Aotearoa, 16 December 2025 - Coastguard, in partnership with Hutchwilco, has refreshed its flagship water safety initiative, Old4New, making lifejacket upgrades easier than ever before.
From 1 January to 28 February 2026, the initiative moves beyond one-day pop-up events to an eight-week, in-store campaign at Hunting & Fishing New Zealand’s 40 locations nationwide. This gives the public more time and more locations to access discounts and ensure they have modern, reliable lifejackets.
Since 2014, Coastguard’s Old4New campaign has been a cornerstone of summer, removing old, damaged, or ill-fitting lifejackets and allowing people to replace them at a discounted price. More than 24,000 lifejackets have been removed from circulation over this time.
Access to fit-for-purpose, quality lifejackets remains a top priority for Coastguard. Water Safety New Zealand estimates that 12 lives could be saved each year if everyone wore a lifejacket. Tragically, in 2025 so far, 10 people have drowned while on crafts without wearing one.
As always with Old4New, people who bring in an old or unsafe lifejacket can save between $20-$30 on a selected range of Hutchwilco lifejackets. The promotion is in-store only and applies to popular models such as the Mariner Classic, Aquavest Classic, and 170N Inflatable.
“Old4New has become a popular summer tradition for people looking to upgrade their lifejackets before heading out on the water,” says Nātia Tucker, Coastguard Community Engagement Manager. “In previous years, limited schedules meant we couldn’t reach every location, and some people missed out.”
“Moving the purchase of lifejackets in-store to Hunting & Fishing New Zealand this summer changes that,” she adds. “With the same great discounts available in all their stores throughout January and February, people can upgrade to quality Hutchwilco lifejackets at a time that suits them. Old4New is a great opportunity to check existing gear and ensure lifejackets are safe and fit for the on-water activities they love.”
Why upgrade? Lifejackets degrade over time. Foam, fabric, webbing, and straps weaken with exposure to sunlight, saltwater, and humidity - even if they look fine on the outside. Older lifejackets may also fail to meet modern safety standards, making them less effective in emergencies. Manufacturers recommend replacing lifejackets after 10 years, sooner if heavily used.
Traded-in lifejackets are responsibly disposed of. Belts and whistles are salvaged for educational use by groups like Scouts, while unsafe jackets are destroyed.
For more information, visit this link.
