Maritime NZ featured in the lead story on Seven Sharp on Wednesday, 4 February. The story examined the rapid emergence of new recreational water craft and the safety risks that can arise as technology and usage patterns evolve.
The segment focused on how innovative designs - particularly faster, quieter and more powerful craft - are changing the way New Zealanders interact on shared waterways, and why safety messaging must evolve alongside them.
Supported by wing foil instructor Simon Croft and eFoil expert Greg Wright, the story opened with a review of the technology, followed by on-water demonstrations.
Matt Wood, Maritime NZ's Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, was interviewed as part of the story, providing Maritime NZ's perspective on the practical risks associated with these new craft.
Matt highlighted that while innovation can deliver environmental and performance benefits, it can also introduce unfamiliar handling characteristics, higher speeds, and reduced visibility or audibility to other water users. These factors can increase the likelihood of incidents, particularly when operators are inexperienced or unaware of how their craft behaves in different conditions.
The story reinforced core safety messages: understanding your craft, wearing lifejackets, maintaining situational awareness, and respecting other users on busy waterways. With swimmers, paddleboarders, paddle craft and powered vessels often sharing the same spaces, the consequences of misjudgement or lack of knowledge can be serious.
The segment also emphasised that most incidents are preventable through preparation, education and responsible decision‑making.
Watch now (You need to log in to TVNZ)
