Old4New lifejacket Campaign is back!

It's back! The popular and successful Old4New lifejacket campaign returns to boat ramps and marinas across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and the Coromandel for 2015.

Visit our team at the Old4New van every weekend over summer* and trade in your old, damaged or worn lifejacket for a significant discount on a brand new, modern Hutchwilco lifejacket. With five lifejacket styles to choose from (including one for kids), there's no reason not to be safe on the water!

Boaties and members of the public can also get advice about boating and water safety from the friendly team on site at each location.

The Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade forms a key part of Coastguard’s advocacy for safe and enjoyable boating over the 2015/16 summer boating season. The importance of wearing a lifejacket was highlighted in late November when a 6.5m powerboat capsized in rough conditions on the Manukau Bar. The three boaties onboard survived thanks to the fact that they were all wearing lifejackets. More about that harrowing story here.

Recreational boating statistics also state that while almost all (96%) recreational vessel owners reported carrying lifejackets and 91% thought they were important, almost one-third of vessels approached in a separate survey (almost all of which were 6m or under) had no-one aboard wearing lifejackets of any form.

These statistics are all the more distressing knowing that, of the 43 boating fatalities in 2014 and so far in 2015, the majority could have been prevented had the person been wearing a lifejacket. The Old4New Lifejacket campaign, launched for the first time in New Zealand last year, aims to raise awareness of the importance of lifejackets while also taking practical steps to address the issue. At the end of the campaign, Coastguard will also distribute good condition traded-in lifejackets (that still meet NZ Standards) to communities in need.

The 2014 campaign was a huge success with over 2,700 old or unsafe lifejackets traded in for discounts on new, modern fit-for-purpose lifejackets. The campaign is made possible with the support of quality lifejacket manufacturer Hutchwilco and kiwi vehicle distributor Giltrap Group – both proudly New Zealand-owned companies supporting boating safety.