Tauranga boaties who have been taking to the water in their thousands over Christmas and New Year are being congratulated for staying clear of the authorities and emergency services.

The packed festive period has been largely event-free, and Bay of Plenty harbourmaster Peter Buell has praised the vast majority for taking responsibility on the water.

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard Simon Barker.

He says: 'Most people are behaving themselves apart from a few people speeding, jet skiers, and some people who still will not wear life jackets.

'We still have a few people that are not obeying the five knot rule* and a few who think they don't need to wear lifejackets. But in general the boaters have been very good.

'It's the same old thing. There's a few hoons, jet skiers in particular, but even the majority of them are very well behaved. It's just the ones that aren't are so noticeable.”

Tauranga volunteer coastguard is also reporting a quiet time over the busiest boating period of the year.

'It's been really quite, and we've had very little to do at all,” says operations manager at Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard, Simon Barker.

'I think we have had about five jobs to do in the whole week between Christmas and New Year. Nothing too serious, just the odd flat battery and little mechanical breakdowns,” he adds.

Simon thinks having the harbourmaster's boats constantly on patrol over the festive period has also pre-empted a few problems that might have otherwise resulted in calls for the Coastguard's help.

'They are helping out where they can and that's probably saved us a few jobs as well,” he says.

*The five knot rule limits the speed of all recreational boats, including jet skis, to five knots - a fast walking pace - within 50m of another vessel or swimmer, and 200m of the shore, a diver's flag, a wharf or other structure.