6 Mar 2013

BBC to film speeding car on 90 Mile Beach

8:14 pm on 6 March 2013

A BBC television programme has secured consent from the Far North District Council to film a supersonic car speeding along a part of 90 Mile Beach.

The council understands popular the motoring show Top Gear is due in Northland from 11 March.

The BBC has asked for part of the beach, also known as Te Oneroa-a-Tohe, to be shut at some stage over a six-day period to give film crews flexibility in case of bad weather.

The council says there are plans to restrict access to the beach when the speeding car is being filmed which would only be for about 45 minutes.

Council officials have spoken to the chair of what they call the principal iwi in the area, Ngati Kuri.

The Maori tribe told the council it has no objections to the request.

Tour buses which use the beach have been notified.

However, the council has received complaints from some local people who are against filming consent being granted.