“When we’re talking about cultural change and cultural behaviour, these are the things we need to target. Many times I’ve been out on the boat and I’ll see kids wearing their lifejackets, but Dad’s not wearing a lifejacket.” — Rob Hewitt, speaking to Waatea News.
Former Navy diver, and water safety advocate Rob Hewitt is calling on Kiwi dads to change their attitude on the water — starting with wearing a lifejacket.
Recent data from Water Safety New Zealand shows that more than 76 percent of boating-related drowning victims in the past decade weren’t wearing lifejackets, and the trend is getting worse. In 2024, that figure rose to 90 percent. Most were men in small craft, often fishing when a sudden capsize or fall overboard left them with no time to react.
I still remember the search for Rob Hewitt nearly twenty years ago. The whole country held its breath, willing him to be found alive. It was a story that struck deep, made personal through his connection to All Black legend and brother, Norm Hewitt. Against all odds, Rob survived 75 hours alone in the cold sea before being found just 500 metres off Mana Island, near Porirua. That experience continues to shape his advocacy today.
The image of kids doing it right while Dad shrugs it off is exactly what Hewitt wants to change. His message is simple: lifejackets are for everyone, kids and Dad alike.
Water Safety New Zealand, Coastguard, and the NZ Search and Rescue Secretariat, where Hewitt serves as Kaihautū Māori, all give the same advice: always wear a properly fitted lifejacket, carry two waterproof ways to call for help, and check the marine weather before heading out.
At Boating New Zealand, we recently joined a Wild Chix / Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) / Tauranga Coastguard event where the Coastguard team demonstrated the mechanisms, fit, and feel of inflatable lifejackets, including what happens when they deploy. It was hugely insightful and a reminder that understanding your gear can make all the difference. We’ll share more from that experience in a future article.
Hewitt’s message remains clear: experience doesn’t make you bulletproof, and pride doesn’t float.
