VHF radio: It’s your rescue network at sea

Watch the full version of the ad, and get lots of information about marine VHF radio at www.maritimenz.govt.nz/vhf

The aim is to increase VHF radio carriage and encourage boaties to do the Coastguard Boating Education course.

Maritime NZ and our advertising agency, Saatchi and Saatchi will be issuing media releases about the new campaign.

The TV ad is based on a real rescue of three boaties in July this year – they used VHF radio.

The campaign includes, radio and digital ads and information, and point of sale education material at marine retailers.

Maritime NZ consulted with the Safer Boating Forum, Councils, Harbourmasters and the Marine Industry Association to develop the campaign.

Research shows lifejacket wearing rates steady at about 75% but only 25% of boaties take a VHF radio, and 59% of recreational boating fatalities did not have adequate communications. Inadequate communications cannot be said to have caused the deaths but it was an added risk that made rescue harder.

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