Summer boating safety patrols interact with thousands of people

Chris Bredenbeck (right) and Barry King conduct a patrol aboard Kaimahi.

More than 1000 on-water vessel interactions were conducted during Waikato Regional Council’s summer boating safety programme.

The annual Operation Neptune ran for almost three weeks during the peak boating season between Boxing Day 2024 and 12 January, covering popular coastal, lake and river boating areas across the Waikato region.

This included Raglan and Kāwhia in the west, the Coromandel Peninsula, along with the Waikato River from Lake Karāpiro and Lake Arapuni down to Lake Ōhakuri and Lake Maraetai.

Some 40-council staff from both the Maritime Services team and other parts of the organisation, along with two summer students, were deployed.

An Operation Neptune patrol on Tūtaia which is based in Whitianga.

They worked on one of our nine harbourmaster vessels and were also stationed at boat ramps.

‘The team conducted more than 1000 on-water vessel interactions and more than 300 educational interactions on boat ramps,’ says Regional Harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck.

That amounts to a third of all on-water interactions recorded across the motu and more than any other participating council during that period.’

Every interaction was included in a survey carried out with Maritime NZ.

Kerry Bowen (right) and Nicki Wilson aboard Ruru during a patrol on Lake Arapuni.

The weather this summer boating peak was mostly fine, but consistent strong winds resulted in fewer vessels on the water than would normally be the case.

Around 160 vessels were stopped due to breaches of bylaws,’ says Chris.

Common breaches included failing to wear lifejackets, towing without an observer, and speeding.

Around 20 percent of vessels engaged in towing did not have an appropriate observer on board, while 13 percent of vessels involved people not wearing lifejackets when required to do so.

‘Our key message is that we want boaties and other water users to have fun, while at the same time staying safe and not endangering others,’ says Chris.

‘It is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure they know the Waikato region’s boating rules and to comply with them on the water.’

Boating rules can be found on Waikato Regional Council’s website, the MarineMate mobile phone application and are
prominently displayed on signage at boat ramps around the Waikato.