The government is hoping an extra $848,000 being put towards keeping boaties safe will help reduce 37 drownings on average in New Zealand this summer.
About $75,000 is going towards regional councils for compliance checks, and the rest goes to 30 community education projects for small boat users, close-to-shore activities, and groups over-represented in drowning statistics.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager said drownings were preventable tragedies and the government wanted fewer families to have to go through that.
“The local funding stretches from the top of Northland right down to the bottom of Southland, ensuring all parts of New Zealand can strengthen community-led safety initiatives, support bar-crossing education, and enhance regional compliance capability throughout the busy summer season,” he said.
“Watersafe Auckland Inc has been allocated $43,000 to deliver water safety education at high-traffic boat ramps across Auckland, while Queenstown Lakes District Council’s $10,000 grant will fund a programme aimed to recreational craft operators at inland waterways.”
The number one way of reducing harm on the water is wearing a lifejacket, he said, and encouraged all New Zealanders to wear one while on a boat.
The funding comes from fuel excise paid by recreational boat owners.
