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.
