Girl's death sparks rethink of boating laws

Genevieve Lewis. Photo / Supplied

A coroner is considering whether to back calls for tougher boating laws in the wake of a horror death on Lake Taupo.

Nine-year-old Genevieve Lewis died after being hit by a boat in January last year. The driver of the boat, John James Curtis, a 34-year-old Wellington real estate agent, was convicted of operating a boat in a manner which caused unnecessary danger or risk. He was fined $3000 and ordered to pay $20,000 reparation.

Genevieve's family, who watched as she was hit by the boat as she bobbed in the water while waterskiing, called for tougher laws at the inquest in front of Dr Wallace Bain in Taupo on Friday.

Guy and Rose Lewis said changes were needed to prevent future injury or death on the water.

A spokesman for the Lewis family read a statement to the court: "A $3000 fine is not enough for killing someone when not following the rules."

"If [Curtis] had been following Maritime New Zealand's rules, Genevieve would still be with us today."

He said Curtis would have been more harshly treated had he killed Genevieve on the road while driving.

"The charge and sentence received by the offender in this case have let our daughter, us [the family] and the community down. People need to be held more accountable when they kill someone by not operating their boat in a safe manner and within the rules. There needs to be a greater deterrent to dangerous driving."

Police supported the statement, police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Robertson telling the coroner there was a disparity between maritime laws and other legislation.

Dr Bain agreed, saying the road laws and maritime laws were "light years apart".

The Lewis family also called for boat registration, higher profile signage and education at boat ramps, instant fines and/or boat confiscation, use of flags by boats with people in the water, and extension of the current 50m distance limit between boats to 100m.

Dr Bain reserved his decision, saying he needed time to reflect on the matter, checking more evidence and discussing what recommendations Maritime NZ had.