Bay of Plenty National MP Todd Muller has donated 120 lifejackets to local schools in the Bay of Plenty, for use in water safety programmes.

The lifejackets have been given to Todd via his colleague National Party MP Alfred Ngaro, who is promoting a member's Bill that would make life jackets compulsory for children under the age of 15 on vessels smaller than six metres long.

Todd, who represents a coastal community, is backing this bill, and says as we head into summer we need to put a real focus on water safety, particularly when there are kids involved. Every Kiwi kid should be safe on the water.

'As a community we need to take a firm line when it comes to making sure kids all have lifejackets, and are wearing them, before we head out on the water, just like we do with seatbelts before a car trip.

'As far as I'm concerned, one preventable death on the water is one too many,” says Todd.

Last year, 105 people drowned in New Zealand waters, 92 of those deaths were preventable, and tragically that figure includes nine children under the age of 15. Eight of the total deaths occurred right here in the Bay.

Twenty six people were caught not wearing or not carrying lifejackets on their boats, kayaks or jet skis in Tauranga over the festive season last year.

The ‘Old4New' tour has hit New Zealand roads and is reminding people to think hard and fast about the safety of friends and whanau, making sure their lifejackets are fit for purpose.

This week, the Old4New van has been visiting the Bay of Plenty, gathering old lifejackets in exchange for new.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council harbourmaster Peter Buell says it's encouraging to see people putting their family's safety first.

'It is great to have conversation with people, many came with stories of why it's important they take responsibility for the safety of their families. Most were women, who seemed to be more aware that old lifejackets are not fit for purpose.”

Community Ambassador for Coastguard, Sue Tucker, has been travelling the country over many summers with Old4New and says during the course of a season they usually trade in around 3,000 personal lifejackets nationwide.

Two weeks into this season and that figure already stands at around 700.

'New Zealanders are great hoarders and old lifejackets seem to be top of the list, but a lifejacket won't last a lifetime,” says Sue.

'They need to be maintained and managed. When you find yourself in a situation where it needs inflating, it needs to work.

'Many people have no knowledge of how their lifejackets work, or that they contain a gas canister inside, with near 75 percent of people having never opened them up.”

In addition to the lifejacket trade in, Bay of Plenty Regional Council maritime summer students handed out information on how to stay safe in our waterways this summer.