Boaties and jet ski users are being reminded of their safety responsibilities on the water this New Year, to avoid a repeat of fatal boating accidents last year.
Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black said he hoped people would be mindful of safety when using boats and jet skis on the district's lakes and rivers.
Three people died in two boating accidents on rivers in the Queenstown Lakes District about this time last year.
Dunedin Hospital doctor Paul Woods (29), of Liverpool, died on the Matukituki River when a private jet-boat in which he was travelling flipped and crashed on Boxing Day last year.
His partner, Dr Leanne Tonney, and her brother, Dave, were also injured in the accident.
In Queenstown, Lake Hayes project manager Anton Woisatek (34) and Queenstown contractor Laurence Singleton (51) were killed in a jet-boat and jet ski collision on the Kawarau River on January 5.
Jet-skiers Emma Eckhold (19) and Mark Clay (21), both of Invercargill, were also injured in the crash.
Dunedin university student Blair Martyn (21) drowned in a swimming accident in Lake Hawea on December 29.
Basic water safety messages could not be emphasised enough, Mr Black said.
Harbourmaster staff were patrolling boat ramps at lakes Wanaka, Wakatipu, Hawea, and Hayes, and were handing out safety information and requirements for boat users and jet ski users, he said.
Jet-skiers and jet-boaters needed to be aware of where they could and could not go.
He reminded people to always wear lifejackets, watch their speed and distance from the shoreline, keep to water-ski lanes, and to "lay off the booze".
Boating activity on lakes and rivers had been "relatively quiet so far", Mr Black said.
No infringement notices had been issued yet, but a couple of incidents which might warrant further attention "were in the pipeline".
Safety tips
- Wear your lifejackets.
- Keep an eye on speed and distance from the shoreline.
- Lay off the booze when boating.
