The delivery of second hand lifejackets to the Cook Islands will save lives, the New Zealand Coastguard says.
Traded-in life jackets that are still of good quality and meet New Zealand standards have been collected under the Coastguards Old4New upgrade programme and sent to the Pacific Islands.
Over 3600 lifejackets were traded in during the 10 week 2018 summer campaign, which saw the Old4New van visit 55 New Zealand communities.
The Coastguard's Patrick Holmes said lifejackets ensured Pacific fishermen did not risk their lives while at sea and protected at-risk communities as they went about their daily tasks.
The programme had been running since 2014, with Matson Shipping transporting the lifejackets to the Cook Islands this year for distribution by the Rarotonga Sailing Club, he said.