No lifejacket? No problem, borrow one!

There is no excuse for Auckland boaties not to have lifejackets on board – they can now borrow one.

Boaties on one of New Zealand’s most dangerous stretches of water – the Manukau Harbour – can now borrow a lifejacket from Manukau Cruising Club for just a gold coin donation. This is the first of a series of lifejacket lending hubs being established in the Auckland region.

Maritime NZ is funding Drowning Prevention Auckland (DPA) to establish lifejacket loan hubs at popular places around the Auckland coastline. It’s the first time Maritime NZ has funded this type of initiative and it acknowledges that for many people access to a lifejacket can be an issue.

Wearing a lifejacket is the number one way of keeping safe on the water – up to two-thirds of boaties who drown might have been saved if they were wearing lifejackets.

Auckland region by-laws require people in vessels up to six metres to wear a lifejacket at all times, unless the skipper indicates they can take them off. Even then, there must be enough appropriately sized lifejackets on board for everyone on the boat.

DPA is establishing five life jacket hubs in the Auckland region. By Christmas, people will be able to borrow lifejackets from the Manukau Cruising Club, Fulton Swim School Patumahoe, DPA offices in Westhaven and Stanmore Bay Pool & Leisure Centre.

DPA Chief Executive, Nicola Keen- Biggelaar, says that for people who use the water only occasionally, are new to water activities or who are line fishing or netting for food rather than for sport, the cost of a lifejacket can be a barrier.

“Also, when school or club groups go out on the water, lifejackets are not always readily available,” she says. “We want everyone who needs a lifejacket to be able to access one because it is so important for people to be safe around the water.”

To pick up a lifejacket from Manukau Cruising Club people can contact the club on (09) 636 7177, email [email protected], or call in during opening hours with ID.