Maritime NZ has today announced a significant funding boost for initiatives around the country that form part of the safer boating campaign.
In total, more than 740 thousand dollars will be distributed to 21 safer boating initiatives with the aim of reducing recreational boating fatalities and injuries over the next year.
Maritime NZ Director Kirstie Hewlett said each year there are far too many preventable deaths on the water and the grants provide crucial funding for organisations involved in improving safety outcomes.
"Making life safer for all recreational boaties is the central focus of the safer boating campaign, and the grants will go a long way toward achieving this.
"It is particularly noteworthy that the funding is drawn from the Fuel Excise Duty (FED) on petrol, reflecting that boaties contribute to the fund through their own activities."
Specific initiatives include programmes to upgrade lifejacket stocks, focus on skipper responsibility, safety training for kayakers, paddle boarders and waka ama paddlers, diver supervision, yachting training for children and a drowning prevention programme specifically targeted at the Pacific Island community.
Ms Hewlett said nearly 10% of the funding - $70,000 - is being allocated to the on-water No Excuses campaign.
"This campaign, with 14 participating district and regional councils, sees harbourmasters from across New Zealand joining forces with Maritime NZ staff to check boaties' compliance with the boat code safety rules and local bylaws, including lifejacket wearing and safe speed."
The amounts allocated range from $5,500 for the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) to $80,000 for Coastguard, a campaign offering heavily discounted lifejackets and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) to those who upgrade their old or damaged lifejackets or PFDs across New Zealand.
The Safer Boating campaign is a collaboration between Maritime NZ and the Safer Boating Forum which is made up of 24 member organisations with an interest in reducing injuries and fatalities on the water.
Grant Summaries
| Council / Organisation | Programme | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 14 participants: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Buller District Council Environment Canterbury Environment Southland Gisborne District Council Greater Wellington Regional Council Hawkes Bay Regional Council Marlborough District Council Northland Regional Council Otago Regional Council Queenstown Lakes District Council Taranaki Regional Council Tasman District Council Waikato Regional Council |
'No Excuses' on water campaign On-water campaign targeting high-risk factors in recreational boating fatalities, in particular lifejacket wearing and safe speed |
$70,000 |
