Temperatures have been soaring to 30degC in Wanaka and Queenstown every day this week and it's enough to make people's blood boil.
But while hundreds of people have been cooling off in lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu, Queenstown Lakes district harbourmaster Marty Black has been blowing the whistle at children rocking pontoons.
"I've been absolutely tonging them up.
"The little [devils] keep ignoring me.
"If they don't stop being so stupid we will take it out," Mr Black said yesterday.
Mr Black was patrolling the Roys Bay pontoon yesterday and he was also on the case of children rocking the pontoon in Queenstown Bay or swimming in front of TSS Earnslaw.
Mr Black said he could easily take both pontoons out.
The Lake Hayes pontoon is already out of the water for repairs.
The issue was liability and potential for injury, which he had explained to the children many times.
"We are not trying to stop them having fun.
"But they have to be sensible with the pontoons . . .
"And we can't afford to stand there all day, watching," Mr Black said.
Lakeland Adventures jet-boat driver James Blunt was turning up the heat on Wanaka kids yesterday as their rocking antics continued for the third day in a row, forcing him to take a boat out to remonstrate with the youngsters.
As soon as he turned his back, they were doing it again.
"I want the pontoon removed.
"I've seen it flipped twice in the last two days.
"All it is going to take is for one person to get caught underneath.
"I just hope it doesn't come to that," Mr Blunt said.
Mr Blunt said other Lakeland Adventures staff shared his view.
They were not paid to be lifesavers or on beach patrol.
The pontoon was a community asset being abused, he said.
Wanaka children yesterday said they were having fun.
The vast majority were not trying to be naughty.
Several parents were swimming with their children and sharing the fun.
At least one father said he was concerned kids could get hurt if the pontoon tipped or a child was hit on the head.
Everyone agreed it was a great spell of summer weather and the lake was the best place to be.
