Maritime NZ funds recreational boating sector initiatives for youth

by Sophie Hazelhurst, Maritime NZ on 14 Oct 2014 Thousands of young people will get boat safety training or learn how to sail, as part of $77,000 of recreational boating funding granted to eight groups, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) announced today.

MNZ Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt and chair of the National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum* said the fund aims to reduce injuries and fatalities; and positively change boaties’ safety behaviour.

Several of the initiatives target youth which will help 'future proof' New Zealand’s boating culture and hopefully provide children with excellent habits right from the start, he says.

The nationwide Yachting NZ sailing programme will cater for 3500 8-12 year olds per year, while Coastguard Boating Education will deliver programmes to Coromandel at risk youths and the West Coast; while the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will deliver a school programme.

'We are really proud to be supporting the first West Coast boat safety initiative to be delivered through a rugby league club. About 30 adults and 550 junior members will be educated and we recognise this is hard out fishing community which could do with some support,' says Mr Sturt.

'We’re also hoping the kids will use their newfound ‘pester power’ to encourage their parents and other more experienced boaties to actually put on their lifejackets and be safer boaties.'

The funding is also just in time for the launch of Safer Boating Week (17-24 October), which puts the spotlight on 'prepping your boat, checking your gear and knowing the rules' before getting out on the water this Labour Weekend.

The successful applications for 2014/15 are:

· Nationwide: Yachting NZ – Volvo Sailing Have a Go programme for 8-12 year olds ($15, 000)
· Nationwide: Waikato Regional Council – upgrading Marine Mate mobile app which provides information for boaties ($12,000)
· Nationwide: NZ Search and Rescue Council – promoting the boating safety code ($15,000)
· Coromandel Coastguard Boating Education – providing 20 Day Skipper and 20 VHF Radio courses for at risk youth ($8,302)
· Hawke’s Bay Regional Council – providing boating safety education programme in primary and intermediate schools ($7,500)
· Whanganui Navigation and Water Safety Group – water safety articles ($2,000)
· West Coast Coastguard Boating Education – training 550 juniors and 20-30 adults on Day Skipper and VHF Radio courses. ($13,245)
· Queenstown/Wanaka Harbourmaster – radio water safety messages ($4,000)


*The Forum was established in 2000 to coordinate and implement recreational boating safety initiatives. It is made up of government agencies and local government, water safety and recreational boating organisations, and the marine industry. The Forum's work is aimed at reducing boating injuries and fatalities and improving boat safety behaviour. Members include ACC, Coastguard, Coastguard Boating Education, Maritime NZ, NZ Marine Industry, regional harbourmasters, Surf Lifesaving NZ, Waikato Regional Council and Water Safety NZ.