A new maritime law making life jackets mandatory for children on small boats may have to wait until after summer to be introduced.
National MP Simon Watts is calling on cross-party support for his Bill to fast-track a law change that authorities say will save lives.
More than 160 people have drowned off a vessel in the last decade.
"Of those individuals [who] drowned they had a life jacket on board but didn't use it, 59 of those didn't have a life jacket available," Watts said
He has a Bill in the Members' ballot to make wearing life jackets mandatory for under-15s on boats under six metres.
Watts wants the Bill to be put in place before the summer season is over but needs cross-party support.
"I think that will make a significant difference to save lives in this country," he said.
"I'm calling on all Members of Parliament across the parties to support my Members' Bill. I've got National's support. I need 61 votes to get it introduced into Parliament straight away."
Throughout the year Water Safety New Zealand has asked the Government to consider a national standard.
Associate Transport Minister Kieran McAnulty said "there is a paper under active consideration at a Cabinet-level".
McAnulty added: "There are a range of views on this matter and we are actively engaging with those on either side of this argument."
But there is no timeline with New Zealand currently having 17 separate regional bylaws for wearing life jackets.
"For a lot of people - especially on boats six metres or less - they don't wear life jackets a lot of the time and that is really kind of one of our big pushes for people to wear life jackets on all vessels," harbour master navigation safety officer John Kent said.
He said education around wearing life did help but a national standard could be the right solution.
"Harbour masters around the country would be in support of a national rule mandating life jacket use on all vessels, it would be the single best thing we could do to save lives," Kent said.
There is no indication of whether it will be mandated but McAnulty wanted New Zealanders to think for themselves.
"Our key message would be please don't wait for a rule change, please wear a life jacket."
They save lives.
