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Anyone using a jetski in Northland waters from the start of November must have it registered with a regional council in Auckland, Northland or Waikato.
A local authority crackdown this summer aims to avoid repeat bad behaviour by some jetskiers who breach five-knot speed limits within 200 metres of a shore, or pass too close to other craft or people in the water.
Northland Regional Council regional harbourmaster Ian Niblock says the size of Northland's coastline and the seasonal influx of yachties and other seaside holidaymakers mean the risk of harm from jetskis can increase dramatically over summer months.
Although registration of "personal water craft" (jetskis) has been compulsory in Northland under regional council bylaws for several years, the focus has been on educating users to improve their behaviour instead of enforcing registration rules.
Now, under an updated Navigation Safety bylaw effective from November 1 and spurred by increasing problems with jetskiers during warmer months and holidays, Mr Niblock says the council intends to start enforcing the registration.
It aims to have all jetskis used in Northland registered by January 1 to make users who breach bylaws easier to identify.
It has a new arrangement with the Auckland Regional Council under which the Auckland council maintains a single register of jetskis used in Auckland, Northland and Waikato.
Registration costs $35 (including GST) and forms are available from any of the three councils or their websites.
A single registration with any one council is valid in all three regions.
Owners must clearly display their allocated registration number on the side of their jetski, either through a set of stickers costing an extra $12.50 or by signwriting the number on the machine where it can be clearly seen.
From New Year's Day, users found to be breaking registration or other jetski bylaws risk instant fines of up to $200 or prosecution under the Maritime Transport Act.
