The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is employing volunteer river wardens to patrol the Wairoa River next summer.

The wardens' focus is to be on speed and obedience of the five knot rule.

This decision follows a public meeting held at Wairoa Marae where Ngati Kahu iwi expressed to council staff the need to monitor speeds of powerful watercraft, waterskiers and jet skis.

Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Carl Magazinovic says speed is a concern on the river.

'A five knot rule is in place for the entire length of the Wairoa River for all areas within 200 metres of the bank,” says Carl.

'In no areas has this limit been lifted on the Wairoa River, for any reason.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council group manager of environmental hazards Ken Tarboton says the council would implement a system of river wardens and focus on ensuring better enforcement of the five knot rule on the Wairoa River.

'Several of those present at the meeting volunteered to act as wardens,” says Ken.

'We'll carry out training during the next few months and we plan to have wardens in place before the busy summer season.

'Another area we'll be looking at is installing signs showing what the Navigation and Safety Bylaws are.

'We're committed to providing better signs along the river before summer.”