The Royal Yachting Association (the UK version of YNZ who are the National Governing Body for Powerboating as well) have the qualification of Powerboat Instructor and Advanced Instructor to cover the following courses...
Level 1 - Introduction to Powerboating
Level 2 - National Certificate = basic competency
Safetyboat = rescuing skills
Intermediate = similar to Day Skipper for small powerboats
Advanced = Night & Day Skipper levels
The NZ Coastguard subscribes the RYA's way of doing things rather than reinventing the wheel. The NZ Coastguard Boating Education Service created the course Dave Smith runs at HYC called the Safetyboat Operators Certificate. This covers bits from Level 2 and Safetyboat Courses from the RYA syllabus. In the UK the Level 2 is a two day course. After one seasons experience you can then complete the Safetyboat couse which is a further two. YNZ said Kiwi's would not do the course if it took 1 year and 4 days to beable to drive a patrolboat therefore after 8 hours you can be qualified in NZ.
A long winded story, however the CBES need to have compentent and qualified people running courses so that means fulfilling the RYA pre-requisites to be a RYA Powerboat Instructor able to run RYA courses in NZ and also the CBES Safetyboat Operators Certificate.
In short you need to hold a L2 Powerboat Certificate, hold a valid first certificate (including hyperthermia), have passed the pre assessment and then complete the three day course. The following links many be of help...
If your're still interested, please drop me a line and we can talk down at HYC where I can show you some literature.
I am arranging a Level 2 direct assessment for any one interested, but again more details will follow.
Dave Smith
Club Coach & RYA Powerboat Instructor
Hamilton Yacht Club
Some useful information for patrol boat skippers and crew: