New Zealander’s love affair with boating continues strongly, albeit with the latest IPSOS Boating Monitor figures telling us that there has been a 9% drop in usage from the previous reporting period. Also highlighted by the same report is that while New Zealanders continue to invest in and use boats, safety behaviours are under pressure.
While vessel numbers climb, safety behaviours appear to be slipping. Lifejacket carriage remains high, but usage isn’t always consistent. Equipment checks before departure are often partial or skipped. And weather awareness—especially around rips, bars, and currents—has taken a slight step backwards.
One of the most concerning patterns is in what the Boating Monitor calls “safety culture”. Passengers and crew frequently have concerns but don’t feel confident raising them. Skippers, too, often choose to manage issues quietly rather than discuss them with those aboard. (See our recent article about the i-Catcher: https://www.boatingnz.co.nz/2025/04/capsize-lessons-from-i-catcher-what-every-kiwi-boatie-should-know/.) In fact, nearly half of all passengers who had safety concerns during their last trip chose not to speak up—usually assuming the skipper had it under control. Incident data supports the need for concern.
Around 18% of trips experience some kind of issue—from minor near-misses to more serious events like capsizing, engine failure, or a person overboard. (See our latest update on Coastguard activity in the early April school holidays.) These incidents are most common in kayaks, jetskis, and smaller powerboats—vessels where stability, weather awareness, and loading are often less predictable. (But definitely not always; the number of larger vessels I see or read about being towed by the Coastguard is not insignificant.)
The further out a boat goes, it seems, the more likely the crew are to take boating seriously. Understandably, the further out you are the longer help is to arrive.
For safety advocates, the data underlines the need for a cultural shift. A safe boat isn’t just a matter of gear or knowledge—it’s also about communication, confidence, and shared responsibility on board.
See more: IPSOS Maritime NZ 2023-2024 Financial Year Update
