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Water Safety

Water Safety is the responsibility of everyone involved with club and school rowing in New Zealand.

It is important for all members of the New Zealand rowing community (including rowers, coxswains, coaches, administrators and supporters) to be conscious of safety throughout all rowing training and competition.

Rowing NZ have created multiple safety resources to enable schools and clubs to develop and maintain safety guidelines.

If you are a member of the New Zealand rowing community, please review these safety resources and become familiar with their content.

Safety Boat Operator Courses

RNZ are arranging courses throughout NZ for this year. RNZ have approved trainers to deliver the course.
Registrations are being done via Rowing Connect; individuals can register themselves. Please note the following payment options for the course:

  • Process payment via credit card using stripe at the time of registration.
  • Direct debit – select this option at the end of registration enter bank details and this will get processed at the time of registration.

Upcoming 2026 Courses 

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Water Safety Audit

In 2023, Rowing New Zealand is conducting an audit of it's water safety code.

Maritime Rule 91.4(3) allows for a national sporting organisation to apply for an exemption from the wearing of lifejackets, so long as the safety systems in place are at or above the equivalent safety standard of a life jacket. Rowing New Zealand have been working in collaboration with Maritime New Zealand to review on-water safety practices and develop an updated Water Safety Code which will ensure rowing continues to be exempt from wearing life jackets.

As part of the updated water safety code, RNZ are required to complete a nation-wide safety audit. The intention of this audit is to confirm the current water safety practices in each club’s daily operations and fitout of the water safety plant, while also offering recommendations on safe on water procedure.

See More resources

Water Safety Risk Register

Rowing New Zealand will “Maintain a risk register highlighting the clearly identifiable national water safety risks; divisible by areas; water, equipment, weather, and medical.”

Risk Register
Risk Register Guidance