Date:  24 January 2018

Summer is ‘boaty bag’ season in the Bay of Islands with up to 400 boaty bags being handed out to boaties on the water by Project Island Song volunteers, DOC and the New Zealand Police.

The boaty bags are designed to remind boaties of their responsibilities on the water and land, while creating a fun way to engage with them. 

Rolien Elliot, Operations Manager, Bay of Islands DOC, appreciates the support from the NZ Police this summer with inter-agency boat patrols in the Bay of Islands (BOI). "Working together is more efficient than running our own patrols and gives us a better appreciation of each other's roles in helping the public keep safe and understand messages around maritime, biosecurity and fishery regulations. The boat patrols and boatie bags are being very well received."

Bay of Islands Police help distribute boaty bags in the Bay of Islands
Image: DOC

"A police boat (RHIB) was deployed in the BOI again this year between 29 December to 12 January 2018. This deployment was extremely successful thanks to all of our partners and community members involved. It was a great opportunity to work with DOC. The DOC packs distributed were greatly appreciated due to the fact that they contained valuable information, resources and giveaways," says Chris McLellan, Northern District Police Inspector.

Helen Ough Dealy, Bay of Islands DOC Community Ranger says, "The bags contain all the information boaties need to look after the Bay and its islands. Material on biosecurity (stopping pests getting to the islands), looking after bottlenose dolphins, protecting kauri from kauri dieback disease, keeping to the fishing and marine mammal regulations and being safe on the water."

"The boaty bag is a bit like a man cave! It's stuffed full of handy bits and pieces: a floating keyring reminding people to keep their gear and boat pest-free, a paua measuring stick, a fish measuring sticker, a shoebrush to keep footwear clear of dirt and possibly kauri dieback. There are even goodies for the kids: activities and games about looking after bottlenose dolphins, a kauri tree heightchart and temporary kauri tattoos!" says Helen.

Anyone wanting their own boaty bag sent to them can contact Helen Ough Dealy at DOC. Contact details below. 

Background information

• Boaty bags have been created and distributed around the Bay every summer since 2010.
• The boaty bags will be available from Boxing Day, 26 December 2017 until they run out. The police patrol vessel, Project Island Song and Russell Landcare volunteers, the DOC marine mammal patrol boat, DOC's summer ranger based in Otehei Bay, Urupukapuka Island and DOC's Urupukapuka Island camphosts will be handing out bags.

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