Council welcomes new lifejacket legislation

Waikato Regional Council welcomes the passing of the third reading of the Maritime Transport (Lifejackets on Recreational Craft) Amendment Bill in Parliament, which will introduce a national requirement for lifejackets to be worn on recreational vessels six metres or less while underway.

Regional Harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck says the legislation will bring national consistency to a safety rule that has been part of the Waikato Navigation Safety Bylaw for more than a decade.

“Having differing rules around the country creates confusion for boaties and enforcement challenges for our maritime officers,” says Mr Bredenbeck.

"About 30 per cent of the boaties using Waikato waters come from neighbouring regions, and we regularly hear people say they didn't know about the requirement because the rules are different where they came from.

“A national standard will make things clearer for boaties, improve compliance, and ultimately make our waterways safer.”

Waikato Regional Council was the first regional council in New Zealand to introduce a compulsory lifejacket-wearing rule for vessels six metres or less, adopting the requirement in its Navigation Safety Bylaw in 2013 and moving to enforcement several years later following an extensive education campaign.

“We've been leading the charge on this issue for years because the evidence is clear. The majority of boating drownings occur on smaller vessels, and requiring lifejackets to be worn is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives.”
The council has issued between 100 and 200 infringement notices annually in recent years, with a large proportion relating to lifejacket offences.

“Our experience over more than a decade of education and enforcement has helped inform this national process. We've provided advice and shared lessons learned from implementing the rule in Waikato, and we're pleased to see that experience reflected in the new legislation.”

Mr Bredenbeck emphasised that the new law does not change the requirements for larger vessels.

“For boats greater than six metres, the rules remain unchanged. There must still be enough lifejackets on board for everyone, which is already consistent with existing national requirements.”

The council will update its Navigation Safety Bylaw once the legislation comes into force to align with the new national requirements.

“We're pleased to see the rest of the country moving to a consistent approach that will help save lives.”

The Bill must now receive the Royal assent before it becomes law.  The law will apply to all people using paddleboards, jet skis, dinghies, trailer sailors and small motorboats.