Tourist swimmers in the spotlight, as well as drivers

Move over foreign drivers, now foreign swimmers are putting themselves in danger by straying into the wrong lane.

It's got to the point where Bay of Plenty Regional Council has had to issue a warning to swimmers to keep out of designated ski lanesin Rotorua lakes.

According to Rotorua Wake & Ski Club president Ian Barker, it's a theme that echoes some of the problems seen on New Zealand roads, where tourists seem to not follow the rules.

"It's always a problem because we've got lots of tourists in the area who don't understand that our ski access lanes mean that boats can speed in with a skier behind them into that area, so if a swimmer is in there it's certainly very dangerous," he said.

"Our harbour master is very good at putting signage up, but it's always an issue trying to get people to read signs."

Lakes Harbour Master Pererika Makiha said maritime officers had received complaints from water-skiers that swimmers were using the ski lanes when the lakes were busy.

One complainant who received an infringement notice for exceeding 5 knots outside the ski lane said they had brought a learner wake-board rider in slowly at a safe place where there were no swimmers because they had counted 23 swimmers in the ski lane.

Later that day, the number exceeded 40, some of them small children.

Ski lanes were designated to keep both swimmers and skiers safe, and swimmers needed to keep clear of the designated lanes,Makiha said.

"Skiing from shore is only permitted within the designated ski access lane or reserved ski area," he said.

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Tourist swimmers in the spotlight, as well as drivers