Submission on the Life Jackets for Children and Young Persons Bill

Mana Mokopuna - Children's Commissioner strongly supports the intention of the Life Jackets for Child and Young Persons Bill to better protect children under 15 years of age by requiring they wear life jackets on the water.

Considering the significant vulnerability of all children to drowning when they are out on the water, we are of the view that the Bill should go further and require the mandatory use of life jackets for all children under 18 years on all recreational craft.

To further protect children from the risk of drowning, we urge the government to support better regulation, compliance and education in relation to temporary pools, and ensure funding for water safety education and drowning data collection and analysis is maintained, if not increased.