Attention: Lifejackets
Boaties across the harbour and beyond are being reminded to check the rules before heading out on the water this summer. Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw 2024 has come into force on 1 October.
What has changed? The most significant change requires everyone onboard a vessel under six metres in length to wear a lifejacket while the vessel is underway.
The new rule applies to any type of recreational craft, including kayaks, paddleboards (SUPs), dinghies and jet skis, and is consistent with the new national lifejacket rule that has come into force on 9 October.
Prior to the law change lifejackets had to be worn on any recreational craft, regardless of size, at times of heightened risk and by a person being towed (for example, someone water skiing or wakeboarding). These requirements will continue to apply.
Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters says lifejackets are one of the simplest and most effective safety measures people can take. “Lifejackets save lives. In 2025, 17 people died in recreational craft incidents on New Zealand waters. Sadly, 12 of those people were not wearing a lifejacket”. “Wearing a lifejacket is the simplest way to give you the best chance of survival if the unexpected happens on the water. We want people to enjoy our waterways, but we also want them to come home safely at the end of the day.” For more information on the national lifejacket rule, visit Maritime NZ.
The new bylaw also introduces new speed rules in Ōhiwa Harbour to support safer navigation. Within the designated transit area, powered vessels may travel at speeds above five knots, up to a maximum of 20 knots, where it is safe to do so. A separate speed uplift area also allows vessels to travel above five knots when crossing the harbour entrance and bar. Elsewhere in the harbour, the existing five-knot speed limit remains in place.
Boaties should also be aware that some infringement fines are increasing alongside the introduction of the new bylaw. A NZD 200 fine may be applied to paddleboarders not wearing a lifejacket. There is a practical exemption for paddleboarders actively surfing in the surf zone or competing in designated sports events with organized safety cover.
For more information about the Bay of Plenty Navigation Safety Bylaw and what the changes mean, visit boprc.govt.nz/boating-in-the-bay
