Pleas for boaties to really think about what can go wrong out on the water for the rest of winter

The past seven weeks alone have seen seven people die in three incidents involving recreational craft.

Coastguard says incidents are seven percent higher than the same point last year -- with crews responding to more than 270 incidents and rescuing 14 people.

Maritime New Zealand spokesperson Matt Wood says while there are risks all year round, they're all amplified in winter.

He says with colder weather, shorter days and more unpredictable conditions, it's extremely challenging to survive if people enter the water.