The Department of Conservation (DOC) has a fleet of 68 boats. Photo: DOC / SUPPLIED
DOC has let its fleet of dozens of boats get so old it now has to come up with a way to replace most of them.
It needed to get rid of 45 workboats, jetboats and dinghys out of its fleet of 68, a treasury report found.
It wanted to bring in 39 new boats over the next six years, but this depended on government funding which had not been secured yet.
DOC told RNZ it had no replacement plan at all until two years ago.
"Up until 2022, there was no structured, long-term vessel asset replacement plan, which allowed the vessel fleet to reach a point where it risks being unfit for purpose," senior fleet adviser Adam Manins said.
"However, given the age, condition, and performance of the current fleet, a six-year replacement schedule is both reasonable and necessary to maintain operational efficiency and safety."
The old boats were more at risk of breakdown and cost more to repair, so staff checked them before every trip.
"If DOC cannot replace all these vessels over the six-year timeframe, we will need to prioritise those which carry the highest risk in continued operation."
The boats were used in coastal waters to inland rivers and lakes, supporting conservation, biosecurity, and ecological monitoring.
It was rare for the public be allowed on board DOC boats.
The agency had still not finished an asset management plan, the report noted.
Replacing 45 with 39 reflected using more modern, suitable and reliable vessels.
"No funding has been allocated yet, and any final number will depend on Cabinet budget decisions," Manins said.
A report to a Cabinet committee said a business case must look at the pros and cons of buying standard boats or ones customised for DOC. Some were purpose-built for rough terrain.
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