Kawarau Jet has lodged an incident report with the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Maritime New Zealand after what it described as a near miss on the Kawarau River, allegedly involving harbourmaster Marty Black.
Kawarau Jet director Andy Brinsley said Mr Black was the skipper of a private craft on the Kawarau River last Thursday, carrying independent commissioners John Matthews and Leigh Overton.
The commissioners will resume a hearing today for Queenstown Water Taxis, seeking resource consent to operate up to four boats on the Kawarau as Thunder Jet.
Kawarau Jet director Shaun Kelly told the Otago Daily Times the commissioners were taken down the river by Mr Black on Thursday.
Mr Kelly said three boats were on the river - a Kawarau Jet boat which was upstream, a second Kawarau Jet coming up the river and a private boat, which was "parked" in the middle of the river near a left-handed braided bend.
Kawarau Jet was not notified the private boat would be on the river.
"As long as they let us know, we can let all our drivers know . . . it's not always done with the general public, but I would have expected the harbourmaster to let us know," Mr Kelly said.
The second Kawarau Jet boat saw the private boat and slowed from about 85kmh to 55kmh and moved further to the river right, Mr Kelly said.
"[The private craft] accelerated and headed downstream into the path of our boat.
"The [commercial] driver had to take evasive action."
Mr Kelly said when the private craft accelerated, the Kawarau Jet driver had to do a "partial emergency stop".
"Effectively, it's putting the brakes on and putting it [the jet-boat] into reverse.
He pulled across the back of the boat and was forced to take the river left channel, which is the wrong side of the river [and] puts you into the path of [oncoming boats]."
The Kawarau Jet boat continued up the river and turned around at Morven Ferry Rd.
On the return leg, it passed the private boat again and Mr Black was seen as the skipper, Mr Kelly said.
Kawarau Jet called three witnesses last week during the Queenstown Water Taxis hearing detailing the company's concerns about increased numbers of boats operating on the river.
Mr Black said, when contacted, the incident was being investigated by Maritime New Zealand.
He said he had "no comment" to make as the matter was in the hands of MNZ.
Mr Overton confirmed he was on the boat, but said it would "not be wise" to make any comment at this stage.
Mr Matthews, chair of the panel hearing the Queenstown Water Taxis application, confirmed he was on the boat, but said given his role it was "not appropriate" for him to make any comment at this stage.
