However Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), Navigation Safety (Waikato Regional Council), the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers and Wanaka-based boating safety adviser Peter Rhodes say the decision should rest with MNZ.
Paddleboarders won a significant victory in September when they convinced the majority of the council to advertise an amendment to the Waterways Navigation Safety Bylaw 2009 that would see them included with surfers in a life jacket exemption.
The council decided not to wait for the outcome of a MNZ paddleboard review and deal with the "grey area" itself, calling for public submissions, receiving 15, of which four opposed an exemption.
MNZ wants the QLDC to delay the amendment until a focus group has reported back on personal flotation device research.
The focus group includes paddleboarders, MNZ experts, members of the National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum (NPBSF) and the QLDC harbourmaster Marty Black, a NPBSF member.
MNZ safe boating adviser and Coastguard Boating Education Service tutor Peter Rhodes, of Wanaka, argues paddleboarders should wear wetsuits to protect against the cold and to double as personal flotation.
Paul Caffyn, for the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers, submitted that paddleboarders should not be treated differently to kayakers: "The high numbers of recreational paddlers drowning on the southern lakes in the past 18 months ... shows an abysmal lack of awareness by tourists in the dangers of paddling on the southern lakes."
The hearing panel is councillors Lyal Cocks, Jude Battson and Russell Mawhinney.
