Coastguard New Zealand is urging people to take advantage of the offer to swap their old or worn out lifejacket for a brand new, discounted Hutchwilco lifejacket.
It’s part of the organisation’s Old4New water safety initiative, which is making a stop in east Auckland over summer.
East Auckland locals will be able to take advantage of the opportunity in Maraetai on January 17.
At each stop, the Coastguard’s Old4New team will also provide lifejacket advice, including fitting and servicing, along with local boating safety tips and information about education courses, making it a one-stop shop for preparing for a fun summer on the water.
The organisation says over the past decade, more than 22,000 old lifejackets have been traded in through Old4New, meaning 22,000 Kiwis are now safer on the water.
Last year was one of New Zealand’s worst for drownings in boating incidents, with only one of the 17 fatalities wearing a lifejacket, according to Water Safety New Zealand data.
With summer having arrived and Kiwis are getting out on the water, Coastguard’s urging everyone to carry out one simple step before hitting the water: “just wear your lifejacket”.
It says out of the six land-based fishing drownings this year, five people weren’t wearing lifejackets or had any available.
Coastguard head of operations Rob McCaw says the charity is astounded people are still not making this one simple behaviour change.
“Lifejackets save lives. We’ve seen far too many preventable tragedies, and the message is simple: if you’re on the water, wear a lifejacket.
“Across nine weeks this past winter there were five incidents and nine fatalities. None of those who drowned were wearing a lifejacket.
“Water safety doesn’t just concern one group; it affects all.
“Between 2014 and 2023, 18 per cent of all drowning incidents involved Māori, making them the second-highest ethnicity affected, after NZ Europeans (49 per cent).
“Fifteen per cent of drownings involved Pacific people, and six per cent involved the Asian community.
“It’s not just about boaties or open water. We’re urging everyone – jet skiers, paddle boarders, rock fishers and kayakers – to wear fit-for-purpose lifejackets.
“No matter what your waka, make sure you’re prepared on the water, whether it’s a lake, a river, or the ocean.”
McCaw also urges Kiwis to wear the right lifejacket for the occasion and person.
“Too often we see children in adult lifejackets or lifejackets that are long past their best.
“It’s not going to help them stay alive if they fall into the water unexpectedly.”
The Old4New team will be at Maraetai Beach Boating Club, 188 Maraetai Drive, from 9am to 2pm on January 17.
