harassing a sea lion in an incident that appalled nature lovers in the Catlins earlier this year. In January, residents of Tautuku Beach, on the South Otago coast, reported seeing a group of motorists and trail bike riders taunting a sea lion for two successive days. A ranger's report obtained by RNZ stated a ute was repeatedly driven at the sea lion, the driver using the clutch and brakes to "lunge" towards the animal and provoke it into responding. Riders were also seen driving in circles around the sea lion. At the time the Department of Conservation (Doc) said it was making enquiries after being provided with a vehicle's licence plate details. This week Doc Murihiku operations manager John McCarroll told RNZ a Southland man had since admitted to his involvement in the Tautuku Beach incident. "After speaking to this person and a neutral witness, we are satisfied that there was no contact with the sea lion at any stage, nor were there "doughnuts" performed around the sea lion on the vehicle's departure," he said. "After legal review, a $400 infringement notice was issued to the offender for disturbing a sea lion, in breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978." The incident led to calls - including by outgoing mayor Brian Cadogan - to reconsider banning vehicles from Catlins beaches. A ban was proposed by the Clutha District Council in 2023 but dropped following a social media backlash. Councillors will now revisit the issue after the October local elections. The Tautuku Beach incident is only one of many involving endangered sea lions in the Catlins, a stretch of coast renowned for its wildlife. In October last year a female known as Jade was shot, and her pup was also shot a few days later. The pup was left to a lingering death in the Catlins Estuary. In November a third sea lion was stabbed on Waipati Beach and had to be euthanised. That prompted the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust to double its reward for information about the killings to $12,000. The initial report about the Tautuku Beach incident stated the motorists had left by the time rangers arrived and the sea lion was dead. However, a necroscopy found the animal died of other causes, most likely from injuries inflicted by another sea lion. It could also not be confirmed whether the dead sea lion was the same one that was being harassed earlier. Only about 12,000 New Zealand sea lions remain, making it the world's rarest sea lion species.

Man fined $400 for harassing sea lion in the Catlins
Man fined $400 for harassing sea lion in the Catlins

RNZ News

timea day ago

  • RNZ News

Man fined $400 for harassing sea lion in the Catlins

A sea lion at Surat Bay Beach in the Catlins. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf A Southland man has been fined $400 for harassing a sea lion in an incident that appalled nature lovers in the Catlins earlier this year. In January, residents of Tautuku Beach, on the south Otago coast, reported seeing a group of motorists and trail bike riders taunting a sea lion for two successive days. A ranger's report obtained by RNZ stated a ute was repeatedly driven at the sea lion, with the driver using the clutch and brakes to "lunge" towards the animal and provoke it into responding. Riders were also seen driving in circles around the sea lion. At the time the Department of Conservation (DOC) said it was making enquiries after being provided with a vehicle's licence plate details. This week DOC Murihiku operations manager John McCarroll told RNZ a Southland man had since admitted to his involvement in the Tautuku Beach incident. "After speaking to this person and a neutral witness, we are satisfied that there was no contact with the sea lion at any stage, nor were there "doughnuts" performed around the sea lion on the vehicle's departure," he said. "After legal review, a $400 infringement notice was issued to the offender for disturbing a sea lion, in breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978." The incident led to calls - including by outgoing mayor Brian Cadogan - to reconsider banning vehicles from Catlins beaches. A ban was proposed by the Clutha District Council in 2023 but dropped following a social media backlash. Councillors will now revisit the issue after the October local elections. The Tautuku Beach incident is only one of many involving endangered sea lions in the Catlins, a stretch of coast renowned for its wildlife. Tautuku Bay in the Catlins, which some locals told RNZ was "treated like a racetrack" by four-wheel-drive enthusiasts. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf In October last year a female known as Jade was shot, followed by her pup a few days later. The pup was left to a lingering death in the Catlins Estuary. In November a third sea lion was stabbed on Waipati Beach and had to be euthanised. That prompted the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust to double its reward for information about the killings to $12,000. The initial report about the Tautuku Beach incident stated the motorists had left by the time rangers arrived and the sea lion was dead. However, a necroscopy found the animal died of other causes, most likely from injuries inflicted by another sea lion. It could also not be confirmed whether the dead sea lion was the same one that was being harassed earlier. Only about 12,000 New Zealand sea lions remain, making it the world's rarest sea lion species.

Govt's 500 police target delayed again as Australia poaching campaign considered
Govt's 500 police target delayed again as Australia poaching campaign considered

NZ Herald

time3 days ago

  • NZ Herald

Govt's 500 police target delayed again as Australia poaching campaign considered

Associate Police Minister Casey Costello and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers appear at select committee. Photo / Mark Mitchell When the policy was first announced, it had a two-year deadline from late November 2023 to increase NZ Police's constabulary force from 10,211 to 10,711 by November 2025. Government ministers had gradually accepted the initial deadline was unlikely to be met after Police Commissioner Richard Chambers indicated June 2026 was more realistic, given his commitment to training standards. As of July 21, NZ Police had added just 23 extra officers. About 90 recruits were due to graduate at the end of the month. Associate Police Minister Casey Costello, who was responsible for the policy, said in February she was 'even more confident' the target would be reached in November this year amid a boost in applications. In a statement this week, Costello said projections shifted from month to month based on the timing of graduations and the number of officers leaving or retiring. 'We always knew it was an ambitious timeline.' Labour police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen is criticising the Government's ability to deliver. Photo / Mark Mitchell Labour police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen condemned the delay as an example of Luxon's 'inability to deliver'. 'Meanwhile, meth use is surging and our communities are suffering,' she said. 'The Government shouldn't promise what it can't deliver on.' Police keep latest projections under wraps In an interview with the Herald yesterday, Penny wouldn't provide NZ Police's latest estimate when the target would be reached, saying it was 'pretty hard to be accurate' given the variable nature of training numbers and attrition. Asked whether she could guarantee it would be achieved before the 2026 election, Penny wouldn't speculate. About 370 recruits were currently progressing through NZ Police's 20-week training course, while another 340 would begin training by the end of the year. That was offset by an attrition rate of 5.4% and an aging workforce, according to Penny. She acknowledged police had been a 'bit sluggish in the beginning', but a dedicated team had since been set up to improve recruitment efforts. 'There are some things we can do to maybe deliver it a little bit sooner and that's why last week I was with all the district commanders and asking ourselves the question around what are we doing now that's working and what are we not doing so we can move things faster. 'We are going to deliver it, but we will get there when we get there.' Police Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny said training standards wouldn't be compromised to hit the target. Photo / Jason Oxenham One of those measures to boost recruitment could be an effort to poach Kiwi cops now in Australia and possibly Australian officers as well. Penny said Chambers had asked senior leaders to assess whether an Australian recruitment drive would be useful. A decision hadn't yet been made. It followed several attempts from Australian police officials to attract New Zealand officers across the ditch, most recently by members of Northern Territory Police. While any recruitment drive would likely focus on New Zealand officers, Penny said it was being discussed whether to broaden the campaign. 'We have had a number of conversations that we should maybe say, 'Hey, bring one of your Aussie work besties back with you', but that's in negotiation.' Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald's Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store