Ngāruawāhia locals say it used to be safe to jump into the Waikato River from a rail bridge but not anymore.

At least 100 residents met with Waikato District Council and KiwiRail representatives at a community meeting last night.

It followed the death of an 11-year-old girl on the bridge in March.

Community Board chair James Whetu told Mike Hosking they need to stop the tradition of jumping off the bridge.

"Our engagement as a community with the river has always been there and obviously over generations the level of risk taking has become a bit unmanageable for us."

LISTEN ABOVE AS AS JAMES WHETU SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING