Water safety message getting through

Boat owners are being reminded to take precautions on Rotorua lakes. Photo / File

Local boaties are being given safety messages on the water in a hope this summer will be fatality-free.

Rotorua Lakes Coastguard president Barry Grouby said the volunteer organisation spent the long weekend on Lake Tarawera and Lake Rotoiti promoting its VHF channel 81.

"A lot of people were from out-of-town and didn't know what the channel was out there to get help," Mr Grouby said.

"A lot of Rotorua people that we saw didn't have a radio, they think because they're on a lake they didn't need one but things can change quickly in seconds. They wouldn't know what to do, who to call.

"We are saying this channel is a faster avenue to get help. It is monitored 24/7. People can ring 111 who will contact the Coastguard but with channel 81 you are missing out a whole lot of middle people."

Mr Grouby said they were also encouraging people to join the Coastguard and be entitled to a free tow and rescue callout if needed. Non-members will be charged if needing a tow or callout by the Coastguard.

Meanwhile senior maritime officer for Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Ross Powell said the fishing season had started well judging from recent checks on the water.

At Lake Tarawera boats had more than enough lifejackets, of the correct size, for everyone on board, he said. A visit to Lake Rotoiti found only one vessel without the full set of navigation lights.

"It's a real indication that some of the messages around boat safety are finally getting through," Mr Powell said.

"Although there are always those people that will require a bit more encouragement than others to follow the navigation safety rules, it was such a great result to us."

Mr Powell has been in his role for the last five years and said there were still a number of bad behaviour trends increasing.

"The number of people we've seen towing skiers or people on biscuits without having an observer on board is definitely not a good thing and something we'll be enforcing this summer," he said.