The Kaituna River Jet has been given council consent to continue high speed rides on the mid-section of the river, but under conditions not quite pleasing the company.

Aerius Limited, trading as Kaituna River Jet, applied to Bay of Plenty Regional Council in 2013 to remove the 5knot speed limit on the section of the river above the Mangorewa confluence.

Kaituna River Jet has had its application to lift speed restrictions of 5knots on the river above the Mangorewa granted. Photo: Kaituna River Jet.

The application was opposed by some residents along the river, who argue the jet boating activity causes river bank erosion and is a safety risk for other river users.

Council undertook a number of investigations to assess the impact jet boating operations have on the river bank's erosion. It found that while jet boating was contributing to erosion, it was not considered to be the major cause.

A panel of commissioners heard public submissions for and against the application and concluded that granting the speed uplifting would not unacceptably increase the risk to navigation safety, or endanger persons using the water, which is the test required by legislation.

BOP Regional Council today announced it has granted the resource consent application to lift speed restrictions from the confluence of the Mangorewa River to the first set of rapids 12.5km upstream, subject to conditions.

The speed limit removal applies only to commercial operators, provided they hold a resource consent from Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and only between 9am and 5pm.

The five knot still applies 50 metres either side of the Maungarangi Road bridge where people swim, and on the first Sunday of each month to allow others to use the river without the jet boat operating, says council.

Regional Council Maritime Operations Manager Reuben Fraser says the decision was a compromise to allow the jet boat to continue to operate, but with conditions to make the river available for other people to use more safely.

'The river is available for public use at all times, but people should be aware of the area and times the jet boat operates and make contact with the operator before entering that stretch of river,” he said.

Kaituna Jet Boat manager Dave Rayner says the company is disappointed with the restrictions that come with the decision, particularly the prohibition of use on the first Sunday of every month.

'It impacts greatly on our business due to the hours we are restricted to and not being able to run on the first Sunday.

'If we have a cruise ship in port on Sundays and we can't offer them the service they will take their business somewhere else.”

Dave says cruise ship passengers that dock at the Port of Tauranga make up 90 per cent of the river jet's business and not operating on the first Sunday will have a major impact on weekend patronage.

Commercial jet boating has been a point of contention with landowners, and the focus of numerous investigations and reports since jet boating began in the 1980s.