Submissions have re-opened on the Lifejackets for Children and Young Persons Bill, following Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee's decision to seek further public input on the proposed law change.
The draft legislation is a Member's Bill, in the name of Cameron Brewer, MP for Upper Harbour.
The select committee is now keen to explore expanding the scope of the bill. If changed, it would effectively mean mandatory life jackets for all Kiwis on recreational craft six metres or less, not just for children under the age of 15.
Strong feedback from water safety experts and submitters in recent months has prompted the committee to re-open submissions, which Parliament's Business Committee this week approved given it would be an out-of-scope amendment.
Mr Brewer welcomes the committee's move to allow further submissions to assess the public's appetite of widening the bill's scope. He says re-opening submissions is the right thing to do, as it would mark a significant change from his original bill's intent.
The Upper Harbour MP says he is reserving his judgement. Likewise, National's caucus will not form a position on a potential wider scope while the bill remains in select committee.
"I encourage individuals, water safety organisations, boating groups, and anyone interested in this issue to have their say - even if they'd submitted earlier. It's important we get the legislation right and strike the right balance," he says.
Mr Brewer says too many middle-aged men, in particular, continue to drown in tragedies involving small boats.
Statistics provided to the committee show that New Zealand averages 17 boating fatalities per year, with most deaths associated with people unexpectedly ending up in the water. The average age of these drowning victims is 50 years.
Public submissions on the proposed amendment are open for six weeks and close at 11.59pm on 15 April 2026. Submissions can be made directly to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee: Life Jackets for Children and Young Persons Bill - New Zealand Parliament
