Mount Maunganui beach might be open, but the surf isn't. A section of the white sandy beach has opened today after safety measures closed the area when globlets of oil washed ashore from the cargo vessel Rena, stuck on Astrolabe Reef on the Tauranga coast.
Keen surfers Chris Wilton-Jones and Pat King tried to head out to catch some waves this afternoon, but authorities told them off.
It was to be the pair's first surf since before the oil spill.
Mr Wilton-Jones managed to get his head under and catch one wave before surf patrol authorities waved him out of the water.
"We weren't trying to be rebels, we just heard the beach was open and we wanted to get out there.
"Apparently the beach is open but the water's not."
He said he felt fine after dunking his head under the water.
"It even smells nice."
Mr King, who normally surfs a couple of times a week, said the the surfing community was upset at seeing their beaches in such a state.
Authorities are still patrolling the area to make sure no one enters the water.
People continue to flock to the area, and many line the grassy knoll next to the beach observe the beach action.
Maritime New Zealand today reopened a small section of the beach between the Base Track at Mount Maunganui and Moturiki Island (Leisure Island).
A marine oil spill response was being carried out and access was still restricted from Leisure Island to Maketu Point, including the Maketu Estuary.
The decision to allow public access to the small section of beach was made after careful assessment of the beach and water sampling, Maritime New Zealand said.
