Using speed guns against speeding boaties in the Bay of Plenty is not something the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is currently looking into, says regional harbourmaster Peter Buell.

He's commenting on a Marlborough trial of laser speed guns which Maritime NZ says is showing too many Marlborough boaties are breaking speeding rules.

In a two-hour trial last week 10 recreational boaties were caught speeding, which is disappointing, says Marlborough Harbourmaster Luke Grogan.

'Compliance with speed rules was not great,” says Luke.

'We get lots of emails and phone calls complaining about boaties speeding close to shore and in busy areas.

'Speeders are unhappy when we catch them but their speed puts children, swimmers, divers and other boats at risk.”

Nationwide, boats are required to travel at five knots – a fast walking pace – within 200 metres of shore and divers, and within 50 metres of swimmers and other boats.

The speed guns are a good additional tool, says Luke.

'They give solid evidence of a boat's speed and save a lot of desk work.”

Maritime NZ is funding the trial and working with the Marlborough Harbourmaster to show how speed guns could be used by other councils.

Maritime NZ Acting Director, Nigel Clifford, says Maritime Officers and Marlborough District Council Harbourmaster's staff will be back on the water today and speeders will get infringement notices.

Each infringement notice comes with a fine of $200.

'The trial is going well,” says Nigel. 'The speed guns have good range and good accuracy, and other councils are keen to see the results we are getting.”