On State Highway 2, nearly home to Katikati, on January 3 I witnessed the most cheeky, foolish act of highway antics I've ever seen in New Zealand.

Coming round a sharp bend our vehicle nearly hit a man roller ski-ing in the middle of the southbound lane during one of the most busiest periods of the year for traffic.

I've since read 28-year-old Venezuelan cross-country skier Cesar Baena is trying to break the record for the longest journey on roller skis by travelling NZ's busiest highways 3000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

And right in the middle of the summer break, when NZ's road toll hit 17 – more than double last year's tally.

I have to ask how can some tourist record-breaker hold our state highways to ransom for up to eight hours a day, for 40 days?

These roads are busy and dangerous enough at this time of year without adding a roller skier to the mix.

Surely the police would agree this a selfish and dangerous act, putting more traffic and lives at risk, trying to manoeuvre around in him?

There's seem to be an exemption for tourists using our roads dangerously – just look at the guy who escaped a fine while driving his car with a kayak lying sideways across the roof because Police thought he was Irish. Waikato Police have since apologised.
But as I've said before: it shouldn't matter where you come from – if you're acting dangerously on the roads you should be pinged or removed.

K Morland, Katikati.