Wear a lifejacket, pleads Coastguard

As we enter the summer season, Coastguard New Zealand urges everyone to follow one simple yet life-saving step: Wear your lifejacket.

According to Water Safety NZ data, this year has been particularly tragic for drowning fatalities, with 16 of the 17 boating-related deaths involving individuals who were not wearing lifejackets.

Māori and Pacific are among the most affected ethnic groups.

Between 2014 and 2023, 49 per cent of all drowning incidents involved NZ Europeans, 18 per cent involved Māori, 15 per cent were Pacific people, and six per cent involved the Asian community.

Rob McCaw, Coastguard NZ's head of Operations, is urging everyone to wear a lifejacket.

Māori and Pacific peoples make up a significant portion of those affected.

“Lifejackets save lives. We’ve seen far too many preventable tragedies, and the message is simple: If you’re on the water, wear a lifejacket," he says.

“We’re urging everyone – jet skiers, paddle boarders, rock fishers, and kayakers – to wear fit-for-purpose lifejackets.

“No matter what your waka, make sure you’re prepared on the water.”

Māori and Pasifika make up one of the highest ethnic groups affected. Photo/Coastguard NZ.

Importance of life jackets

Nātia Tucker, Coastguard NZ’s Community Engagement Manager, echoed the need for lifejackets in preventing drowning incidents, especially in high-risk communities.

“This year, we’ve seen tragic outcomes where lifejackets could have made a difference," she says.

“Our people often skip wearing lifejackets because they overestimate their swimming abilities or find them uncomfortable.

"A common misconception is the belief that they're only needed in emergencies - you need to wear them before the emergency.

"Another misconception is that strong swimmers don't need them ... If you are wearing a lifejacket, you're going to float better, you'll be warmer in that cold water, and you'll be easier for Coastguard to find if the unexpected happens.

"Some people think that lifejackets are only for boating, but we know our people do rock fishing as well ... it's good to wear a lifejacket when you're rock fishing as well,” Tucker said.

Coastguard's Community Engagement Manager Nātia Tucker. Photo/Coastguard NZ.

Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Initiative

To address these concerns, the Coastguard launched its Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade campaign, encouraging Kiwis to trade their old, worn-out lifejackets for discounted, fit-for-purpose ones.

The campaign features 74 events at popular summer hotspots across the country, providing lifejacket advice, fitting services, and safety tips.

McCaw says, "Too often, we see children in adult lifejackets or ones that are far past their best.

“It’s not going to help them stay alive if they fall into the water unexpectedly.”

Tucker says, “Last year, we took out more than 1,700 old and damaged lifejackets out of circulation, and we introduced about the same number of new ones.”

Choosing the proper lifejacket is crucial for safety, particularly for high-risk groups.

Coastguard NZ is urging everyone to wear a lifejacket when out on a boat. Photo/Coastguard NZ.

"We've got Old4New events in places with high Māori and Pacific populations ... with an emphasis this year, especially on Auckland, Northland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty.

"In addition to Old4New, Coastguard has boating safety classes for Māori and Pasifika boaties called Tangata Moana.

“These are free, and they're delivered by Māori and Pasifika tutors with culturally appropriate teaching methods."

The Coastguard also promotes its membership programme, which offers 24/7 assistance to boaties facing non-urgent issues like breakdowns and flat batteries without the hefty towing fees non-members may incur.

The Coastguard’s famous Summer Lottery, which raises funds for the charity’s life-saving operations, further supports the summer safety campaign.

This year, the lottery offers the chance to win one of two Extreme fishing boats and a $17,000 travel prize.

Watch Surf Lifesaving NZ's CEO Steve Fisher on staying safe in the water this summer.

Water safety advice

McCaw urged everyone to “make it a Coastguard summer and stay safe out there.”

Tucker hopes to see “a significant reduction in preventable drowning fatalities and water-related incidents,” adding that the Coastguard would "love for our Old4New lifejacket upgrade roadshow to play a key role in encouraging this behaviour".

"Ultimately, we want everyone to enjoy our beautiful rivers, lakes, and seas and return home safely," Tucker said.

“Wearing a lifejacket to become the norm would prevent so many tragedies from occurring."

Visit the Coastguard NZ website for more information.