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RNZ News
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Catlins resident calls for beach bylaw changes after car salesmen race, do 'doughnuts'
Papatowai Beach the day after Ford salesmen raced each other. Photo: SUPPLIED A resident along the Otago coast is calling for beach bylaw changes after she saw a group of car salesmen contest races and do "doughnuts" where endangered wildlife reside. Mary Sutherland lives in the Catlins settlement of Papatowai and said she was greeted by representatives of car company Ford last month. It comes after a string of instances in which the behaviour of motorists at beaches within the scenic Catlins coastline have sparked the ire of the community, including the district's mayor. On the morning of 19 March, several Ford Rangers drove onto the beach prompting to Sutherland to wander down to inspect what was going on. Several Ford car dealers gathered at Papatowai Beach last month. Photo: SUPPLIED / MARY SUTHERLAND Although the community had been met with hostility by beach-dwelling motorists previously, the group comprising of Ford representatives from New Zealand and Australia were good-natured, Sutherland said. "They had a picnic table out and they were having a morning tea," she said. "They offered me banana bread." When Sutherland asked what the group were doing, a senior staff member told her they were having their "annual treat for having great sales". "While people were having their picnics, one truck after another would race along the extended beach and do their doughnuts and then come back," she said. "It seemed like they were recording their times." She then raised concerns about the trucks driving at speed near sea lions and birds on the beach. The Catlins is home to one of the world's rarest sea lion species the Whakahao (Hooker's Sea Lion), and other endangered wildlife such as the Hoiho (Yellow Eyed Penguin). "They told me they'd been briefed and knew not to run over sea lions." Despite Ford's reassurances, both Sutherland and other beach-goers decided not to walk along the beach while the group was there. She said although the beach was dug up for days afterwards until it was swept up by a storm, the beach had been left in a better condition than previous episodes. The Clutha District's Vehicles on Beaches bylaw only prohibits vehicles from sand dunes, except to access the beach; and above the high-water mark, except in emergencies. It also requires people driving on beaches to "do so in a way that does not threaten the safety of people, plants or native animals". Sutherland said it would be simpler to implement a "blanket ban" on vehicles on beaches, unless there was an emergency. "This particular one because of the wildlife that comes, there is no need to drive onto the beach, there is a perfectly good car park and a track to walk out onto the beach," she said. "And certainly if there's a need, if there's a rescue needed or [fire-fighters] needing to go onto the beach. "But people just joy riding on beaches. I think it's time for that to stop." Potential changes to the rules, including a ban on vehicles, will not happen until after October's local government elections. Last month mayor Bryan Cadogan hit out at the ongoing mistreatment of wildlife, after a group of motorists were seen in January at Tautuku beach, provoking a sea lion for two consecutive days. Both Ford New Zealand and the Clutha District Council have been approached for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Aussie Ford salesmen carved up pristine Catlins beach
A group of Australian car salesmen had timed vehicle races and did "donuts" on a pristine Catlins beach, believing they were allowed to. The Clutha District Council confirmed yesterday it had received a complaint over the vehicles, describing the incident as very disappointing. The group said, when contacted yesterday, they were surprised they had been driving where they should not. Ford New Zealand is distancing itself from the party — a bunch of Australian Ford salesman, driving Ford Rangers - who had been in Queenstown before heading to Papatowai Beach. The incident occurred in the middle of last month. Beaches in the Clutha area have been under the spotlight over the past couple of years after the Clutha District Council pulled back on a full ban of vehicles on beaches, despite threats to wildlife and people. Papatowai resident Mary Sutherland said she saw nine Ford Ranger utes on the beach with people having a picnic on March 19. One of the men came over, introduced himself and said they were a group of car dealers, she said. "They then got into their trucks and one at a time raced down the beach, timing each other. "They would do donuts and then go back up the beach," she said. "They were going as fast as they can. I couldn't say exactly how fast but it was fast." "They were not going into the water or the high tide mark. But I left as I was not totally comfortable with what they were doing. There was another group who also left and another couple from further down [the beach] walked along and left. "There were no sea lions there that day — they only impacted birds who flew away. But we have had a very busy season with sea lions there nearly every day." They did not mind sharing the beach but she was a bit cynical of bringing cars into such a beautiful natural setting, Mrs Sutherland said. When asked if it had the potential to be a disaster, she said it did. "It is not the behaviour you want to see on a beach," Mrs Sutherland said. A Ford New Zealand spokesman said the trip was an annual sales incentive trip for Ford Australia dealer sales managers, run independently by Ford Australia and their Australian events management company. "We will be having discussions with the Ford Australia team regarding their event in New Zealand and will require assurances in the future regarding their drive programmes, locations and practices," he said in a statement. "But they were assured, as they have been in the past, they only drove on permissible roads, beaches and offroad tracks. They've done these trips quite a few times without any issues, incidents. Just the opposite in fact — they've been very popular and they love coming over to New Zealand for the same reasons we live here. It's beautiful. So they are equally surprised to know they may have been driving where they shouldn't." The spokesman said the group did drive down to a beach where there were seals and other cars on the beach but they did not drive on that beach. A Clutha District Council spokeswoman said a complaint was made to the council. No ranger was in the area on the day. The drivers appear to have breached rules under the Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw 2023, including (when operating a vehicle) showing consideration for other users and vulnerable wildlife, operating a vehicle in a courteous, appropriate, safe and responsible manner and not causing damage to any part of a beach. "This is a very disappointing situation and council is in the process of reviewing all evidence before approaching the parties involved."
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Australian Ford salesmen carved up pristine Catlins beach
A group of Australian car salesman had timed vehicle races and did "donuts" on a pristine Catlins beach, believing they were allowed to. The Clutha District Council confirmed yesterday it had received a complaint over the vehicles, describing the incident as very disappointing. The group said, when contacted yesterday, they were surprised they had been driving where they should not. Ford New Zealand is distancing itself from the party — a bunch of Australian Ford salesman, driving Ford Rangers, who had been in Queenstown before heading to the Papatowai Beach. The incident occurred in the middle of last month. Beaches in the Clutha area have been under the spotlight over the past couple of years after the Clutha District Council pulled back on a full ban of vehicles on beaches, despite threats to wildlife and people. Papatowai resident Mary Sutherland said she saw nine Ford Ranger utes on the beach with people having a picnic on March 19. One of the men came over, introduced himself and said they were a group of car dealers, she said. "They then got into their trucks and one at a time raced down the beach, timing each other. "They would do donuts and then go back up the beach," she said. "They were going as fast as they can. I couldn't say exactly how fast but it was fast." "They were not going into the water or the high tide mark. But I left as I was not totally comfortable with what they were doing. There was another group who also left and another couple from further down [the beach] walked along and left. "There were no sea lions there that day — they only impacted birds who flew away. But we have had a very busy season with sea lions there nearly every day." They did not mind sharing the beach but she was a bit cynical of bringing cars into such a beautiful natural setting, Mrs Sutherland said. When asked if it had the potential to be a disaster, she said it did. "It is not the behaviour you want to see on a beach," Mrs Sutherland said. A Ford New Zealand spokesman said the trip was an annual sales incentive trip for Ford Australia dealer sales managers, run independently by Ford Australia and their Australian events management company. "We will be having discussions with the Ford Australia team regarding their event in New Zealand and will require assurances in the future regarding their drive programmes, locations and practices," he said in a statement. "But they were assured, as they have been in the past, they only drove on permissible roads, beaches and offroad tracks. They've done these trips quite a few times without any issues, incidents. Just the opposite in fact — they've been very popular and they love coming over to New Zealand for the same reasons we live here. It's beautiful. So they are equally surprised to know they may have been driving where they shouldn't." The spokesman said the group did drive down to a beach where there were seals and other cars on the beach but they did not drive on that beach. A Clutha District Council spokeswoman said a complaint was made to the council. No ranger was in the area on the day. The drivers appear to have breached rules under the Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw 2023, including (when operating a vehicle) showing consideration for other users and vulnerable wildlife, operating a vehicle in a courteous, appropriate, safe and responsible manner and not causing damage to any part of a beach. "This is a very disappointing situation and council is in the process of reviewing all evidence before approaching the parties involved."
