Anyone using a jet ski in Northland waters must ensure it is registered by November 1 as local authorities crack down on bad behaviour by users. Ian Niblock, the Northland Regional Council's Regional Harbourmaster, says registration of personal water craft (jet skis) has been compulsory under the NRC's bylaws for severalyears. Until recently NRC has preferred to focus on education to improve jet ski users' behaviour, rather than simply enforcing registration rules. However, increasing numbers of problems with jet ski users, especially during the warmer months and holiday periods, have been occurring. Last summer Northland dealt with issues over and complaints about unregistered jet skis around Northland's coast, mainly relating to breaches of the five-knot speed limit within 200m of shore, or 50m of another vessel, craft or person. Under a new arrangement with the Auckland Regional Council the Auckland council will maintain a single register of jet skis used in the Auckland, Northland and Waikato regions. As well as allowing authorities to locate the owners/users of machines seen breaking bylaws, registration can also be a useful way of identifying jet skis if they are stolen. Registration costs $35 (including GST) and involves completing a form available from the councils or their websites. The address for the form on the Northland Regional Council's website is www.nrc.govt.nz/jetski . Mr Niblock says a single registration is valid for all three regions and jetski owners must clearly display the registration number allocated to them on the side of their machine. From New Year's Day people flouting the bylaws risk instant fines of up to $200 or prosecution under the Maritime Transport Act.
