Cumec Issue #19 Postponed.

Many people have noticed that we haven't released our Autumn issue; unfortunately due to several unexpected issues we have made the difficult decision to postpone Issue#19 of Cumec until Spring 2013.

While we were working on pulling together the Autumn Issue our plans did not progress as hoped and with the high standards that we want to maintain with the magazine the decision to postpone became easier as time progressed. We're taking this opportunity to work on several new ideas and finally taking the time to refresh our website to continue informing, inspiring and entertaining the paddlers of Australasia and further afield.

We are also aiming to announce details of the 2013 Cumec Magazine Paddle Sports Awards alongside our new website in late June.

To all our valued subscribers and avid readers we're sorry that you'll have to wait longer for the next installment, but we want to ensure that you continue to receive the best kayak magazine that we can produce. Any enquiries about subscriptions can be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I'll endeavour to fill you in on the details and predicted release dates as soon as they're confirmed.

Thanks for your understanding.

Antz Longman, Editor & Publisher of Cumec Magazine.

2011 Cumec Magazine Paddle-Sports Awards - Online Voting

Over the last fortnight we've received numerous nominations for our first ever awards programmes. We've pooled together the nominations and created entry fields for all the categories that will now be open for online voting.

All entries will be judged by a voting panel for a total of 50% of their score, the second 50% will be judged by the online votes received.

To complete the online-voting for our 2011 Paddle-Sports Awards please follow the link below:

2011 Cumec Magazine Paddle-Sports Awards - Online Voting

Cumec Xmas Special - Subscription and Calendar

We've teamed up with Barny & Jordy from www.gradientandwater.blogspot.com to offer this special Xmas package for the special paddler in your life. (Or for you if you feel like a treat).

Get a one year subscription to Cumec Magazine (in NZ)* and a 2011 Whitewater calendar for the great price of $35. We'll get the calendar out to you in time for Christmas (providing the posties are up to the task).

For direct credit purchases email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

*If you live in Australia, or anywhere else in the world send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll sort you out a deal too. Australian price for Xmas pack is $40, International $50. We can't guarantee delivery prior to Christmas for international orders.

Special Tribunals Report on the Nevis River.

The Ministry for the Environment (MAE) has today released the Special Tribunal's report on the application for an amendment to the Water Conservation 'Kawarau' Order 1997. 

The report outlines each of the major submitters and the cases they put forward. Changes in kayaking technology and paddler's skill-sets since the initial WCO was put in place were considered but deemed to be irrevelant, in reference to this the report states that "as well reasoned as that analysis may be, the major difficulty is that all of those features were known at the time of the original WCO and neither the changes in technology nor the upskilling of kayakers are factors of or directly related to the river itself."

Instead the saving grace for this amazing section of river is in fact the 'Smeagol' an informal name for a distinct species of small native fish that is officially described as Galaxias gollumoides. The tribunal acknowledge that this tiny fish hadn't been identified during the initial WCO hearings, and the species has since been identified as unique to the Nevis valley. Inundation of land through damming could potentially cause the extinction of the entire species, therefore placing the Gollum Galaxiid over the 'outstanding characteristics' threshold. 

The tribunal has therefore put forward to the Minister for the Environment that the existing WCO be amended to remove the provision for dams in relation to the outstanding value of the Gollum galaxiid. 

All submitters to the initial hearing now have a right to place a further submission with the enviroment court in regards to the report. The Minister for the Environment can then put the WCO forward to the Governor-General to be made an order in-council. 

To view the full report - Application to vary Water Conservation Order Kawarau 1997 Special Tribunal Report. 

A big thank you to everyone who submitted, presented and got involved with this process, a special mention to Glenn Murdoch, Maree Baker, Whitewater NZ, Wild Rivers, and NZ Fish & Game.