“This is the second year of the Tairāwhiti Haumaru Moana programme and it got off to a great start last year.
“In the programme we engage with boat owners, provide safe boating information, do lifejacket tests, and discuss any issues they’re having,” Mr Buell said.
“If there’s anything they need to know in terms of boating regulations, we are happy to oblige.
“We also loan lifejackets out to boat owners we encounter who don’t have them, don’t have enough, or who don’t have jackets that fit properly.”
In 2022 there were 17 deaths across New Zealand, spread across 16 incidents, related to recreational craft.
“The number of fatalities has remained relatively consistent over the last decade, despite significant efforts from recreational craft safety-focused organisations,” said Maritime NZ director Kirstie Hewlett.
“These fatalities and the substantial number of preventable harm incidents are of significant concern for us and the rest of Maritime NZ.
“With nearly 2 million people in New Zealand undertaking activities on the water, we know it is very important to get the right safety messages out to a wide range of people, from different backgrounds, all over Aotearoa.
“At Maritime NZ, we will be looking for opportunities to promote the work of other organisations to reduce harm, and are keen to see collaborative approaches to safety across the sector.
“No one organisation has the answer or the ability to reach everyone. This is why it is important to work together to increase water users’ knowledge on how to be safe on the water, and ultimately bring down instances of harm.”
Ms Hewlett said a key part of the funding allocation decision was looking at how to reach at-risk groups.
“There are several initiatives that are targeted to supporting different ethnic groups, including Pasifika, Asian and Māori communities.
“Across New Zealand, we know there are differing levels of safety knowledge, safety equipment owned by water users, and language barriers for some communities.
“It is hugely important we keep up our previous momentum with supporting these communities and have them prioritising safety.
“Everyone should go home safely from a day out on the water.
“It is vital water users understand the rules and know how to keep themselves safe,” Ms Hewlett said.
The funding is split across local and national initiatives, with recipients located all around New Zealand.
Among the initiatives that have secured funding are Coastguard’s Old4New lifejacket upgrade programme, which includes “second-life” lifejackets and received $100,000; Northland Regional Council’s Nobody’s Stronger Than Tangaroa campaign, which received $85,000; and $70,000 for Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Kia marutau ki te wai and Safety is Our Wai scheme.
“A key purpose of the fund is to support campaigns and collaboration led by the members of New Zealand’s Safer Boating Forum, a coalition of organisations dedicated to improving safety in the recreational boating sector,” she said.
■ All of Maritime New Zealand’s recreational boating work is funded through fuel excise duty on petrol (about $5.4 million a year). This is from contributions to the tax boaties make when refuelling their boats. A portion of this funding is used to support the community grants programme.
Maritime NZ also provides funding to a range of councils around the country to support on-water compliance.
