The agency investigating the deadly sinking of a charter boat off Northland's coast is calling for an urgent overhaul of the country's search and rescue operations.
Only five of the ten men onboard the Enchanter survived when it capsized in a wave described as like a "wall of water" in March last year.
In a report out today, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission found a lack of dedicated rescue helicopters, and a shortage of fuel for them, delayed rescue efforts by hours.
Amy Williams reports.
Due to the sudden capsize of the Enchanter none of those onboard were wearing life jackets.
But also none of the charter guests had been shown how to put them on and all jackets were stored in a single location on the boat, which couldn't be reached in the due to boat falling apart suddenly.
None of the four life buoys onboard had effective reflectors on them and without life jacket with strobe lights it would have been difficult to see survivors in the water.
The report says passenger should practice putting on life jackets, so they don't have to learn under pressure.
Jackets should be stored around the boat for accessibility during an emergency.
There's safety benefit to weaing a personal locator beacon.
And an automatic tracking device onboard the vessel itself would reduce the tie for rescue.
Chief Executive Marine Industry Association of New Zealand Peter Busfield spoke to Lisa Owen.
