A stricter Bay of Plenty lifejacket rule is awaiting Ministry of Transport approval. Photo / Maritime NZ
A new Bay of Plenty lifejacket rule expected to be in effect by mid-2025 has been put on hold.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council decided to make wearing lifejackets mandatory when a vessel is underway in its 2024 Navigational Safety Bylaw review.
It would do this by changing a rule that allowed skippers aged 15 and older of a recreational boat under 6m to decide whether passengers could remove their lifejackets while moving.
The new bylaw was signed off by the council in September 2024 and it said in a media release it should be in place by mid-2025.
As of last month, it had not yet taken effect, as it was awaiting approval by the Ministry of Transport.
A Ministry of Transport spokesperson told Local Democracy Reporting it had been working with the council to implement new navigation safety regulations.
These would specify breaches of the council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw 2024 that would be infringement offences under the Maritime Transport Act 1994, and the fines that would apply.
The spokesperson said the council asked the ministry to put the process on hold last year.
Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters said the council had been in ongoing discussions with the ministry about bylaw matters unrelated to the lifejacket rule.
“As a result, we have requested to put the introduction of the new regulations on hold.
“This doesn’t negate the importance of lifejackets, and we will continue to enforce the 2017 bylaw to help ensure people remain safe on the water.”
According to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website, in the Bay of Plenty:
Coastguard Tauranga president Todd Wakerley said that with more boats and people out over summer, including first-timers, the chances of something going wrong increased.
Being prepared and looking out for each other was crucial.
“With so many people sharing the water, keep an eye out for swimmers, paddlers, and other boaties. A bit of courtesy goes a long way.”
Wakerley said wearing a lifejacket was the most important thing.
“Having it on board isn’t enough. Everyone on board should be wearing one at all times.”
In 2024, 15 out of 17 boating fatalities involved people who were not wearing lifejackets.
“That stat says it all.”
“We strongly support making lifejackets mandatory for all watercraft 6m and under when underway. And it’s not just about wearing one – it needs to fit properly and suit the activity you’re doing.”
Wakerley said sometimes help could be over 45 minutes away.
“A lifejacket gives you time.”
He said lifejackets kept you afloat, visible and gave rescuers a fighting chance to reach you in time.
Wakerley said even strong swimmers could get into serious trouble.
“Cold water shock, fatigue or injury can make it impossible to stay afloat … it’s not worth the risk.”
He said research showed adults often overestimated their swimming and floating ability, especially in open water.
One New Zealand study found 71% of adults thought they could float for more than five minutes – but 98% could not.
While many believed they could swim more than 100m, only 6% managed that in a pool, and just 2% in open water.
None could swim 200m, yet nearly a third still thought they could after the test.
Before heading out, Wakerley urged boaties to check the weather, tides, log their trip and ensure their boat, engine and safety gear were in good working order.
This was especially true if the boat had been in storage.
“Mechanical issues, expired safety gear, or old fuel can quickly turn a day on the water into a call for help.”
Wakerley said a common boatie mistake was underestimating how much fuel they would use.
If the weather turned, there was extra weight on board, or they travelled further than planned, fuel use could increase significantly.
Wakerley recommended the “one-third” method – one-third for the trip out, one-third for the trip back, and one-third as a buffer for the unexpected.
If heading somewhere new, Wakerley recommended learning about local hazards such as bar crossings, tides and navigation markers. Understanding the forecast and your limits was also vital.
“When something goes wrong, it can happen fast. If everyone on board knows how to use the safety gear, how to call for help and what the plan is, it can make all the difference.”
Vessels should have at least two waterproof ways to call for help – such as a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof case and a VHF radio.
For non-urgent assistance, boaties could contact Coastguard via VHF Channel 16 or by calling *500 from a mobile. In a life-threatening emergency, they should dial 111 and ask for police.
“Stay calm and stay with your boat. It’s much easier for rescuers to find a vessel than a person in the water.
“Make sure everyone’s wearing their lifejacket, activate your Epirb or PLB if you have one, and stay together, knowing help is on the way.”
Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Communications and Politics & International Relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.