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1:48 AM Fri 9 Jan 2009 GMT
 | | 'Following 4 fatalities in 3 months, wearing life jackets could be made mandatory.'
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A rash of accidents, incidents and fatalities on the waterways of Queenstown region in New Zealand has driven Council to make waering life jackets mandatory, following public consultation.
Council chief executive Duncan Field said the district was facing the worst accident record on its waterways for 25 years and this was a 'national disgrace'.
After a summer of several deaths on the water - four boating deaths in just over three months - the Queenstown Lakes District Council announced this week it plans to make wearing lifejackets mandatory on Central Otago rivers and lakes before summer's end.
Last Monday, Anton Woitasek, 34, and Lawrence Singleton, 51, were killed after a collision between a jetboat and jetski on the Kawarau River. The jetski riders are in hospital in a stable condition. Neither of those killed was wearing a lifejacket and one of the craft was apparently travelling on the wrong side of the river.
In Marlborough a district council bylaw matches Maritime New Zealand rules that stipulate skippers must make sure there are enough lifejackets for every person on board. They must also fit each person correctly.
Those on board do not have to wear them, however the skipper is responsible for making sure people wear lifejackets at 'times of heightened risk', such as in rough seas or adverse visibility, or face a fine of $100.
The move in Queenstown comes as Maritime New Zealand works to bring into law mandatory lifejacket use for all people on board vessels less than six metres long, unless the skipper decides it is not necessary.
The changes to rule 91 are anticipated to be introduced this year.
At least one regional council had already put in place the changes and other councils would follow depending on when their navigation safety bylaws were due for review.
The planned changes to rule 91 come after a two-year review of boating-related deaths by the National Pleasure Boat Forum, which includes stakeholders including Water Safety New Zealand, the Coastguard and police.
The review found 85 per cent of fatalities occurred in boats under six metres long. Not wearing a lifejacket was found to be one of four main causes of the deaths. The others are lack of communication, not checking weather conditions and alcohol.
Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black said despite the planned changes there would be no increase in staff to enforce the compulsory wearing of lifejackets. Those breaching the proposed bylaw would face a $500 instant fine.
'We're going to put a mark in the ground and say hey, this is enough,' says Marty Black, Queenstown Lakes District Harbourmaster.
by Jeni Bone
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