http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=271

I remember seeing a similar thing set up early 1970s,I think it may of fallen under maritime NZ, honorary launch wardens,flew a blue flag from memory and may of had a mnz crest/propeller on it.     Think was well before coastguard became recognized .

Some of the older forum members may remember them,at the time I was about 10/11.

I was sitting on my boat late yesterday avo and saw a mates small 6.5m charter boat (one of several he owns) tied up whilst the skipper and his clients used the filleting table. The main reason I noticed was that the boat was only tied up with one rope through a grab handle at the rear and was swinging around at right angles to the berth. No fenders and engine banging against the dock so got a photo for him. That made me watch the traffic going past and 6 successive trailer boats heading into Pier 21 went past with huge wakes in the middle of the no wake zone. Families, young guys, old guys and even a woman skipper. Straight past this very obviously poorly secured boat which then swung all over the place as they went past. Everyone one of them decided that 2 minutes of their time at the end of many hours on the water was more important than damaging other peoples boats.

bit like the cop on the side of road people slow down,

Tagit the biggest issue I see at sea is the blatant safety laws ,whether its water safety/fish regs etc there is no licence required,and that to me is a problem with our growing water borne population,fines are just slaps on hand.

halfmoon bay must have to biggest bunch of wa#ks using it,it is like a washing machine 5knts where?? no just the trailer boats but gin palaces,with the MT Wellington dry stack operating forget about trying to do any painting on a mooring,

I feel for you, Tagit.

Even sitting on the ferry to work it seems bizarre. Coming towards the city our Half Moon Bay ferry slows right down opposite Ferguson, but the Pine Harbour one roars past right to the entrance to the ferry basin.

Is there a lane where faster speeds are allowed for some boats, but not others?

Re the general ignorance or willful disobedience which sees idiots blasting around within 200m of Auckland's suburban swimming beaches, throw the book at them, I reckon.

I had an argument with a woman at work who goes waterskiing and seriously thinks it is okay to go at ski speed right in close as long as "she knows" nobody is swimming. As always, it will take a tragedy to put the spotlight on this issue.

Last summer, I watched a parent with small kids on board using a rubber cat to blast in and out of the waves at a Northland beach, into waist-deep water at times. It left me so angry, just in time to walk away and see their land-based equivalents riding dirt bikes through a dotterel breeding area. Absolute morons.

5 Knot markers when leaving boat ramps / marinas to mean mean 'Idle that motor out to me son, let her warm up before you flog it'

If it gathers $$$ then I'm sure it will become nation wide eventually provided it works