[Manukau Harbour, 29 May, 2025] - Two new jet skis are set to enhance Coastguard Tautiaki Moana ability to respond swiftly to emergencies on the notoriously dangerous Manukau Harbour and Bar.
The rescue watercraft, known as jet skis, are introduced as a response to an increase in incidents on the Harbour. The agile jet skis can reach areas that larger rescue vessels are not able to - including shallow waters and sandbanks - making them a vital new addition to the Coastguard Titirangi toolkit.
While the Titirangi volunteers are still in training mode, harbour users may see the jet skis out on the water with the expectation of being fully operational later this year.
Three Coastguard units operate on the Manukau Harbour — Titirangi, Papakura, and Waiuku. Titirangi new jet skis are currently based in Cornwallis, a location chosen to help reduce response times and improve access to key launch points near the bar.
“The addition of these jet skis will be a game-changer,” says Scott Palmer, current Coastguard Titirangi Board Member and unit volunteer since 2013.
“They’re fast and can get to places our larger vessels simply can’t. Whether it’s people gathering kai, fishing off the rocks, or just getting caught out by the conditions, these jet skis will help us get there quickly – and sometimes those extra minutes can be the difference between life and death,” he says.
These two new jet skis bring Coastguard’s national rescue watercraft fleet to 17, strengthening the organisation’s ability to respond swiftly across the country.
The initiative supports Water Safety New Zealand’s (WSNZ) national strategy in reducing preventable drownings. The Manukau Harbour has been identified as New Zealand’s highest fatality ‘blackspot’ having claimed 54 lives since 2000 – including 11 in the past decade.
Four volunteers are currently undergoing intensive training to become the unit’s first operational jet ski crew.
“We’re incredibly proud of our volunteers who have stepped up to train as jet ski operators.
“They’re not just learning to use new equipment, they’re acting as trailblazers. Once trained, they’ll help mentor new operators and build long-term rescue capability for our unit and to support those who enjoy the Manukau,” Palmer says.
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