Schedule 1 - Location specific information

In accordance with subclause 4.2.2 (Location specific schedules), any clauses contained in this schedule shall be read in conjunction with all other clauses in this bylaw.

Area covered
This schedule applies to the inland waters on the Waikato River known as Lake Karapiro, and navigable inlets as shown in Maps 18.1 to 18.4, and is separated into 14 zones which may be booked separately in advance for specific events or activities, in accordance with S1.18.2 below.

General warnings

S1.18.1 Any operator using this lake must be aware that:

1. The Lake level can change without notice and may vary by up to 2.8 metres due to hydro operations. When lake levels are low, care must be taken at all times to keep a watch out when entering and exiting boat ramps and for semi-submerged hazards (especially trees and rocks). For more information about the hydro lakes please visit www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/Generation/.
2. There are low level power-lines, as shown on Map 18.2, which may not provide sufficient clearance for yacht masts.
3. Subclause 3.10.1 d) of this bylaw states that no person shall operate any vessels (other than for maintenance purposes) within 200 metres of the Taupo gates and hydro dam structures on the Waikato River.

S1.18.2 Booking events on Lake Karapiro
Due to the high use of this lake a booking system for events and activities is prepared annually through the Lake Karapiro User’s Group. Any change to this calendar must be in consultation with the Lake Karapiro User’s Group and in accordance with subclause 4.4.3 (c) of this bylaw. Any person or organisation wishing to book any zone identified for Lake Karapiro as shown in Maps 18.1 to 18.4 must:

1. Ensure the event or activity is scheduled in advance on the calendar of events prepared by Waipa District Council in conjunction with the Lake Karapiro User’s Group.
2. Ensure the event or activity meets the criteria established by Environment Waikato, and confirmed annually with the Waipa District Council and the Lake Karapiro User’s Group. This criteria is aimed at ensuring the most efficient use of the lake, while balancing lake closures with public use.
3. Once the event or activity is confirmed on the calendar of events, apply to Environment Waikato in accordance with clause 4.4 (Temporary events) or 4.2 (Suspensions and exemptions) of this bylaw.
4. In the case of any dispute over the timing of any event or activity, or any conflict between different users, the council shall have particular regard to subclause 3.9.2 of this bylaw and shall make a decision accordingly.

Speed of vessels

S1.18.3 The provisions of 3.2.1 of the bylaw, which relate to speed in the vicinity of other vessels, persons or structures, have been replaced by S1.18.4 of this schedule, which provide similar restrictions but with varied distances.

This means that subject to subclause S1.18.4, which relate to conditions specific to Lake Karairo, the 5 knot speed limit referred to in subclause 3.2.1 of this bylaw still applies to Lake Karapiro. For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of the conditions set out in subclause S1.18.4, namely exceeding 5 knots in Lake Karapiro in circumstances which are in breach of the conditions of subclause S1.18.4, shall constitute a breach of clause 3.2.

S1.18.4 No person shall, without reasonable excuse, propel or navigate a vessel (including a vessel towing someone or some object) at a proper speed exceeding 5 knots:

1. within 50 metres of any other vessel, raft or person in the water or any structure; or
2. within 50 metres of the edge of the water (excluding zones 3-11); or
3. within 200 metres of any vessel or raft that is flying Flag A of the International Code of Signals (diver’s flag).
4. within any 5 knot areas or access lanes as shown on Maps 18.1 to 18.4.

Reserved areas

S1.18.5 5 knot zones
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the following areas as shown on Maps 18.1 to 18.4 shall be reserved as 5 knot zones, for the purpose of providing for swimming, non-powered boating and other passive recreational activities.

• zone 2 within the northern tributary of the lake
• zone 4 two areas as shown on Map 18.1 out to 50 metres from the edge of the water
• zone 5 within the area shown on the western bank of the lake as shown on Map 18.1 out to 50 metres from the edge of the water and within the tributary
• zone 7 within the Keeley Reserve swimming area and tributary as shown on Map 18.2
• zone 7 within the tributary on the southern side of the lake as shown on Map 18.2
• zone 8 (excluding the barefoot ski jump course, except during the first two weeks of the duck hunting season) as shown on Map 18.3
• zone 9 within the Horahora Domain swimming area and tributary opposite this area as shown on Map 18.3
• zone 12 as shown on Map 18.4
• within 50 metres of the shore or bank of the lake or its tributaries (with the exception of zones 3 to 11 and any areas otherwise zoned as access lane for towing, jump course or slalom course)

Within these zones:

1. No person shall propel or navigate a vessel at a proper speed greater than 5 knots.
2. Any person operating a vessel within any 5 knot zone shall give way to swimmers or other non-powered craft at all times.
3. No person shall cause any water ski, aquaplane or other similar object or person to be towed by any vessel.
4. No person shall ride upon any water ski, aquaplane or other similar object being towed by any vessel.

S1.18.6 Access lanes
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the following areas as shown on Maps 18.1 to 18.4 shall be reserved as access lanes, for the purpose of providing access for vessels between the bank or shore and areas for general boating use:

• Karapiro Domain
• Keeley Reserve
• Moanaroa Reserve (Becks Nursery)
• Bob’s Landing
• Horahora Domain

Within these zones:

1. No person shall:

1. cause any water ski, aquaplane or other similar object or person to be towed by any vessel
2. ride upon any water ski, aquaplane or other similar object being towed by any vessel
3. cause or permit any vessel to be moored or to be left unattended
4. propel or navigate a vessel at a proper speed greater than 5 knots
5. swim, dive or play in any access lane.

2. Subclauses 3.7.1 to 3. 7.7 of this bylaw apply.

S1.18.7 Access lanes for towing
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the following areas as shown on Maps 18.1 to 18.4 shall be reserved as access lanes for towing, for the purpose of access by vessels towing a person or object from the bank or shore to the areas provided for general water skiing/towing of other persons or objects:

• zone 3 - in front of the Karapiro Ski Club
• zone 4 - just north of the Cambridge Yacht Club
• zone 5 - two areas on the eastern bank as shown on Map 18.1
• zone 6 - in front of the Brooklyn Ski Club
• zone 7 - Keeley Reserve, Moanaroa Reserve (Becks Nursery) and Bob’s Landing
• zone 7 - on the western end of this zone as shown on Map 18.2
• zone 9 - Horahora Domain
• zone 10 - two areas as shown on Map 18.4 at the southern end of that zone.

Within any access lane for towing:

1. No person shall swim, dive or play in any access lane for towing, excluding any associated activity linked directly to water skiing or similar activities.
2. Except for the circumstances listed in subclauses S1.18.4 and 3.2.3 any vessel may exceed 5 knots.
3. No person shall commence water skiing or the towing of any aquaplane or similar object from, or alight or disembark from water skis, aquaplanes or similar objects onto the shore line of a lake, other than in the ski lanes identified in this subclause.
4. Subclauses 3.7.1 to 3.7.7 of this bylaw apply.

S1.18.8 Slalom course and jump course
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the areas within the following zones as shown on Maps 18.1 to 18.4 shall be reserved respectively as slalom courses and a jump course. The purpose of the slalom course is to permit boating, water skiing and similar activities where navigation through and around relatively closely spaced buoys placed for that purpose, is the principal objective of the activity. The purpose of the jump course is to provide for water skiing where the skier proceeds up an inclined ramp moored in the lake, with the intention of executing a jump.

Slalom courses include:

• zone 1 – Karapiro Ski Club Slalom Course
• zone 6 – Brooklyn Water Ski Club Slalom Course
• zone 9 – Piarere Ski Club Slalom Course (adjacent to Islands A and B).

The Jump Course includes:

• zone 8 – Barefoot Ski Jump Course
• zone 9 - Piarere Ski Club Jump Course.

Within these courses:

1. No person shall propel or navigate a vessel at a proper speed greater than 5 knots within 50 metres of any other vessel.
2. The ordinary rules of anticlockwise rotational circuit operation shall not apply for the slalom course and a vessel using the course shall traverse the course centre line on reciprocal return pathways.
3. At any one time, apart from the boat using the slalom or jump course, the only other boat permitted in the course zone is a safety support vessel.
4. The first entry to the slalom course on the first pass of a turn shall be from the entry end designated by the club operating the course. Initial entry from the opposite end is prohibited.

S 1.18.9 Prohibited activity zones
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the following activities are prohibited in the following reserved areas as shown on Map 18.1, for the purpose of ensuring safety in a small channel and in front of the Karapiro dam:

Within the following zones:

1. Zones 1, 2 and zone 7 (the tributary at the western edge of Keeley Reserve) - all personal water craft are prohibited
2. Zone 2 - no vessels shall tow any person or object in this zone
3. Zone 3 - all vessels are prohibited in the area between the weed boom and the Karapiro dam, unless involved in servicing the structures associated with the dam or undertaking weed control activities

S1.18.10 Towing restricted zone
Within this zone as indicated on Map 18.3, taking off and landing is prohibited.

S1.18.11 Prohibited power-driven vessels areas]
In accordance with subclause 3.9.3, the areas as shown on Maps 18.2 and 18.3, shall be reserved for passive water recreation.

Within these zones:

1. All power-driven vessels are prohibited.

S1.18.12 Rowing course
Within the rowing course, as shown on Map 18.1, rowing lanes and marker buoys will be laid for temporary events as scheduled in the Lake Karapiro temporary events calendar. During this time skippers are required to comply with subclause S1.18.4 (speed of vessels) and have all due consideration to persons rowing in relation to clause 3.6 (wake) of this bylaw.

Note: When the rowing course marker buoys are in place immediately prior to and after a temporary event as scheduled in the Lake Karapiro events calendar, skippers are still required to comply with subclause S1. 18.4 (speed of vessels) and have all due consideration to persons rowing in relation to clause 3.6 (wake) of this bylaw.

Other operating matters

S1.18.13 Skiing/towing requirements
Any person engaged in water skiing or the towing of persons on aquaplanes or other similar objects shall at all times proceed in an anticlockwise direction and along the side of the lane that lies on the starboard or right-hand side of the towing vessel.

S1.18.14 Horahora Domain and Piarere Ski Club operations
Any person engaged in water skiing or the towing of persons on aquaplanes or other similar objects operating in the vicinity of the Horohora Domain and the Piarere Water Ski Club must be aware of the potential for conflict between the following two ski/tow operating circuits and must operate in accordance with subclause S1.18.4(a):

1. Circuit 1: if departing from the public ski lane at Horahora Domain, all vessels shall proceed in an anticlockwise direction and along the side of the lane that lies on the starboard or right-hand side of the towing vessel and which lies to the east of the three islands labelled A, B and C in Maps 18.3 and 18.4.


2. Circuit 2: if departing from the Piarere Water Ski Club ski lane, all vessels shall proceed in a clockwise direction and along the side of the lane that lies to the port or left-hand side of the towing vessel and whose southward path lies to the east of and whose northward path lies to the west of the three islands labelled A, B and C in Maps 18.3 and 18.4.

Map 18.1: Lake Karapiro

Map 18.2: Lake Karapiro

Maps 18.3: Lake Karapiro

Maps 18.4: Lake Karapiro