The Kaipara Harbour tragedy which has left seven people dead and one person missing has emphasised the need for boaties to take care when crossing bars.

'Crossing a bar is the riskiest thing boaties can face, no matter how experienced they are,” says Waikato Regional Council maritime services team leader Richard Barnett.

'Conditions on any bar can change quickly and without warning. The conditions you experience when you leave a safe harbour for the sea aren't necessarily what you will encounter when you return.”

The Tairua bar is one of the riskiest on Coromandel, while further south in the Bay of Plenty risky bars include Bowentown, Kaituna, and Whakatane.

Richard says many experienced boaties have got into difficulty crossing a bar and often boats are damaged and people are killed or injured when attempts to navigate bar crossings go wrong.

Some key tips for staying safe include checking the weather within 12 hours of heading out and the tides – not only avoid low tide but also don't cross a bar during ebb or outgoing tides which are between high and low tide when water flows away from the shore.

Also, local boaties have local knowledge and information, so if you're unfamiliar with a bar then try and track someone down for a talk.

Remember that everyone on board must wear a lifejacket and also don't forget to tie down any loose objects such as anchor and ropes

Last, but certainly not least, contact Coastguard on VHF immediately before you cross and after you've successfully crossed, emphasises Richard.

'If in doubt, don't go out.”

The Waikato Regional Council, in collaboration with Bay of Plenty, Coastguard NZ, Maritime NZ and Water Safety NZ, are taking a very proactive approach to encourage bar crossing safety.

Last week views of a bar crossing safety video published online easily cracked the 200,000 mark on YouTube alone.

For more information about bar crossing safety visit the Waikato Regional Council at: www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/barcrossing/ or the Bay of Plenty Regional Council at: www.boprc.govt.nz/barcrossingvideos