Lake Dunstan boaties will not face an alcohol ban while operating vessels, with Otago Regional Council staff advising there is no evidence intoxication is causing accidents.

The ORC’s navigational safety bylaw is under review, and will go out for public consultation in the new year.

At its last meeting, Cr Kate Wilson said it was “madness” that people were allowed to operate boats while under the influence of alcohol, given the risks.

Other regions take a stricter approach.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has its own bylaw prohibiting alcohol consumption on boats on Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea. Auckland Council and the Northland Regional Council also enforce similar rules.

However, Otago Regional Council staff said alcohol use on boats is not currently regulated under the bylaw, making it unclear whether it is a significant issue locally.

Under the current bylaw (section 6(1)), a person in charge of a vessel is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of every person on board and for the safe operation of the vessel. 

If unsafe operation or an accident is reported, the harbourmaster can investigate regardless of the cause.

Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook told regional councillors at its last meeting that controlling alcohol use on boats was something that had to be led by Maritime NZ.

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

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

New rules and regulations governing navigational safety will go out for consultation in early 2026, with an aim to adopt the new bylaw in April 2026.

Aspects such as boat speed limits in certain areas of Lake Dunstan and the need to always wear life jackets on the water, will remain unchanged.

One new proposal that will be in the draft bylaw is for all commercial vessels carrying 12 or more

passengers both day and night, and all vessels 15-plus metres, to carry a new mandatory automatic identification tracking system (AIS).

Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact editor@centralapp.nz