On Friday 16 October Wellington Ocean Sports Instructors Matt Wood and Holly Novis will be joining other safe boating representatives in jumping from Queens Wharf to remember the 27 people who drown in recreational boating accidents each year. Organised by Maritime New Zealand, the wharf jump also marks the start of Safer Boating Week.
The jump will occur at 11am on Friday, October 16 at the outer “T†of Queen’s Wharf, Wellington (opposite Ferg’s, if you know the area). The aim is to have 27 boating safety leaders take the plunge into the harbour to draw attention to those tragic events. Crucially, all will be wearing lifejackets because it is estimated two-thirds of deaths in recreational boating would be prevented if the victims had been wearing lifejackets.
The Harbour Master, Police, and Surf Life Saving NZ are providing safety boats, Greater Wellington Regional Council is holding a water safety display at the wharf.
Those taking the plunge include:
- Wellington City Deputy Mayor, Justin Lester
- Waikato Harbour Master, Richard Barnett (yes, all the way from Hamilton!)
- Maritime NZ Director, Keith Manch, with other Maritime NZ staff jumping in support of Keith
- Water Safety NZ CEO, Matt Claridge
- Water Safety NZ Policy and Advocacy Manager, Mark Lindsay
- Surf Life Saving NZ Chair, Geoff Hamilton
- Civil Aviation Authority Safety Investigator, Dan Foley
- NZSAR Secretariat Manager, Duncan Ferner
- ACC Chief Customer Officer, Sid Miller
- Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club , Matt Wood
- Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club , Holly Novis
- and representatives of the Wellington Maritime Police and Police National Headquarters
