New boating rules announced for Bay of Plenty

Hunters Creek is a popular area for skiiing, but that could change with new rules introduced by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Photo/file

New rules affecting jet skis, water skiiers and boaties on Tauranga waters have been made, and will come into force before next summer.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council adopted the new Navigation Safety Bylaw at their first meeting of 2017 this week, which include several changes to the current rules.

The amended clauses that will come into effect on 1 July 2017 include:

•The mandatory wearing of lifejackets on vessels 6m and under unless the skipper has assessed the risk and advised it is safe to not wear them.
•Personal water craft (jet skis) using Bay of Plenty waterways will need to be registered.
•For safety reasons, the Hunters Creek ski area will be closed to ski traffic two hours either side of low tide.
•Boaties will not be permitted to anchor in the same area of Tauranga Harbour for more than 14 consecutive days.
•Boaties will not be permitted to secure their boat to a mooring without permission of the owner.

Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Peter Buell said if someone was a sensible skipper who made considered decisions, knew the laws (both nationally and locally) and generally behaved on the water then it was business as usual.

"It's been a lengthy review process but it was important that we got the best bylaw for the community," he said.

"This week councillors adopted the independent commissioners report and recommendations and we will now work with all water users to raise awareness of the changes. We want to extend a huge mihi to those who have engaged with us throughout this process ," Mr Buell said.