Maritime NZ gives $470,000 for safer boating grants from petrol tax

by Maritime NZ on 16 Oct 2016 As part of Safer Boating Week (October 14-21) Maritime NZ has announced $470,000 dollars in grants – a major increase in national funding for recreational boating programmes.

Last year safer boating grants totalled $124,000 and in 2014 they totalled $77,000.

The Government provides the funding for safer boating grants from the Fuel Excise Duty on petrol. A proportion of this duty is paid by recreational boaties fueling power boats.

Thousands more boaties will now be reached through face-to-face training courses, school programmes, smartphone apps, subsidised “Old 4 New” lifejacket upgrades, and many more initiatives.

“Our aim is to support community programmes that help boaties be safer,” the Chair of the Safer Boating Forum*, Maritime NZ Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt, said.

“We are helping groups and regional councils to do more to interact directly with boaties.”

Mr Sturt said Maritime NZ is also looking at how councils and boating organisations can be funded over three years so programmes could have continuity.

“Continuity will hopefully lead to fewer boaties dying in preventable accidents. Programmes could be better planned, messages repeated and reinforced, and you are more likely to get safer behaviour.”

 Summary of the 15 programmes funded:

Organisation	Programme	2016/17
Marlborough District Council Luke Grogan Luke.grogan@marlborough.govt.nz 03 5207468	Tailored safety training courses for local boaties and support material, plus on-water patrols	$20,350
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Jessica Somerville Jessica.Somerville@boprc.govt.nz 0800 884 881 ext 8149	Safety compliance programme - boat ramp workshops, roadshow presentations (clubs, groups, boat shows) college visits, on-water enforcement	$62,000
Environment Canterbury Regional Council Gary Manch Gary.manch@ecan.govt.nz 0274360134	Programme including boat ramp safety promotions, on water patrols, competitions and media, all promoting boating safety through information, advice, education and compliance activities.	$50,000
Waikato Regional Council Stephen WardStephen.Ward@waikatoregion.govt.nz 07 859 0782	Update the successful Marine Mate smartphone app, produce fishing rulers to help compliance with MPI rules and waterproof cellphone bags.	$23,000
Hawke's Bay Regional Council Martin Moore,harbourmaster@hbrc.govt.nz 027 445 5592	Safer boating education for more than 2,000 for primary and intermediate school children	$10,000
Environment Southland Lyndon Cleaver lyndon.cleaver@es.govt.nz    03 211 5115	Regional newspaper and radio advertising and face-to-face engagement with boaties on the water and at boat ramps.	$30,000
Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council Chris Choat Chris.choat@tasman.govt.nz0272460264 and media@ncc.govt.nz	Boat ramp safety promotion (Fuel for safety) boat checks and associated media coverage; harbourmasters invitational race day Oct 15 with a variety of water sports clubs; be a harbourmaster for a day colouring competition; plus meetings with clubs and other organisations; school visits; increased water safety patrols; updated boat ramp signage etc.	$30,000
Tasman District Council Chris Choat Chris.choat@tasman.govt.nz0272460264	On the water safer boating patrols - extension of current programme.	$15,000
Queenstown Lakes District Council Michele Poole Michele.poole@qldc.govt.nz 03 450 1723	Local radio advertising to support Council boating safety compliance campaign	$5,000
Eight regional councils	On-water enforcement activity – details to be confirmed.	$50,000
Coastguard Boating Education Neil Murray neil.murray@boatingeducation.org.nz 021 307 169	Folau Malu Journey Safely(Pasifika Boating Education Programme).– provide day skipper, basic sea survival, boatmaster, and day skipper tutor courses for Pasifika boating safety ‘champions'	$50,000
NZ Sport Fishing Council Inc. Dave Lockwood secretary@nzsportfishing.org.nz 021 177 1705	‘Hiwi the Kiwi' – reach 5000 Pacific island and Maori students at 10 decile one schools in South Auckland with lifejacket and boat safety programme	$14,000
Coastguard New Zealand Monique Caddy monique.caddy@nzcoastguard.org.nz 021 420 653	Extension of 'Old 4 New' lifejacket upgrade campaign to cover the North Island.	$75,000
Yachting NZ Danika Mowlem danika@yachtingnz.org.nz (09) 361 4028	A hands on sailing programme for 3,500 8 to 12-year-old children in the 'Volvo Sailing… Have a Go!' training programme (including boating safety).	$25,000
Coastguard NZ Monique Caddy monique.caddy@nzcoastguard.org.nz 021 420 653	Production of Boating Safety Codebrochure and advertising	$10,000
Total		$469,350