Maritime NZ and Coastguard New Zealand are reminding boaties to replace and destroy their old lifejackets before they fail when you need them most.

Maritime NZ Deputy Director Sharyn Forsyth says old lifejackets are dangerous and should be replaced as soon as possible with modern, foam-filled or inflatable alternatives.

'Old lifejackets should be destroyed so they cannot be reused or on-sold,” she says.

'An easy way to replace lifejackets is to meet Coastguard's Old4New lifejacket upgrade van and get discounts on brand new lifejackets.”

The van has been touring New Zealand since the start of December, and continues its tour around the country until the first week of February.

It will visit Opotiki at the Coastguard Opotiki base on Monday, January 28 from 9-11am, and at the Coastguard Maketu base from 1-4pm.

On Tuesday, January 29, the van will be at Te Waka a Hinemoana at Sulphur Point, Tauranga from 3-6pm.

The Coastguard offer will also be available at participating boating and outdoor retailers on selected dates.

In December alone, more than 1200 old, damaged or out-of-date lifejackets were traded in at the Old4New van as it toured New Zealand.

In total, the van will visit over 60 locations throughout the country.

'The response is getting better every year,” says Coastguard's Sue Tucker, who is travelling with the Old4New van this summer.