Ice danger: Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black

Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black is warning people not to venture onto frozen waterways.

“Ice has affected some areas of our lakes and there are also a number of frozen over ponds around the district,” Black says.

“We’ve had a number of reports of children and adults walking and playing on the ice and while it looks like fun, it is actually extremely dangerous.”

Black says while ice could look thick enough to hold a lot of weight that might not be the actual case.

Changeable weather conditions could also mean sudden thaws causing the ice to weaken quickly.

Mr Black advises extreme caution and urges parents not to let their children play near or on frozen waterways without supervision.