May 4, 2026 • 8 mins
Auckland Council is aiming to reduce drownings and improve safety by upgrading its Navigation Bylaw.
The most significant change would make life jackets mandatory for everyone on vessels under six meters long whilst it’s in motion.
Current rules only require for them to be carried, with the person in charge of the vessel making the decision on whether it’s necessary.
Auckland Councillor and Bylaw Review Panel member Alf Filipaina told Kerre Woodham this is the first review since the bylaw’s approval, and five years on, they want the community to have their say.
He says they’re hopeful the majority will come in and say wearing life jackets while a vessel is on the water and in motion is common sense.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Carrywood and Morning's podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be Auckland Council, as we've been discussing, as proposing
significant updates to its Navigation by Law aimed at reducing
drownings and improving safety across the region's waterways. Public consultation
on these changes is opened until the seventh of June
of this year. The most significant change is making life
jackets mandatory for everyone on vessels under six meters while
(00:34):
they're underway i e. In motion. Current rules only require
carrying them, with the person in charge deciding when they
must be worn. Auckland Counselor and by Law Review Panel
member al Philippina joins me. Now, very good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
To you, Fata, My dear Carrie, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Very very well? Thank you? Bit frustrated and you must
be two when you hear of fifteen to twenty people
losing their lives unnecessarily, it must it must be so frustrating.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Ye, it is, And I mean I only meet My
police background is because my role in the police was
specifically as an honor. I remember getting called when some
of our children and adults were found the body recovered
so that's the reality for me way back when I
(01:25):
was in the police, and I just don't want to
end up getting other police officers all our community saying, look,
we believe there is a body in the water. So
look it really isn't it. I think it's about time.
But we want our community to have us say that
is so important for them.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But I say about what, I mean, what sort of
person is going to as going to make a submission
that I don't want to wear a life jacket. I
don't want my kids to have to wear a life jacket.
Get stuffed yours sincerely, Yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I mean five years ago, and this is our first
review since we ended up proving the navigational bilor. This
is the first review after five years. I was on
the panel five years ago and you had people saying, look,
it should be a choice of the captain or the
person in control of the vessel. That's what we had
(02:23):
five years ago. And now we've got a situation. We
want our community have a say. Hopefully the majority of
them will come in and say no, this is common
sense and we need to have our life jackets on
when the vessel is in the water and in motion.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
But Surely, fifteen to twenty deaths within two k's of
sure predominantly in boats under six meters and death caused
by people not wearing life jackets. Surely that's done the
work for you. That shows what needs to be done,
and there's no need for a public consultation.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Now, there's always a need for public consultation because as
I heard and saw five year years ago, there are
other organizations that said, no, you don't need to change,
you're by law, and that's how we ended up. But again,
it gives the opportunity for our organizations, for our community
(03:22):
to have a say, and then for the panel to
decide where we go with the have your say. And
I think that's that's the most important. I mean, you know,
people end up saying exactly what Jill said, Look it
should becommon sense. But you know, I mean for me
is just to hear our community and I'm hoping the
majority would, but you never know. And that's why Kerry
(03:45):
having this opportunity with you just to sort of put
it out there and say, please, community, have your say.
This is so important for our community and for those
that are on the vessel. So thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, I mean, I just I just kind even imagine
what it's like as a first respond to having to
tell a family there, yeah, ones aren't coming home. But
when it comes to that public consultation, I'm trying to
find a way a positive and maybe by threshing it
out in boating clubs or you know, in community halls,
(04:19):
people will come to understand the importance of it in
their own way and be more likely to comply with
the law rather than being told you must do this.
They will hear the debate and the pros and the
cons and get their head around it.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Maybe no, look that's correct, because what happens is that
our voting fraternity, they have an opportunity to say, look,
this is how we can assist other groups like Water
Safe New Zealand, like Drowning provence Auckland, like our Coast Guard.
They have an opportunity to say we as an organization
(04:56):
believe that this is the best way forward and we
support what the council have put out for consultation, but
we will get others to say no, it should be
up to the person in charge of the vessel and
whether the family members on the vessel wear it or not.
But you know, that just gives them the opportunity to
(05:18):
give their reasons why they support or they don't support
the wearing of life jackets and you know, personal creating devices.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
People talk about education, but seriously, do people really need
to be educated about the need to wear life jackets.
I think they know the risk, they're just willing to
take it.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, well, look, you know, I mean people know the risk.
But for them is that why is the Auckland Council
trying to tell us what we do when the vessel,
the under six metered vessel, the boat is out control,
you don't tell me. So this is the opportunity for
(06:01):
them to say, look, we don't support this. And here's
my reasons why having this is important. This is why
myself and when he out there and I'm hoping there's
going to be a third person to hear, they have
your say. This is why it's important that we do
have an open mind. But look at all the all
(06:21):
the submissions that we have around the pros and cons
around the navigational by law. And that's why it's important
I gain CAIRI and you mentioned it earlier around you know,
telling the family that look we found your loved one,
and yeah, it's it's just something that obviously I know
that I won't forget with the family that I ended
(06:45):
up being with the father and his son when they
were recovered at Mangatee Bridge. But that applies to all
the police officers, all the first responders as you did,
for the community that who find people who have passed,
and that's why it's important to let everybody have their
say at the panel.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Do you think the consequences for skippers who behavior responsibly
need to be tougher. I mean, if you look at
that case at Clark's Beach when a mum and her
son died completely unnecessarily, and it was their typical boatie
who thinks they know everything, thinks their bulletproof, thinks everybody
in their sphere is bulletproof. No life jackets, drinking, didn't check,
(07:32):
the weather, radio wasn't working. They could have survived if
any one of those things had been done, and yet
only got was six months home detention and it curved
you community detention.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah. Well, I mean that's why in regard to those circumstances,
I'm going to stay out of that. In regards to
whether it was appropriate or not. But I think the
point for me around that particular case or case is
very similar is that it gives the opportunity now of people.
It gives people the opportunity to end up bringing up
(08:08):
examples to the hearings panel and to say life jackets
are so important to keep my family who are in
the boat safe and others to who put in front
of us if they have a contrary view. That's why
it's important that they end up having that opportunity. And
(08:30):
I mean for both those on the panel, is just
making sure that we give them the opportunity to say
whatever they say and then make our decision that goes
to the governing body.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Thank you so much for your time, El Philippina Auckland,
counselor and Buy Law Review panel member.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Carrywood and Morning's podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be Auckland Council, as we've been discussing, as proposing
significant updates to its Navigation by Law aimed at reducing
drownings and improving safety across the region's waterways. Public consultation
on these changes is opened until the seventh of June
of this year. The most significant change is making life
jackets mandatory for everyone on vessels under six meters while
(00:34):
they're underway i e. In motion. Current rules only require
carrying them, with the person in charge deciding when they
must be worn. Auckland Counselor and by Law Review Panel
member al Philippina joins me. Now, very good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
To you, Fata, My dear Carrie, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Very very well? Thank you? Bit frustrated and you must
be two when you hear of fifteen to twenty people
losing their lives unnecessarily, it must it must be so frustrating.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Ye, it is, And I mean I only meet My
police background is because my role in the police was
specifically as an honor. I remember getting called when some
of our children and adults were found the body recovered
so that's the reality for me way back when I
(01:25):
was in the police, and I just don't want to
end up getting other police officers all our community saying, look,
we believe there is a body in the water. So
look it really isn't it. I think it's about time.
But we want our community to have us say that
is so important for them.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But I say about what, I mean, what sort of
person is going to as going to make a submission
that I don't want to wear a life jacket. I
don't want my kids to have to wear a life jacket.
Get stuffed yours sincerely, Yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I mean five years ago, and this is our first
review since we ended up proving the navigational bilor. This
is the first review after five years. I was on
the panel five years ago and you had people saying, look,
it should be a choice of the captain or the
person in control of the vessel. That's what we had
(02:23):
five years ago. And now we've got a situation. We
want our community have a say. Hopefully the majority of
them will come in and say no, this is common
sense and we need to have our life jackets on
when the vessel is in the water and in motion.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
But Surely, fifteen to twenty deaths within two k's of
sure predominantly in boats under six meters and death caused
by people not wearing life jackets. Surely that's done the
work for you. That shows what needs to be done,
and there's no need for a public consultation.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Now, there's always a need for public consultation because as
I heard and saw five year years ago, there are
other organizations that said, no, you don't need to change,
you're by law, and that's how we ended up. But again,
it gives the opportunity for our organizations, for our community
(03:22):
to have a say, and then for the panel to
decide where we go with the have your say. And
I think that's that's the most important. I mean, you know,
people end up saying exactly what Jill said, Look it
should becommon sense. But you know, I mean for me
is just to hear our community and I'm hoping the
majority would, but you never know. And that's why Kerry
(03:45):
having this opportunity with you just to sort of put
it out there and say, please, community, have your say.
This is so important for our community and for those
that are on the vessel. So thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, I mean, I just I just kind even imagine
what it's like as a first respond to having to
tell a family there, yeah, ones aren't coming home. But
when it comes to that public consultation, I'm trying to
find a way a positive and maybe by threshing it
out in boating clubs or you know, in community halls,
(04:19):
people will come to understand the importance of it in
their own way and be more likely to comply with
the law rather than being told you must do this.
They will hear the debate and the pros and the
cons and get their head around it.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Maybe no, look that's correct, because what happens is that
our voting fraternity, they have an opportunity to say, look,
this is how we can assist other groups like Water
Safe New Zealand, like Drowning provence Auckland, like our Coast Guard.
They have an opportunity to say we as an organization
(04:56):
believe that this is the best way forward and we
support what the council have put out for consultation, but
we will get others to say no, it should be
up to the person in charge of the vessel and
whether the family members on the vessel wear it or not.
But you know, that just gives them the opportunity to
(05:18):
give their reasons why they support or they don't support
the wearing of life jackets and you know, personal creating devices.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
People talk about education, but seriously, do people really need
to be educated about the need to wear life jackets.
I think they know the risk, they're just willing to
take it.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, well, look, you know, I mean people know the risk.
But for them is that why is the Auckland Council
trying to tell us what we do when the vessel,
the under six metered vessel, the boat is out control,
you don't tell me. So this is the opportunity for
(06:01):
them to say, look, we don't support this. And here's
my reasons why having this is important. This is why
myself and when he out there and I'm hoping there's
going to be a third person to hear, they have
your say. This is why it's important that we do
have an open mind. But look at all the all
(06:21):
the submissions that we have around the pros and cons
around the navigational by law. And that's why it's important
I gain CAIRI and you mentioned it earlier around you know,
telling the family that look we found your loved one,
and yeah, it's it's just something that obviously I know
that I won't forget with the family that I ended
(06:45):
up being with the father and his son when they
were recovered at Mangatee Bridge. But that applies to all
the police officers, all the first responders as you did,
for the community that who find people who have passed,
and that's why it's important to let everybody have their
say at the panel.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Do you think the consequences for skippers who behavior responsibly
need to be tougher. I mean, if you look at
that case at Clark's Beach when a mum and her
son died completely unnecessarily, and it was their typical boatie
who thinks they know everything, thinks their bulletproof, thinks everybody
in their sphere is bulletproof. No life jackets, drinking, didn't check,
(07:32):
the weather, radio wasn't working. They could have survived if
any one of those things had been done, and yet
only got was six months home detention and it curved
you community detention.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah. Well, I mean that's why in regard to those circumstances,
I'm going to stay out of that. In regards to
whether it was appropriate or not. But I think the
point for me around that particular case or case is
very similar is that it gives the opportunity now of people.
It gives people the opportunity to end up bringing up
(08:08):
examples to the hearings panel and to say life jackets
are so important to keep my family who are in
the boat safe and others to who put in front
of us if they have a contrary view. That's why
it's important that they end up having that opportunity. And
(08:30):
I mean for both those on the panel, is just
making sure that we give them the opportunity to say
whatever they say and then make our decision that goes
to the governing body.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Thank you so much for your time, El Philippina Auckland,
counselor and Buy Law Review panel member.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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