Register Jetskis, Northlanders Told

Anyone using a jetski in Northland waters must ensure it is registered from next month (subs: 01 November) as local authorities crack down on bad behaviour by users.

Ian Niblock, the Northland Regional Council’s Regional Harbourmaster, says registration of personal water craft (jetskis) has been compulsory under Council bylaws for several years.

Despite this, the Council has until recently preferred to focus on education to improve jetski users’ behaviour, rather than simply enforcing registration rules. However, the Council has been encountering increasing numbers of problems with jetski users, especially over the warmer months and holiday periods.

Mr Niblock says with summer fast approaching, increasingly busy regional harbours and an updated Navigation Safety Bylaw officially due to take effect on Thursday 01 November, the Council feels the time is now right to begin enforcing the registration requirement.

“Last summer we had a number of issues with – and complaints about - unregistered jetskis around Northland’s coast, mainly relating to breaches of the five-knot speed limit within 200-metres of shore, or 50-metres of another vessel, craft or person.”

“We are aiming to have all jetskis in use in Northland registered by New Year’s Day 2008 which will make identifying those responsible for bylaw breaches much easier.”

Mr Niblock says there are good reasons for safety rules and people have been injured, or even killed, in jetski incidents elsewhere in New Zealand.

“In Northland, the sheer size of our coastline – and the seasonal influx of yachties and other holidaymakers – means the risk of harm from jetskis can increase quite dramatically over the summer months.”

Mr Niblock says the Council has a new arrangement with the Auckland Regional Council that will see the Auckland Council maintain a single register of jetskis used in the Auckland, Northland and Waikato regions.

As well as allowing authorities to locate the owners/users of machines seen breaking bylaws, registration can also be a useful way of identifying jetskis if they are stolen.

“If you have one of these machines and use it in either the Northland, Auckland or Waikato regions, you need to register it now. Registration costs $35 (including GST) and involves completing a form available from the Councils themselves or their websites. The address for the form on the Northland Regional Council’s website is www.nrc.govt.nz/jetski ”

Mr Niblock says a single registration is valid for all three regions and jetski owners must clearly display the registration number allocated to them on the side of their machine.

“You can either buy a set of registration stickers for an extra $12.50 or simply signwrite your number on your jetski in the colour and lettering style of your choice – as long as it’s easily readable, each digit is at least 90mm high and 80mm wide and is clearly visible.”

Mr Niblock says it is illegal to use unregistered jetskis in Northland waters and from New Year’s Day people flouting the bylaws risk instant fines of up to $200 or prosecution under the Maritime Transport Act.

ENDS

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