More than $844,000 collected from the nationwide tax on fuels has been reallocated by Maritime New Zealand to water safety programmes, including $35,000 specifically to safety education on local lakes and rivers.

It’s the largest sum Maritime NZ has ever redistributed with the purpose of reducing recreational boating fatalities and injuries, Maritime NZ director Keith Manch said.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Lakes and River User Education Enhancement Plan has been allocated $35,000 for new signage to cover all aspects of lake and river use, including basic rules and expected on-board communications. Brochures and radio advertising on the local rules will also accompany new signs.

QLDC spokesperson Jack Barlow said the council is pleased to receive the funding which will be used to promote education about key lake and river safety rules, particularly aimed at power boat skippers and the paddle craft sector which includes pack rafts, paddle boarders, kayaks and rafts.

“It has been recognised that if signage was more modern, vibrant and included details of where to be kept up-to-date online, it would have a positive impact educating the community and new users,” Jack said.

“While a review of signage is yet to be completed, locations such as main ramps for Lake Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea, and put-ins for rivers including (but not limited to) the Kawarau, Dart, Clutha, Matukituki and Wilkin have been identified as being considered for upgrades.”

Council staff will work with Maritime NZ to ensure the signs are consistent nationally.

In addition to the $35,000, this district will also directly benefit from the $80,000 ‘No-Excuses’ on-water campaign targeting high-risk factors in recreational boating fatalities, in particular life-jacket wearing and safe speeds. 

And $110,000 has been allocated to the ‘Old4New’ lifejacket upgrade campaign which has been popular in this district and is also supported by Coastguard Wanaka Lakes (CWL). 

The campaign offers heavily discounted new lifejackets and personal flotation devices to those who upgrade their old or damaged lifejackets and the campaign van last visited Wanaka in 2018.

“The CWL is hugely supportive of any initiative to improve safety of boat users,” CWL president Jonathan Walmisley said. 

The local lakes and rivers see a variety of users and all are being targeted in some way by the Maritime NZ funding, with tens of thousands of dollars going to safety programmes specifically targeting yachties, paddleboarders, kayakers, rafters and even underwater divers.

The funding will also extend to further development and promotion of the MarineMate smartphone app which provides information on tides, boat ramp locations, VHF channels, and local boating rules for the whole country. 

PHOTO: Wanaka App