Hawke's Bay Coastguard president Henry van Tuel has been watching over local waters for the past six years. He talks to about staying safe this summer.
1 Do you have some tips for people heading out on the water this summer?
"I would say there are probably two or three things, first is always wear a life jacket and make sure it's properly fitted, some people put adult-sized lifejackets on children and they can float up; always check the weather forecast before you head out, and the other one is to make sure your boat is properly maintained."
2 What are the most frequent mistakes people make?
"This one relates to kayackers and canoeists who set out when there's an offshore wind and underestimate their ability to paddle back to shore; [for boaties] poor maintenance and running out of fuel."