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The Coastguard is hosting free seminars to help boaties make safer bar crossings.
Safer Boating Week runs from October 20 to 26, and three free seminars will be held in the wider Auckland area.
Coastguard senior communications advisor Ben Parsons says several more seminars will follow in the week after Labour Weekend.
“In partnership with the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, we’re visiting over 30 boating communities across Aotearoa, delivering free seminars to help boaties build the skills, local knowledge, and confidence needed to make safe decisions when crossing a bar.”
Nearly 1500 people have taken part in the seminars, he says.
An online bar crossing seminar (Labour Weekend Refresher) will be held on Monday, October 20, followed by in-person seminars in Papakura (Manukau Bar) on Thursday, October 23 and Tairua (Tairua Bar) on Sunday, October 26.
“As you’ll know, harbour and river bars can be treacherous. This year’s tragic incidents at Pātea (where two lives were lost) and last year’s at Riverton (where three people died) are stark reminders of the risks. Sadly, the statistics show we’re still losing too many lives.”
The Coastguard says that while preventable drownings fell to 72 in 2024 (down from 90 in 2023), fatalities involving powered craft rose to 18-21per cent of all cases – many in tidal waters or during bar crossings. Over half occurred close to shore, including five bar capsize incidents.
To sign up for the seminars, click here.
