Auckland Council proposes compulsory lifejackets on small boats in bylaw change
Lifejackets may soon become compulsory for most recreational boaties in Auckland under a proposed bylaw change expected to save about 12 lives each year.
Auckland Council is asking for public feedback by the end of next week on a suite of safety-driven revisions to the bylaw, including mandating lifejackets on small vessels.
Lifejackets are already compulsory on recreational boats in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland.
Having witnessed the first-hand impact of water tragedies, Coastguard and Water Safety New Zealand are strongly advocating that Aucklanders support the proposal, saying an average of 12 lives could be saved across New Zealand waters each year if lifejacket use was compulsory, not discretionary.
Water Safety NZ chief executive Glen Scanlon told the Herald the proposal sets a “clear and consistent expectation” that would improve safety standards and encourage long-term behavioural change around the water.
“We think it’s a really positive and good step,” he said.
“You’re three times more likely to survive [in the water] if you’re wearing a lifejacket. It’s that simple.”
What’s being proposed?
Auckland Council defines any recreational watercraft as a vessel, from motor-powered boats and dinghies to paddleboards, jetskis and kayaks.
Current legislation requires lifejackets to be worn on any vessels under 6m in length, but a caveat still lets the skipper permit otherwise.
If advanced, the proposal would remove the skipper’s discretion, implementing rules in line with those previously adopted in regions such as Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland.
Coastguard, Water Safety New Zealand and other key players have stressed the importance of consistent lifejacket rules across New Zealand, citing their effectiveness in extending the chances of survival in open water incidents.
Other proposed changes would improve rules for emerging technologies such as hydrofoils, standardise mooring licences and introduce new exclusion zones in high-use or sensitive areas.
Simultaneously, Parliament’s transport and infrastructure committee is considering a bill that would apply a blanket lifejacket mandate on all Kiwis travelling on small vessels.
The committee extended the measures to adults, after initially considering them only for young people.
Why now?
According to Water Safety New Zealand, Auckland has recorded 97 watercraft-related drowning deaths since 2000, with 85 of those victims – nearly 90% – not wearing lifejackets.
Between 2021 and 2025, everyone who drowned wasn’t wearing a lifejacket.
Pasifika and Asian migrants are disproportionately represented in drowning statistics, which Drowning Prevention Auckland attributes to a lack of community knowledge and a need to source kaimoana for families.
The council’s general manager of policy, licensing and compliance Louise Mason told the Herald the review considered wider trends, data and historical incidents to determine what inadequacies could be addressed.
“A key issue identified was the continued loss of life on Auckland’s waterways, particularly in situations where wearing a lifejacket may have prevented a fatality,” she said.
“One example might be a group fishing on a vessel under 6m in length when weather and sea conditions change suddenly.
“If a breaking wave capsized the boat, those on board could be thrown into rough, fast-moving water.
“Under the proposed rules, everyone on board would already be wearing a lifejacket, keeping people afloat and significantly improving their chances of survival while they wait for assistance to arrive.”
Evidence from Victoria showed mandating lifejackets dramatically increased usage, while Tasmania recorded a significant drop in craft-related drownings.
Compliance in Waikato also reached 90% eight years after the region amended its bylaw, according to Maritime New Zealand.
Looking ahead
After the public consultation period ends on June 7, the council and local boards will begin working through feedback and addressing community views.
The full council is due to make a final decision in September, but before that, Mason said the council wanted to hear “from all Aucklanders who use our waterways about whether we’ve got it right”.
Details can be found via an online portal, with written, in-person or phone submissions also accepted.
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