Boaties breaching rules worries harbourmaster

• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Katikati Advertiser

From Labour weekend to January 10 patrols have handed out breach notices to 94 skippers for speeding violations and to 86 for breaking lifejacket rules, with 345 breaches have been handed out in total

Bay of Plenty Regional Council harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters says across the region there have been over 1700 interactions with boaties and it’s disappointing that many are still ignoring the rules.

“Again, the biggest culprits are power boat and jetski users, but we are seeing an increase in kayak and paddleboard users not carrying lifejackets or personal floatation devices,” Jon says.

Of the 86 lifejacket breaches, 22 were kayakers and 17 stand-up paddleboarders.

“The stark reality...