By David

For readers outside New Zealand I should explain that the term tangata whenua is a Māori term for the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and literally means “people of the land”. In the context of tribal descent and ownership of land, tangata whenua are the people who descend from the first people to settle the land of a district.

And with that clarification back to swimming. This week the National Age Group Championships have been held in the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. That’s the pool where Swimming New Zealand defended their practice of having swimmers start by diving into illegally shallow water. After I protested and FINA confirmed the validity of the protest, Swimming New Zealand changed their mind and began to start races at the other, deep end of the pool. Or did they? More of that later.

There are always interesting stories that come out of a meet like this. I wasn’t in Wellington. I’m no great fan of the Age Group Nationals and agreed with the American decision not to have a similar national event. And as if the Age Group nationals were not bad enough the Swimming New Zealand decision to ask many age group swimmers to peak at the Commonwealth Games trials and then hold on for another month to swim in Wellington is stupid and dangerous. I’m told the decision to put the Age Group Meet after the Open Championships was made by Luis Villenueva. One can only hope that his next decision is a better one.

Probably the most amazing 2014 Age Group story was relayed to me this afternoon. The proud, Maori parents of one of the competitors could hardly live further away from Wellington. Their home is in a tiny village at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach. In 2006 the population was 1,125; up from 84 in 2001. On Monday night the swimmer’s father decided that he just had to see his son swim. Throwing caution to the wind, he climbed into his car and set off on, what Google tells me, is an 11 hours and 46 minutes, 976 kilometer journey. Now for our American readers I must explain that this 1000 kilometer drive is no easy stroll along the I80 from New York to Chicago. This is single lane. This is ten thousand twists and turns. This is a night spend facing the glare of oncoming headlights.

Seven hours later he was in Taupo and stopped for a middle of the night snack. Finally and a further four hours later he arrived at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. And Swimming New Zealand wouldn’t let him in. They said it was a fire regulation. They said the pool was full to its licensed capacity. The father pleaded to be let in. He explained he had driven through the night; had filled the car with gas twice just to see his son swim in the New Zealand Age Group Championships. Could he please go in; just for ten minutes?

But, according to Swimming New Zealand, the rules are the rules. No exceptions. The conversation had just reached this impasse when a friend of mine, who knows the Northland father, appeared at the entrance desk. My friend is well known in Wellington. Perhaps he could persuade Swimming New Zealand to let a father see his son swim. But alas no. This was not a matter to be taken lightly – the rule of law cannot be compromised.

Finally, in desperation, my friend resorted to the national conscience. “Were,” he asked, “Swimming New Zealand aware that this man’s ancestors were the tangata whenua and owned Kilbirnie Green long before the pool was built.”

Momentarily, I am told, that argument stopped the debate. But soon Swimming New Zealand was restored to their most difficult best. Not even the tangata whenua would be allowed in on this occasion. And so at the end of 976 kilometers, eleven hours, two tanks of gas and a midnight meal in Taupo a proud father sat in the pool car park while his son swam in Swimming New Zealand’s Age Group Championships.

Now, there are several aspects of this story that interest me. First of all, I love the tangata whenua argument. That’s Maori humor at its best. I’d have let the father through simply on the merits of the claim.

Second and far more seriously, given the huge injustice of making this father sit in the car park why couldn’t the Pool Manager or a couple of his staff or Layton or Renford or Villenueva or some of their other hangers on go and inspect the togs in the SwimT3 shop and make space for the father. I guess they are too important for that.

Third, why couldn’t the reception staff sell the father a single visit gym membership? I understand patrons were still being allowed into the gym from where they could watch the racing. After a full night on the road, I’m sure the twelve dollars would not have been a problem.

I understand the importance of fire regulations and building capacity numbers. In this case the rule of law is imperative. But what I don’t understand is the manner in which Swimming New Zealand pick and choose the laws that matter. For twenty five years they ordered the nation’s children to dive into an illegally shallow pool. They branded me a trouble maker for bringing the danger to their attention. And at this meet Swimming New Zealand persist in defying my protest and the world governing body’s instruction by demanding swimmers dive into the shallow end of the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. Every 4×50 meter relay involves twenty swimmers in each race starting their sprint from the shallow end of the pool. It’s only six months ago that a Raumati swimmer lost her front teeth diving into their precious pool. What’s happened in every relay in Wellington this week is negligence beyond belief.

And so, while I accept the need to enforce capacity rules, I do not understand why a special accommodation could not have been made in the case of the Northland parent. There were plenty of options available. Just as difficult to understand is the concern Swimming New Zealand show for capacity rules while they continue to dig their toes in over a seriously dangerous pool. Picking and choosing which safety rules matter; which ones will be enforced just makes the organization look hypocritical beyond belief. Perhaps because they are hypocritical beyond belief.