Coastguard's Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign is back this summer – and it will be in our neck of the woods late-December.

Following last season's hiatus due to Covid-19, the 2022/2023 campaign has two Old4New vans travelling the length of the country from the Far North to the Deep South, until February 6.

The Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade is a Coastguard water safety initiative that aims to remove as many ill-fitting, damaged and old lifejackets from circulation as possible.

Kiwis have the opportunity to trade in their old lifejackets for a great discount on a range of new, modern, fit-for-purpose Hutchwilco lifejackets.

For the Bay of Plenty, the vans stop at Bowentown Boating & Sports Fishing Club, Pio Rd, Waihi Beach on Tuesday, December 27 from 2pm-5pm.

Old4New community ambassador Sue Tucker at a past year's campaign haul. Photo: Supplied.

The vans' next stop is at Sulphur Point Boat Ramp, 42 Cross Rd, Tauranga City, on Wednesday, December 28 from 8am-12 noon.

That afternoon, from 2pm-5pm on December 28, the vans will be at Coastguard Maketu, 2 Town Point Rd. The campaign then heads to Whakatane on Thursday, December 29, from 9am-12 noon at Whakatane Boat Ramp, Muriwai Drive.

For those who can't make it to the vans' stopping points, for the Bay of Plenty retail stores Mastertech Marine Tauranga and Sea Marine Whakatane will help you out from Saturday,
December 31 through to Saturday, December 7.

Two Old4New vans are travelling the length of the country from December 8 - February 6, 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Coastguard CEO Callum Gillespie said Old4New is a very valuable community initiative that aims to prevent needless drownings out on the water.

Already in 2022, Water Safety New Zealand has recorded 74 preventable drowning fatalities – that's up 15 per cent on figures at the same time in 2021.

'We have seen a high number of water-related incidents up and down NZ over the past year. We know that not wearing lifejackets is one of the most common factors in incidents we attend – something we want to change immediately,” says Callum.

Each year Old4New community ambassador Lolah Yee sees lifejackets of all conditions being traded in. 'Like all pieces of boating equipment, lifejackets deteriorate and wear over time. In fact, some lifejackets that were considered safe some years ago, like the old kapok-filled lifejackets, can be a hazard to you if it gets waterlogged.

'Old4New is a fantastic way for everyone to access new, proper-fitting lifejackets that could save you and your family's life in an emergency.”

During the last nine years more than 20,000 boaties have traded in their old, damaged or worn lifejackets for discounts on brand new, modern Hutchwilco lifejackets – meaning more than 20,000 Kiwis are now safer on the water.

For more information and a full location schedule visit www.old4new.nz or contact Coastguard on 0800 BOATIE (262 843).