This law is a load bull **** and red tape i feel as there is to many boaties that do not a obey the ARC rules ie 5 knots within 50 metres of another boat etc I support oyr fight to the ARC.

I was going to stay out of this other than reposting the original from Kitsune

The key points of contention are (according to the webpage that Kitsune links to)
That no kayaker (or other vessel for that matter - rowing boats are apparently excluded?) can ENSURE they are visible.  They can take all practical steps, but "ensure"?
 In the hands of a legal, if a yakker was hit, all the boatie has to say is that he didn't see them...

My nitpick is that surely it must lie in the lap of the faster vessel to "maintain a lookout at all times" for kayaks, logs, channel markers...  I will state here that I am talking about lit or otherwise resonably visible yaks - not loons in black kayaks without lights cos they are macho..

I wear so much dayglow, in my yellow yak, with the red and reflective paddles and a years supply of SOLAS tape, that aircraft navigate using me.
I've had a boat motor over from waaay off "to see what you were"....And with all this, I've had to take serious evasive action more than once -  Including a broadcast on 16 to the "red boat on collision course with yellow kayak at Te Puna Inlet"  I was that concerned and wanted evidence out there just in case my worst fears were realised.  Fortunately with much visible splashing of paddles as I positioned for escape, he saw me and veered away at same throttle missing me by 20m.

If he had hit me - I obviously hadn't "ensured" visibility

It needs re-wording, I have no problems with getting the less responsible yakkers up to speed with what should be mandatory kit.  PFD's would be a start

But it goes both ways, and I hope the tinnies that cream along at night with no lights, the boats that cut corners at headlands at more than 5kn only 30m offshore, not to mention the proximity breaches at speed.....get some enforcement as well.

This is BS.