Papatowai Beach the day after Ford salesmen raced each other. Photo: SUPPLIED
A resident along the Otago coast is calling for beach bylaw changes after she saw a group of car salesmen contest races and do "doughnuts" where endangered wildlife reside.
Mary Sutherland lives in the Catlins settlement of Papatowai and said she was greeted by representatives of car company Ford last month.
It comes after a string of instances in which the behaviour of motorists at beaches within the scenic Catlins coastline have sparked the ire of the community, including the district's mayor.
On the morning of 19 March, several Ford Rangers drove onto the beach prompting Sutherland to wander down to inspect what was going on.
Several Ford car dealers gathered at Papatowai Beach last month. Photo: SUPPLIED / MARY SUTHERLAND
Although the community had been met with hostility by beach-dwelling motorists previously, the group comprising of Ford representatives from New Zealand and Australia were good-natured, Sutherland said.
"They had a picnic table out and they were having a morning tea," she said.
"They offered me banana bread."
When Sutherland asked what the group were doing, a senior staff member told her they were having their "annual treat for having great sales".
"While people were having their picnics, one truck after another would race along the extended beach and do their doughnuts and then come back," she said.
"It seemed like they were recording their times."
She then raised concerns about the trucks driving at speed near sea lions and birds on the beach.
The Catlins is home to one of the world's rarest sea lion species the Whakahao (Hooker's Sea Lion), and other endangered wildlife such as the Hoiho (Yellow Eyed Penguin).
"They told me they'd been briefed and knew not to run over sea lions."
Despite Ford's reassurances, both Sutherland and other beach-goers decided not to walk along the beach while the group was there.
She said although the beach was dug up for days afterwards until it was swept up by a storm, the beach had been left in a better condition than previous episodes.
The Clutha District's Vehicles on Beaches bylaw only prohibits vehicles from sand dunes, except to access the beach; and above the high-water mark, except in emergencies.
It also requires people driving on beaches to "do so in a way that does not threaten the safety of people, plants or native animals".
Sutherland said it would be simpler to implement a "blanket ban" on vehicles on beaches, unless there was an emergency.
"This particular one because of the wildlife that comes, there is no need to drive onto the beach, there is a perfectly good car park and a track to walk out onto the beach," she said.
"And certainly if there's a need, if there's a rescue needed or [fire-fighters] needing to go onto the beach.
"But people just joy riding on beaches. I think it's time for that to stop."
Potential changes to the rules, including a ban on vehicles, will not happen until after October's local government elections.
Last month mayor Bryan Cadogan hit out at the ongoing mistreatment of wildlife, after a group of motorists were seen in January at Tautuku beach, provoking a sea lion for two consecutive days.
Both Ford New Zealand and the Clutha District Council have been approached for comment.
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