The Government has set aside $848,000 to reduce harm on the water this summer, with most of the money going to community-run education and a smaller portion to on-water compliance checks.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager said Maritime NZ will allocate $773,000 across 30 community initiatives focused on small craft users, close-to-shore activities, and groups over-represented in drowning statistics. A further $75,000 will go to 11 regional authorities for targeted on-water compliance.

Examples released include $43,000 for Watersafe Auckland Inc to deliver water safety education at high-traffic boat ramps, and $10,000 to Queenstown Lakes District Council for a programme aimed at recreational craft operators on inland waterways. The funding is intended to support bar-crossing education and bolster regional compliance during the peak summer period, with coverage from Northland to Southland. A full list of recipients was not provided in the release.

“An average of 37 Kiwis lose their lives to drowning every summer,” Meager said, urging boaties to wear lifejackets. He also drew attention to National MP Cameron Brewer’s Member’s Bill currently before Parliament that would require young children to wear lifejackets. No further detail on the bill was included in the release.