Coastguard New Zealand's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign

Maritime NZ provides $75,000 in funding for Coastguard New Zealand's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign

2 December 2016

Coastguard New Zealand's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade initiative kicks off tomorrow, Saturday 3 December, at 8.00am at the Half Moon Bay boat ramp in Auckland.

Coastguard New Zealand will continue to visit popular waterside destinations until early February 2017. For a full location schedule, visit www.coastguard.nz

Coastguard New Zealand's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade campaign received $75,000 in funding from Maritime NZ as part of a major increase in national funding for recreational boating programmes that was announced during Safer Boating Week (October 14-21).

Press Release “Maritime NZ announces $470,000 for safer boating grants” can be found here: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/news/media-releases-2016/20161017a.asp

How the Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Works

Coastguard New Zealand’s Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade is simple and effective: bring your old or damaged lifejacket to the Old4New team at one of the many pre-advertised locations, and receive a discount on a quality, modern and fit-for-purpose Hutchwilco lifejacket.

The Old4New Lifejacket campaign, originally based on a concept run in Australia by Transport New South Wales and launched for the first time in New Zealand in 2014, has seen over 4,000 lifejackets traded.

Boaties and members of the public are encouraged to visit the van and trade in their old lifejackets, where they can also get advice about boating and water safety from the friendly team on site at each location.

If your local boat ramp is not on the location schedule or you can’t make it, the Boating and Outdoors Group are supporting the campaign by offering the trade-in at their various stores on allocated weeks throughout the campaign. Visit www.boatingandoutdoors.co.nz for your nearest store.

The Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade forms a key part of Coastguard’s advocacy for safe and enjoyable boating over the 2016/17 summer boating season. Only 70% of boaties say they wear a lifejacket at all times on the water. This rate is highest for kayakers and canoeists (83%), and falls to just over 60% for people in power boats and 55% for people in sail boats. And given that the majority of boating fatalities could have been prevented had the person been wearing a lifejacket, the Old4New campaign aims to help save lives and change attitudes.

Yesterday Maritime NZ also launched a national lifejacket promotion “Nobody’s faster than disaster”, with national retailer Rebel Sport, to get more Kiwi boaties into the “best survival gear you can wear on a boat - your lifejacket,” said Director Keith Manch.

With half of all New Zealand adults expected to be mucking about in boats this summer, Maritime NZ has taken the unprecedented step of linking with national retailer, Rebel Sport which is offering a 20% discount off lifejackets until 14 December.

The skipper must ensure that their vessel carries the appropriate number and size of lifejackets for each person on board. For your local regional Navigation Safety bylaw (includes the carriage and wearing of lifejackets), contact your local Harbourmaster by visiting http://www.boaties.co.nz/regional-information/ or download the Marine Mate App: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/mobile-apps/

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