It will soon be compulsory for boaties to wear a lifejacket while underway on vessels measuring six metres or less on Waikato waterways.

Tauranga harbourmaster Jennifer Roberts

The rule, coming into effect on July 1, is part of the new Navigation Safety Bylaw adopted by Waikato Regional Council last week, and includes the Coromandel Peninsula and the Mercury Islands, and Slipper Island.

Western Bay of Plenty harbour master Jennifer Roberts says at all times a correctly-fitting lifejacket still must be carried for each person on board a vessel, but the new rule requires that they must also be worn when a vessel of six metres or less is underway.

'They will need to be wearing, and not just carrying, a lifejacket.”

Jennifer is currently unsure whether the new bylaw will be adopted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council but says they are following the changes other councils are making to their bylaws.

'We haven't yet decided on any changes we might propose, but we will be seeking feedback from the community as part of the bylaw review we are undertaking in the 2013/14 financial year.

'We would expect to announce any decisions around bylaw changes before the end of the next financial year.”

The draft bylaw was released for community feedback in the Waikato last December, with the council considering the views and feedback of 211 submitters.

The Waikato joins four other regions in New Zealand that have already adopted the lifejackets rule.