Elected Northland regional council members could soon be tapping boaties on the shoulder and enforcing the rules when they see harbour bylaws being broken.
At the monthly Northland Regional Council meeting, the subject of renewing 18 honorary wardens for Northland's harbours led to Cr Dover Samuels calling for himself and other councillors whose wards include harbours to also be on the list. "I want some authority when I see boaties not complying with our bylaws to go up and tell them to stop doing that," Cr Samuels said.
His suggestion led to discussion about whether there was anything in the rules stopping councillors from having honorary warden status and whether it blurred the lines between the council's governance and management - or staff - roles.
Chief executive officer Malcolm Nicolson is to ask the Northland harbourmaster to check the legalities and practicalities of including some councillors on the list of the 18 people whose warrants are due for renewal.
The network of honorary wardens are the council's eyes and ears in the absence of council staff and regularly assist with maritime incidents.
