Calls to close fishing spot

But the Waikato District mayor has now backed away from shutting the west coast spot that has claimed dozens of lives. Rachel Moore reports.

Former Waikato Filipino Association president

The Filipino community is calling for a notorious fishing spot near Raglan, which has claimed the lives of more than 20 people, to be shut down.

But the Waikato District mayor has now backed away from the suggestion that it should be closed.

Olson Canatoy, 52, and Eric Dabalos, 44, became the latest victims of Papanui Point when they did not return from a fishing trip on October 31. Canatoy’s body washed up on Sunday but Dabalos has not yet been found.

The unforgiving spot also took the life of 38-year-old Michael Landig in November last year and 43-year-old Ariel Tagao in May.

Former Waikato Filipino Association president Jun Valencia said he wanted to see the fishing spot closed or at least a big and obvious sign put at the site.

At least 23 people have died at the point, with fishermen tumbling off the rocks or being swept into the water by big waves.

Valencia said the inaction of the council was frustrating, especially as four members of his community had fallen victim to the rocks.

‘‘They need to do something about the place. It is sad. They should do something – not just for Filipinos, but for everyone.’’

There was a small sign at the site currently but it was worn and no-one read it.

Glenda Barba, who provides pastoral care for migrants, said the Filipino community was devastated and hoped the site would be closed.

She said the two missing men were carpenters and builders and were both sole earners for their families.

‘‘I believe both families are doing the best they can to keep the family stronger and still clinging for that ray of hope for any good news.’’

Barba set up a fundraising webpage to help Dabalos’ wife, who was struggling financially now that she was not receiving his earnings.

She said the men knew the site very well and had been fishing there for more than a year.

Waikato District mayor Allan Sanson, who has not been to Papanui Point, said he had asked council staff to look into what could be done to make it safer.

He previously told Stuff the council could consider closing the fishing spot and needed to talk to the Department of Conservation.

Two weeks later, Sanson had not talked to the agency.

Staff advised him that experienced fishermen, who used the site safely, would be upset about its closure.

People assessed the risk themselves, he said. They would do what they wanted regardless.

‘‘I don’t know what the answer is but it is a New Zealand cultural thing to catch kai from the sea. It is a superb time to be doing that, but if you don’t assess the risks there is a big chance you can lose your life.’’

Sam Ashton owns fishing shop Bite Time Bait in Whatawhata and has taken matters into his own hands with a sign made to warn people. If at least one person saw the sign and turned around, it would be worth it, he said.

He also had lifejackets that people could use for free, many of which had been donated by locals.

He said people had worked hard since the 1990s to try to make the fishing spot safer but vandals had consistently ruined their efforts.

The fishing spot has little to no cellphone service, so in the 1990s Chorus put a landline phone on the rocks. Vandals quickly left it unusable.

Local woman Sheryl Hart got anchor points and life rings installed in 2013 but no-one used the anchor and the rings were stolen.

Ashton encouraged people to use a lifejacket when fishing.

He said Papanui Point was a wellknown fishing spot but there were huge swells and rough, rogue waves.

It was also very difficult to climb out of the sea and back onto the rocks once you had fallen in.

‘‘[When] you get that adrenaline of having a fish on your line, it is so hard to not get red mist or tunnel vision.

‘‘I would imagine a lot of it is trying to get fish out of the water, or the rogue waves.’’

Every time someone went missing or died at Papanui Point, the Coastguard, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Land Search and Rescue, and families and friends all got involved, he said.

‘‘I would like to see it closed just because I don’t want to see all the harm.’’

‘‘They need to do something about the place. It is sad. They should do something – not just for Filipinos, but for everyone.’’ Jun Valencia

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF