Jetskis must be registered, Northlanders reminded

Northland’s Deputy Harbourmaster is reminding anyone using a jetski on the region’s waters that it must be registered and that the popular craft shouldn’t be used by unsupervised young people.

Chidambaram Surendran says registration of personal water craft (jetskis) has been compulsory under the Northland Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw for several years.

He says complaints about jetski users’ behaviour typically increase over the warmer summer months, with most issues centring on breaches of the five-knot speed limit within 200-metres of shore, or 50-metres of another vessel, craft or person.

“There are good reasons for safety rules and people have been injured and even killed in jetski incidents elsewhere in New Zealand. As well as allowing authorities to locate the owners/users of machines seen breaking bylaws, registration can also be a useful way of identifying jetskis if they are stolen.”

Mr Surendran says under an agreement that has now been in place for several years, the Auckland Council maintains a single register of jetskis used in the Auckland, Northland and Waikato regions.

Registration costs $35 (including GST) and involves completing a form available from the councils themselves or via their websites. The address for the form on the Northland Regional Council’s website is www.nrc.govt.nz/jetski

“Once a jetski is registered with the Auckland Council, that registration is valid in all three regions for the life of the jetski and ownership can be transferred free of cost if the jetski is sold.”

Mr Surendran says registered jetskis should also clearly display the unique number issued by the Auckland Council on each side of the craft.

“Stickers can be supplied for an additional $12.50 fee or signwritten by the owner themselves on their jetski in the colour and lettering style of their choice – as long as it’s easily readable, each digit is at least 90mm high and 80mm wide and is clearly visible.”

Mr Surendran says it is illegal to use unregistered jetskis in Northland waters and people flouting the bylaw risk an instant fine of $100.

He also reminds people that under the Northland Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw people under 15 cannot operate vessels capable of speeds of more than 10 knots (including jetskis) unless they are actively supervised by an adult.

“That supervision doesn’t mean standing on the beach watching; the bylaw specifically says the person supervising must be older than 15 and has to be ‘within immediate reach of the controls’.”

Mr Surendran says all jetski users should take care not to exceed 5 knots “within 50 metres of another vessel or person in the water, within 200 metres of the shore or within 200 metres of a vessel engaged in dive operations”.

“Wear an appropriate life jacket, always be considerate to other water users and remember higher speeds mean less time to react.”