Waikato plan to slug boaties

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Boaties in some of the most popular spots in the country may be forced to register their boats and face fines if they don't.

The measure being considered by Environment Waikato would cover the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, the Taupo area (but probably excluding Lake Taupo) and the King Country.

It would also apply to boat owners visiting the areas.

At the moment pleasure craft do not have to be registered.

Environment Waikato has included boat registration in its draft plan and is seeking public submissions.

The authority's navigation safety programme manager, David Pearks, said no decision would be made without consulting the public.

Environment Waikato is believed to be the only regional authority considering boat registration.

Mr Pearks said the registration fee - likely to be around $60 - would fund navigational safety in the area.

The 14,000 or so boat owners in the Waikato would bring in about $840,000 a year.

He said it was likely registration would only apply to motor and sail boats of a certain size and would not include craft such as kayaks.

Owners who did not register could be fined around $100.

The measure would cover all waterways, including the coastline.

Among the benefits, he said, were that people flouting rules could be easily identified, stolen boats could be traced, and boat owners could be educated about water safety.

The fee could also contribute to non-profit organisations such as Water Safety NZ and the Coastguard.

Those who opposed registration saw it as a fund-raising tool with no safety benefits.

In 1999, the Maritime Safety Authority's research indicated that boat registration would not prevent accidents.

"And the coast has been seen as the last area where there is no bureaucracy, where you can go and do what you want without people stopping you doing it," said Mr Pearks.

"So from that point of view I would imagine there would be concerns."

The editor of Fishing Coast to Coast magazine, Michael Rendle, said he was disappointed Environment Waikato was even considering it.

"I would think a piecemeal attack on the situation by someone like them would be the last thing we need. I think if it's going to happen it needs to happen on a national basis and put together and planned out properly."

Hamilton boat owner Jeff Hancock agreed it would have to be nationwide to work.

"Just having one region doing it smacks of bureaucracy. People are getting a bit cheesed off by the increased bureaucracy and interference by Environment Waikato."

There is also debate over whether Environment Waikato has the authority to introduce boat registration under the Local Government Act.