Lifejacket law: Public Consultation opens on expanding Lifejackets for Children and Young Persons Bill to all boaters
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is considering expanding a proposed lifejacket law to cover all recreational boaters, following strong public support.
Originally introduced as the Lifejackets for Children and Young Persons Bill, the legislation would have required anyone under 15 on a recreational craft of 6 metres or less to wear a lifejacket.
However, submissions received by the committee late last year overwhelmingly called for the lifejacket requirement to be extended to all users of small recreational craft.
In a statement yesterday, the committee said statistics show that New Zealand averages 17 boating fatalities per year, with most deaths associated with people unexpectedly ending up in the water. The average age of these drowning victims is 50 years, with multiple submissions including harrowing accounts where adults without lifejackets died while children wearing them survived.
"With this information in mind, the committee has sought and received permission from the Business Committee to consider an out-of-scope amendment to extend the requirement to wear a lifejacket to all occupants of a recreational craft of 6 metres or less in waterline length that is underway."
The committee is now calling for additional public submissions on this proposed amendment. Submissions will be accepted for six weeks, closing at 11.59 pm on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
Members of the public, organisations, and experts are invited to contribute their views. Submissions are publicly released on the Parliament website, with only names or organisations displayed unless otherwise requested.
Click here to read the Bill.
Click here for more information and to make a submission.
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