New Zealand Parliament passes lifejacket mandate for small recreational vessels

The New Zealand Parliament has passed the third reading of the Maritime Transport (Lifejackets on Recreational Craft) Amendment Bill. Once the bill receives Royal assent, a national requirement will mandate that everyone on recreational vessels six metres or less in length must wear a properly fitted lifejacket while the craft is underway.

The new law will apply to users of paddleboards, jet skis, dinghies, trailer sailors, and small motorboats. Safety organizations, including the Safer Boating Forum and Water Safety New Zealand, have welcomed the move as a critical step in reducing preventable drowning deaths.

Regional authorities, such as the Waikato Regional Council, noted that the national standard will eliminate the confusion caused by differing regional bylaws. The council, which implemented similar rules in 2013, highlighted that the majority of boating drownings occur on smaller vessels and that consistent enforcement will improve compliance and safety across all waterways.