The Coastguard says there is no evidence that tighter regulations will reduce recreational boating fatalities.
In his report on the death of a nine-year-old water-skier in 2009
Rotorua coroner Wallace Bain is calling for all boats be registered and licensing of skippers made mandatory.
Genevieve Lewis fell off her skis in Lake Taupo and was run over by a boat. Skipper John Curtis escaped a prison sentence but had to pay $23,000 in fines and reparation.
Dr Bain says there have been 40 recreational boating deaths since 2004 and it is hard to understand why lawmakers have not yet taken firmer action.
Laws for the water need to be much closer to laws for the road, he says, and have punishments to match.
But Coastguard New Zealand says tougher regulations are not needed, as recreational boating deaths have fallen steadily in the past decade.
It says there is no solid evidence from overseas that licensing skippers and registering vessels makes boating any safer, and in any case, such a regime would be incredibly tough and expensive to police.
Maritime New Zealand says licensing and registration are initiatives not currently supported by the National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum, which is made up of 16 agencies.
Education and targeted legislation are the most effective methods to improve boating safety, it says.
