Pacific communities urged to weigh in on lifejacket bylaw before deadline this weekend

Pacific communities are being urged to have their say before consultation closes on proposed boating safety rules that would make lifejackets mandatory on small vessels.

Auckland Council has partnered with community organisations to reach Sāmoan and Tongan communities during the consultation, while Coastguard says Pacific leaders have advocated for stronger lifejacket rules following a series of preventable boating tragedies.

The proposed changes to Auckland's Navigation Bylaw would require people on vessels under six metres to wear lifejackets while underway, bringing Auckland into line with neighbouring regions.

Nātia Tucker, community engagement manager for Coastguard Tautiaki Moana, says Pacific communities have long supported stronger lifejacket requirements.

"Auckland's Pasifika communities have advocated for stronger lifejacket rules before."

Tucker, who has led Coastguard's Tongan Boat Safety Project for the past three years, says community leaders worked to strengthen Auckland's lifejacket bylaw in 2014 after a seven-year-old boy and his Samoan father drowned when their dinghy capsized in the Manukau Harbour.

Coastguard community engagement manager Natia Tucker says Pacific communities have long advocated for stronger lifejacket rules following a series of preventable boating tragedies. Photo/PMN News/Aui'a Vaimaila Leatinu'u.

"This year is our chance to strengthen the bylaw even further."

Bylaw review panel member and councillor Alf Filipaina says the proposed update is aimed at reducing preventable drownings.

"We know the vast majority of boating fatalities in New Zealand happen on small boats, where the victim is not wearing a lifejacket. Even though they might have had one on board, accidents can happen very suddenly."

According to Water Safety New Zealand data provided by Coastguard, 87 per cent of Auckland watercraft fatalities since 2000 involved people not wearing lifejackets. Between 2021 and 2025, every recorded watercraft fatality in Auckland involved someone who was not wearing a lifejacket.

Under current rules, people on vessels under six metres must wear a lifejacket unless the person in charge of the vessel gives permission not to wear one.

Auckland Council general manager of policy Louise Mason says the council recognised that some communities do not always engage through traditional consultation channels.

"We have taken a targeted and inclusive approach to engagement to ensure communities most connected to Auckland's waterways know about the consultation and can participate."

Mason says the council has worked with community partners to reach Samoan and Tongan communities and Māori youth, while also directly contacting recreational fishing groups, boating clubs and marine organisations.

The consultation has attracted more than 900 submissions so far, exceeding the combined total received during the previous two Navigation Bylaw reviews.

"We have received over 900 submissions to date, reflecting the public interest in water activities and public safety," she says.

Auckland Council's proposed Navigation Bylaw changes would require people on vessels under six metres to wear lifejackets while underway. Public consultation closes this weekend. Photo/Coastguard NZ

"The level of participation exceeds those received on the last two navigation bylaw reviews combined, 396 submissions in 2014 and 242 submissions in 2021."

Mason says views on the proposal are mixed, with some people seeing mandatory lifejacket use as common sense and others viewing it as unnecessary regulation or an inconvenience.

Tucker says the statistics suggest the current approach is not preventing avoidable deaths.

"Skipper discretion isn't working, too many people are still going without lifejackets."

"Education alone is not working,” she says.

"We need better access to good quality, fit for purpose lifejackets and mandatory lifejacket rules."

The Navigation Bylaw review also proposes new safety rules for emerging watercraft such as motorised hydrofoil boards and tow-foiling equipment, updates to mooring licence requirements, and new exclusion zones around sensitive areas including Auckland Airport, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Tāmaki River rowing precinct.

Mason says public feedback will play an important role in determining whether the proposed changes proceed.

Consultation closes on Sunday, 7 June. All feedback will be reviewed and analysed before the bylaw panel considers submissions and makes recommendations to Auckland Council's Governing Body.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.