Alcohol consumption on boats will come under the spotlight through the Otago Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw that is up for review.

Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook told regional councillors this week, that controlling alcohol use on boats was something that had to be led by Maritime NZ - but they could “potentially” write something into their own safety bylaw that could be signed off at the top.

“As a group of national harbourmasters, we’ve been pushing on that door for quite some time, and will continue to do so.”

Last summer, Central Otago police had to walk away from a group of intoxicated jet boaters near Luggate, who overturned their boat, tipping passengers into the water.

A loophole in the law meant authorities were powerless to prosecute them - even though it was illegal and dangerous to operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol.

The group refused to co-operate with police, and by the time the Wanaka waterways team got involved, they were well gone.  

Police said at the time, they could only prosecute the drivers for excess breath alcohol, by waiting at the boat ramp when they came to shore. 

ORC harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook and the team will be out patrolling on Lake Dunstan over summer. Image: supplied

The Otago Navigation Safety Bylaw 2020 assists with the regulation of ports, harbours, waters and maritime-related activities in the region.

After a discussion led by Cr Kate Wilson, the council agreed that new provisions will be written into the draft Navigation Safety Bylaw, that helped address the issue.

“Why you can’t do something in a car that you can do in a boat - it just seems, given the risks, madness,” she said.

The draft bylaw will be presented back to the regional council for its next meeting on December 9, and then once signed off will be submitted to Maritime NZ as the governing body.

It covers the wearing of lifejackets, notification of incidents, seaworthy vessels, vessels to be identified and a range of other matters.

It will then go out for consultation in early 2026, with an aim to adopt the new bylaw in April 2026.