NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Aucklander

Reminder to stay safe on the water

The Aucklander
17 Dec, 2020 04:32 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Police have reminded people to stay safe out on the water over this holiday season.

Police have reminded people to stay safe out on the water over this holiday season.

Police have reminded people to stay safe out on the water over the holiday season.

Water safety is so important and some simple common sense checks can prevent needless tragedies," says Officer in Charge of the Maritime Unit Wellington, Senior Sergeant Dave Houston.

Maritime New Zealand says, "with around 20 recreational boating fatalities occurring on average every year, and tragically 14 already this year, it's more important than ever that people are prepared before going out on the water.

"No matter what type of craft you're using, you should always follow the Boating Safety Code," says Maritime's Baz Kirk.

"Everyone on the water needs a plan for how they are going to stay safe in case things go wrong.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It's vital you prep your craft and equipment, check your gear to make sure it's safe and fit for purpose and know your responsibilities for keeping yourself and others safe."

Key tips for boating safely:

  • Always wear a life jacket when boating and jet skiing or using any other craft on the water
  • Have two forms of waterproof communication on board, such as mobile phone or marine radio
  • Make sure your equipment is safe and working
  • Check the marine weather forecast https://www.metservice.com/marine/recreational
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Know the rules for the area you're in
  • Be familiar with navigational hazards in your area

Senior Sergeant Houston agrees "We also want to remind all boaties to be careful crossing the bar in any conditions at sea.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They can become unstuck while crossing the bar, tipping them out into the water.

Some get into trouble at low tide and others at high tide.

Regardless of the time of the year, the weather can change in an instant and make crossing difficult at high or low tide," he says.

Because bar crossings can be dangerous, it's important to have the right local knowledge and skills before going out."

Set the bar high on safety this summer:

  • Before leaving the harbour, a skipper must assess the conditions on the bar
  • Study the nature of the seas to find the best route to take.
  • The best time to cross a bar is at high water.
  • Avoid crossing when the tide is going out
  • Wait until the conditions are suitable before you cross.
  • Alternatively, choose a less dangerous place if possible
  • Secure all movable objects in the boat and ensure that the weight, including your passenger load, is low.
  • Check that your engine and steering are performing correctly.
  • Warm up the motor and secure all hatches
  • Make sure you and all your passengers are wearing life jackets. It is the skipper's legal responsibility to ensure that lifejackets are worn in situations of heightened risk, such as when crossing a bar
  • Leave trip intentions and plans with someone on shore
  • Skippers must be aware that a rapid change in conditions might prevent a safe return to harbour
  • Those vessels leaving for longer trips should ensure they have adequate reserve fuel and provisions to enable the vessel to remain at sea and/or divert to another port should the adverse conditions continue
  • Ensure that your vessel has sufficient stability
  • Put in a call on your VHF radio to the local Coastguard or Maritime Radio immediately before and after crossing the bar.
  • If in doubt, don't go out

All vessels must be in a stable condition – check out the factors that determine stability

  • the free surface effect of liquids and loose fish
  • additional weights on deck, including portable ice bins and fuel containers
  • the loss of stability that occurs if deck is enclosed or bins fill with water
  • modifications to a vessel may be detrimental to its stability
  • the movements of weights within a vessel including people

Swimming? Keep an eye on your kids and others

Rivers are changeable and unpredictable and can contain hidden dangers.

Check for hidden objects in swimming holes, such as logs.

Water can change in depth each summer and currents can move objects underwater, so please look before you leap. Water Safety New Zealand spokesperson, Ben Christie says "More New Zealanders have drowned in rivers than at beaches since records began.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They are not patrolled and the water can be deceptively calm.

Never go in alone and get local knowledge about the risks. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their safety this summer and remember the Water Safety Code: Be prepared, look out for yourself and each other, be aware of the dangers and know your limits." If you are going swimming in or near a dam, it's important to note that water levels and flows can change significantly throughout the day and massive flows may be released at any time. River banks can become unstable during flood and after heavy rain, so know your area well – including staying well clear of a river in flood. If swimming at the beach, swim between the flags, they are there to keep you safe and watch out for rips in the water," he says.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Aucklander

Aucklander

'He's done it again': Anger as crash victims learn driver has now killed another person

07 Sep 10:00 PM
Aucklander

What have we learned from the Auckland floods?

27 Jan 04:00 PM
Aucklander

Free Starlink for 40 rural schools

20 Sep 01:24 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Aucklander

'He's done it again': Anger as crash victims learn driver has now killed another person

'He's done it again': Anger as crash victims learn driver has now killed another person

07 Sep 10:00 PM

1982 crash victim's sister: “It’s just like, ‘you bastard, you brought it all up again’.

What have we learned from the Auckland floods?

What have we learned from the Auckland floods?

27 Jan 04:00 PM
Free Starlink for 40 rural schools

Free Starlink for 40 rural schools

20 Sep 01:24 AM
‘Slap in the face’: Auckland flood relief fund $16m short

‘Slap in the face’: Auckland flood relief fund $16m short

25 Jul 06:30 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP