Concerns about recreational boating rules raised last year by
Otago-Southland coroner David Crerar in his findings into the
death of a girl hit by a speedboat on Lake Te Anau are still
under consideration.
A Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman said yesterday some work
had been done on Mr Crerar's recommendations and they were
still being considered in conjunction with the National
Pleasure Boating Forum.
It was hoped there would be some response to the coroner in
the early part of this year.
In his findings, published in June, into the death of
12-year-old Kirsten Flynn three years ago, Mr Crerar called
for standards for lifejackets, life vests and personal
flotation vests to be "critically reviewed", recommending
they only be made available in fluorescent colours with
reflective tapes or stripes on the upper portions.
He also recommended the investigation of two possible law
changes for recreational boating.
One would require boats carry a red flag, to be raised by the
observer while a water-skier or person in a biscuit was in
the water.
Dive boats already have to display a flag when a diver is in
the water.
The other change would require that a boat not travel within
100m or directly behind a person who is being towed, or has
been towed, by another boat.
The Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman said Mr Crerar's
recommendations were quite wide-ranging, and any inquiry into
changing water rules involved carrying out research,
including on the impact of any international precedents.
It was important to ensure Maritime New Zealand was giving
the " best possible advice".
Miss Flynn was hit by a speedboat driven by Graeme Hall after
she fell off a biscuit and was swimming back to it.
Mr Crerar found that while Mr Hall's failure to see her was
the major contributor to the death, it was just one of
several events which combined to cause it.
A 9-year-old girl died at Lake Taupo on Tuesday after she was
struck by a boat.
She had been water-skiing behind her parents' boat when she
fell off her skis and was hit by another boat.
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