There were many people in vessels 6 metres or less who needed to wear lifejackets, not just carry them, he said. Despite high winds and big swells, some boaties still ventured out, including two catamarans that overturned in separate incidents, Lyle said. The other catamaran, a larger vessel, nearly sank after hitting a rock - again likely due to poor navigation, Lyle said. Small vessels obstructing large ships — a breach of navigation safety bylaws — is also becoming common, Lyle said. Large vessels look slow, but their speed is deceptive,” he said.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 09, 2026 14:28 UTC