Maritime NZ announces $470,000 for safer boating grants

17 October 2016

As part of Safer Boating Week (October 14-21) Maritime NZ has announced $470,000 dollars in grants – a major increase in national funding for recreational boating programmes,

Last year safer boating grants totalled $124,000 and in 2014 they totalled $77,000.

The Government provides the funding for safer boating grants from the Fuel Excise Duty on petrol. A proportion of this duty is paid by recreational boaties fueling power boats.

Thousands more boaties will now be reached through face-to-face training courses, school programmes, smartphone apps, subsidised “Old 4 New” lifejacket upgrades, and many more initiatives.

“Our aim is to support community programmes that help boaties be safer,” the Chair of the Safer Boating Forum*, Maritime NZ Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt, said.

“We are helping groups and regional councils to do more to interact directly with boaties.”

Mr Sturt said Maritime NZ is also looking at how councils and boating organisations can be funded over three years so programmes could have continuity.

“Continuity will hopefully lead to fewer boaties dying in preventable accidents. Programmes could be better planned, messages repeated and reinforced, and you are more likely to get safer behaviour.”

Summary of the 15 programmes funded:

Safer Boating Week, October 14-21

Safer Boating Week is the week before Labour Day weekend, the traditional start of recreational boating in much of the country. The aim is to encourage boaties to take simple steps before getting back on the water: Prep your boat, Check your Gear, Know the rules.
Lots more information at www.saferboating.org.nz and on our Facebook Safer Boating NZ

• Prep– service the engine, check and change the fuel, check the battery and just generally give the boat a good onceover.
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• Check– make sure your lifejackets are still fit for purpose and you have enough. Service any inflatable lifejackets and ensure you have two reliable forms of communication equipment.
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• Know– ensure you know the “rules of the road” on the water, and check your local bylaws to make sure you understand what the requirements are in your area.
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* The Safer Boating Forum was established in 2000 to coordinate and implement recreational boating safety initiatives. It is made up of government agencies and local government, water safety and recreational boating organisations, and the marine industry. The Forum’s work is aimed at reducing boating injuries and fatalities and improving boat safety behaviour. Maritime NZ chairs the Forum and members include Coastguard, Jet Boating NZ, Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers, local and central government, NZ Fishing News, NZ Jet Sports Boating Association, NZ Marine Industry Association, NZ Underwater Association, Surf Lifesaving NZ, Waka Ama NZ, Water Safety NZ, WaterSafe Auckland, White Water NZ, and Yachting NZ.

ENDS

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