The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is currently considering the Lifejackets for Children and Young Persons Bill, a members bill in the name of Cameron Brewer MP. As drafted this bill would require anyone under the age of 15 on a recreational craft of 6 metres or less in waterline length to always wear a lifejacket.

In considering this legislation the committee has received and heard submissions from several parties with great experience of water safety and of drowning incidents. These submissions have overwhelmingly called for the lifejacket requirement to be extended to all users of small recreational craft. Statistics provided to the committee show that New Zealand averages 17 boating fatalities per year, with most deaths associated with people unexpectedly ending up in the water. The average age of these drowning victims is 50 years. During oral submissions the committee has heard some compelling first-hand accounts of boating accidents where adults on board, who were not wearing lifejackets drowned because they were not able to access or don lifejackets once in the water, while their children, who were wearing lifejackets survived.

With this information in mind the committee has sought and received permission from the Business Committee to consider an out-of-scope amendment to extend the requirement wear a lifejacket to all occupants of a recreational craft of 6 metres or less in waterline length that is underway.

The committee acknowledges that the proposed amendment is a significant deviation from the initial policy of the bill. Given this the Chairperson is today calling for additional public submissions on the committee’s proposed amendment for a period of six-weeks.

Tell the Transport and Infrastructure Committee what you think

Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on 15 April 2026

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