Release-Request to save lives
• Water Safety New Zealand is calling on the government to make urgent changes to
regulations requiring everyone on small boats to wear a life jacket.
• Water Safety New Zealand have directly requested these life-saving changes to
the minister of transport Hon. Michael Wood multiple times in the last 6 months.
• Since Water Safety New Zealand last contacted the minister in August there have
been another 16 drownings. 10 of these occurred on boats and may have been
prevented by wearing a lifejacket.
Urgent Changes Needed
“So, how much longer do New Zealanders have to wait, and how many more lives must be lost before we can all agree to affect this important change?
Water Safety New Zealand are asking all media outlets to please put your collective
weight behind our life-saving request to the Government to make urgent changes to
regulations requiring everyone on boats under 6m to wear a lifejacket.
Current legislation only requires the skipper of the boat to have correctly fitting
lifejackets on board. This simply is not adequate and is responsible for more New
Zealanders losing their lives unnecessarily.
Our CEO Daniel Gerrard has once again written to the minister requesting these urgent
changes and we need your help to put pressure on the government to save lives.
“Summer 2022 is now upon us, and since I last wrote to you there have been 16 drownings. 10 of these occurred on boats and may have been prevented by wearing a lifejacket. Such tragedies could be avoided if you and your fellow Ministers agree to introduce the legislation that all persons on recreational vessels of six metres or less in length be required to always wear personal flotation.”
More New Zealanders Will Die
The NZ Coastal & Water Safety survey (2022) affirmed the overwhelming support of
the public (93% agree) and boat owners (90% agree) alike, that wearing a lifejacket
should be universally mandated. Yet we continue to lack Parliamentary support, to
resolve the inconsistency in lifejacket regulations.
So, how much longer do New Zealanders have to wait, and how many more lives must
be lost before we can all agree to affect this important change?
Water Safety New Zealand would be immensely grateful for your support and Daniel
Gerrard can be contacted for comments, interviews and media engagements directly
at daniel@watersafety.org.nz or at 027 478 1836.