Dunedin Shark Nets, Stay or Go?

Pic: University of Otago forensic dentist Prof Jules Kieser with Barry Watkins' surfboard and a set of shark jams capable of making such an attack. Watkins was attacked by a shark in 1971


Report on shark nets
Otago Daily Times By Chris Morris on Fri, 11 Feb 2011
Shark nets protecting Dunedin's beaches remain in the sights of at least one Dunedin city councillor. Cr Richard Thomson has called for a staff report on the appropriateness of the nets, including their costs, any possible environmental effect and new scientific knowledge relating to the use of nets.

The report was requested at the end of Wednesday's community development committee meeting. Cr Thomson's move follows an unsuccessful attempt last month by several councillors to have funding for the shark nets removed from the council's draft budget for 2011-12.

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Shark nets: are they worth it?
Otago Daily Times By Nigel Benson on Sat, 1 Jan 2011
What would we think if the Dunedin City Council paid $36,000 a year to protect us from lightning bolts? We'd think the council was mad, surely?

Yet, the DCC is the only local authority in New Zealand to maintain shark nets.Never mind that there has not been a shark attack in Dunedin waters for nearly 40 years.

And never mind that marine experts, environmentalists and even council staff who oversee the programme say it is nonsensical.

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Shakes @ the Waterloo - 26th March

Digging in

Had to get to the beach today, couldn't stand another day inside, no matter what. Surf shots below.
So with this post I also took the opportunity to do a bit of a Blackhead quarrying update, I've been taking progress photos for months. The main sequence above is 15months of quarrying and lowering on the south side of the quarry which is the face that is seen from Blackhead Road and the carparks. Heaps of activity and changes, the one big thing is the disappearance of what I call 'the slip' which was clay slide shaped like an arch.

Diploma of Digital Film

One of the assignments for the Diploma of Digital Film at the Southern Institute of Technology. I had to plan, film and edit together a chase scene. Filmed using a Canon 7D and Rode Videomic. Music by Head Like a Hole - Hot Sexy Lusty

Last year I took a few papers studying towards a Diploma of Digital Film with The Southern Institute of Technology. I ended up dropping the screenwriting paper as it was a bit too much of a workload with also working, and struggling with being sick too. It was a real tough squeeze to get the 101 paper finished, but I got there, and managed to get top of my class with an A pass. This year I am taking two more papers, and started last week. The video above is one of my last assignments - Starring Andy Sutherland and Chris Lamb.

Seaweek Beach Cleanup - Brighton

5 adults and three children, including me and Jay turned up to deposit their collected rubbish from Beach cleanup points along the south coast around Brighton this morning.
A lady who walked the beach from Waldronville to Ocean view with her dog collected a supermarket bag of rubbish. Me and Jay collected rubbish around the surf lifesaving club and back bank, and along the Otokai Estuary and top domain.

Above: Scott and Caleb collected three very large sacks of rubbish from around the Waldronville area and gun club. And pic below: Sean and his daughters' Edith and Faye collected a large bag from the dunes and beach at Brighton.

I believe a few of the boys from Big Rock collected rubbish along the roadside from Brighton to Kuri Bush this afternoon.

The final weight of rubbish collected from Brighton was 170 kg.

Seaweek Coastal Cleanup 2011

BRIGHTON BEACH CLEANUP

Sunday March 6th 10am - All welcome to come along and help out.
A group from Big Rock Boardriders will work their way along the coast towards Taieri Mouth to pick up rubbish in the car lay-bys where the freedom campers frequent.
Please meet at 10am by the Skip

A DCC contractor will deliver two really big wheelie bins to the Brighton Beach carpark at about 9am on Sunday March 6. Collected rubbish can go in the bins, or if there is a lot, it can be stacked within a 2 meter radius of the bins. This will all be taken away by the contractor at or after 1pm the same day. While we still have a central collection point at Hancock Park, St Kilda, rubbish will be going straight into a skip without sorting and weighing as the dirty rubbish cannot be recycled.

Quake Blessings

Jayin and I have a large furnished spare bedroom available if you are displaced by the quake and want to leave the city.
We are in Dunedin, well away from aftershocks.
Please call or text 0274627494 if you are interested or pass on to someone who may need accommodation help.

Sending blessings and energy of support to those affected by the earthquake in Christchurch.
We know of a few friends who have lost their homes, many we have not heard from.

Sumner from the air

Sumner etc, Christchurch, taken 29th september 2009, forgot to upload

360degree sunset

Last night, for a short time there was a glowing sunset. This series' of 8 images was taken at my front gate, the roof in the middle is our house. An photo taken earlier in the evening of one of the ponds at the golf course over the road.

Artwork - Ocean View Beach & Flax

Above, recent commission. Ocean View Beach with Flax.
Below Planning out and part way through.

Otago Conservancy values Survey

Do you Value the Otago Coastline?
I'm sure you do.

Please take the time (they suggest twenty mins) to fill in the survey stating how you value the Otago coastline, and assist DOC in protecting our conservation land. eg: the beauty and Amenity value for surfing (or other activities), wildlife etc. If we don't make our individual voices heard, then our values are not regarded when conservation issues, development, plan changes and other matters try and weasel into our playground. So don't sit back and bemoan lost paradise in the future.

Make your opinions heard NOW!

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT

Big Rock Boardriders Midsummer Comp

Jimi got it together for another relaxed comp for the Brighton Surf Club, Big Rock Boardriders, held it on the second day of the Brighton Gala day where their main event was held on the Brighton Domain. So to keep out of the way of the hundreds of carparking visitors and foot traffic we held the event at the horse carpark at Ocean View.
Below: from the comp spot looking down the coast to the Brighton Domain adorned with ferris Wheel and Gala Day presence.

Above, the Gala Day and Domain from near the top of Big Rock. Below Sam Taylor, below that Matt with one of his his trademark floaters.

Above Jimi and Andy, below, Judges lineup and spectators on the dunes, and Hayley

Above Jay tucks in, below Hayley modeling one of our XXL HOTLINE rashies

RESULTS
1st - Jimi Crooks
2nd - Andy Sutherland
3rd - Hayley Coakes
4th - Matt Aberdein

Tom Bodysurfing in between (also perhaps during) heats.
Sorry I didn't put up photos of everyone surfing, I missed on getting a few of you, I was just into relaxing for the arvo, even managed to get sunburnt again.

Brighton District 150th Celebrations

This year the District of Brighton celebrates 150 years of settlement. Last year in preparation I worked with the 150th committee and designed a logo for the year long event.

So this post is about the Brighton District 150th logo design process.

A few years ago I worked on designing a logo for the newly formed Big Rock Boardriders (Brighton Based). Below are the final two designs. The one on the Right was adopted.

The one on the left has a silhouetted and colour shadowed "Big Rock" landform which divides Brighton from Ocean View, you can see it in the photo below, saddle hill in the background, and then the banner below the photo is taken from the top of Big Rock with Brighton on the left with the beach, and then Ocean View far to the right.


I had the photoshop document of this rejected surf club logo, so I picked the concept up again and evolved it into a few different designs for the committee to comment on. Below, they eventually decided on number 1 as seen at the top of this post.

It has now been developed into a bumper sticker to be given out or sold over the year, and the logo used on different local clubs' activities in 2011. The Brighton Pony club is using them on certificates very soon.
Below logo used in the Taieri herald for the
Brighton Gala Day beginning this weekend.

Below a couple of old Brighton Postcards.

2011 Nationals Dunedin by NZ Greenroom Productions

Jan 2011 saw 'The Hyundai National Surfing Championships' contested on one of New Zealand's most exposed coastlines, Dunedin!

A town predominantly known for its student occupancy and legendary Rugby team, its also a coastline riddled with some of the finest surfing set ups known to man.

The event was a huge success for both Surfing NZ and its major sponsors Hyundai NZ and Sol, even though we were consistently bombarded with the classic Otago weather patterns of 4 seasons in one day!
As a location for surfer, spectator and photographer, the Esplanade at the South end of St Clair couldn't be a more comfortable location base the competition from.

The swell was contestable for all 4 days of competition and up and down the coast was firing at times with numerous surf stories of epic sessions being told in detail at The Esplanade every morning!

The 2 video clips highlight some of best surfers from around of NZ going head to head with the winners entering the history books as National Champion's of 2011!




Surfing NZ
Sport: Surfing
Series: 2011 Hyundai National Surfing Championships - SOL Surf Series Event 2
Date: 13th - 16th January 2011
Location: St Clair Beach, Dunedin
Event Info: www.surfingnz.co.nz and www.Hyundai.co.nz


Men's Longboard Final
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 14.83, 1, Matt Cockayne (Mngwhai), 11.07, 2, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 10.6, 3, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 10.3, 4

Stand Up Paddleboard
Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 15.3, 1, Sean Hovell (Gis), 13.9, 2, Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 12.3, 3, Arnie Armstrong (Rag), 10.3, 4

Women's Longboard
Hannah Joynt (Dun), 11.17, 1, Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 8.1, 2, Hannah Howard (Auck), 4.97, 3, Shelly Jones (Auck), 4.27, 4

Open Men's Final
Jay Quinn (Gis), 18, 1, Richard Christie (Mahia), 16.5, 2, Maz Quinn (Gis), 14.1, 3, Morehu Roberts (Rag), 11.6, 4

Under 18 Men's Final
Ben Poulter (Rag), 13.87, 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 12.17, 2, Jacob Kohn (Gis), 10.93, 3, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 7.47, 4

Open Women's Final
Airini Mason (Gis), 15.4, 1, Ella Williams (Whmata), 14.9, 2, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 12.7, 3, Hayley Coakes (Dun), 8, 4

A Complete list of all 2011 results and past National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History.

Please see below for the remaining five events that make up the 20010/11 SOL Surf Series.

Sol Series Event 3 - 29-31 January - Billabong Pro presented by Sony, Whangamata (6-star)
Sol Series Event 4 - 12-13 February - Power Balance Pro, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Sol Series Event 5 - 11-13 March - Rip Curl Pro, Raglan (6-star)
Sol Series Event 6 - 2-3 April SOL Super 16, Mobile (6-star)

The remaining events on the 2011 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follow:

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, 4-6 February, Sandy Bay (SNZ 6-star / ASP LQS 1-star)
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 4, 19-20 February, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, 4-5 March, Port Waikato (6-star)

Art Decor Commission

An art commission (above) I completed over christmas was a simple design piece to fit in with a newly painted bedroom and duvet set.

I was first sent a photo of of both the new duvet and a closeup photo of the pattern. (above).
I also had the information that the bedroom had been painted with one wall bright red, and the balance white. The artwork was to be a long and large landscape shape to be hung on the opposite wall to the red.

Below, the completed painting in the room, unhung

It was a fun piece of art to create, and something which I would be keen to do again with a new set of decor challenges. The customer was very happy, thankfully.