Local notices to mariners Local notices to mariners


Notices to mariners cover events, local issues and infrastructure issues that may affect navigation in the Auckland region.

Local navigation aids warnings

Weekly local navigation warning summary: 14 July 2025 (PDF, 81KB)

For any enquiries, please contact harbourmaster@at.govt.nz


On this page: Local notices to mariners currently in force


30 – 25 RNZAF distress signal training, Devonport Naval Base

All mariners are advised that there will be distress signal deployments at Devonport Naval Base from 0900 hours to 1500 hours (9am to 3pm) on 21 July 2025.

Distress signals to be used

Number Description
4 Miniflare kit
5 Orange smoke signal

Map showing location of distress signal training at Devonport Naval Base

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


27 – 25 Defence Science and Technology search and rescue reflector deployment, Omaha Bay

All mariners are advised that there will be search and rescue (SAR) reflector and buoy deployment at Omaha Bay. There will be special marks at each corner to identify the area. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.

Schedule and location

Serial 1: 9 to 13 June 2025

Serial 2: 7 to 9 July 2025

Serial 3: 21 to 25 July 2025

Map showing location of reflector and buoy deployment at Omaha Bay

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


26 – 25 Marine construction, Halfmoon Bay car ferry terminal

All mariners are advised that there will be marine construction at Halfmoon Bay Ferry Terminal from May to December 2025. The works involve barge, crane, piling and diving operations. All mariners are advised to keep minimum wake towards the site and navigate with caution while operating in this area.

Map showing location of marine works at Halfmoon Bay Ferry Terminal

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


24 – 25 Marine construction, Clarks Beach

All mariners are advised that there will be marine constructions near Clarks Beach, Waiuku from mid-May 2025 to January 2026. The works involve dredging, piling and diver operations. All mariners are advised to keep minimum wakes and additional caution while operating in the area.

Map showing location of marine construction at Clarks Beach

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


22 – 25 Weiti River temporary channel closure

All mariners are advised that there will be temporary river closures as a part of O Mahurangi – PENLINK project at Weiti River. Details of schedule and locations are in the map.

All mariners operating in this area, refer to this message from the project team.

Wēiti River channel temporary closures

Dear neighbours,

The work we needed to do during the planned river channel closure is complete. The river channel reopened this morning (Wednesday 9 July).

Short-term closures

To construct Pier 4 (eastern side) pylons, concrete will be pumped across the navigable channel every 7 to 8 working days. These typically take 5 hours to complete. When possible, they will be timed around low tide times. These short-term closures won’t be notified.

Should a vessel need to pass through the navigable channel, it is imperative to call on marine channel VHF 73 to alert the team of your intentions, so staff can move the concrete boom or delay a lift as necessary. It is unsafe for vessels to pass through the navigable channel until it is clear.

Map showing Weiti River channel reopening
This map should not be used for navigation.
Work hours

Our work hours are typically:

  • Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
  • Saturday, 8am to 4pm.

However approval has been granted to extend the bridge work hours to 9pm and to Sundays, should it be needed.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the short-term closures. We thank all river users for their patience and understanding during the ongoing construction of the future Wēiti River Bridge.

Should you have any questions regarding these works please contact me.

Ngā mihi nui.

Trish Viall  
Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager  
Mobile: 027 548 7474 Freephone: 0800 736 5465  
Email: trish.viall@fultonhogan.com

Weiti River map

For information on the O Mahurangi project, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink

Jason Son  
Maritime Officer 
Harbourmaster’s Office  


20 – 25 Drilling barge operation, Inner Harbour

All mariners are advised that Drilling Barge operations are planned in the Westhaven and Northcote areas for several weeks. The barge will gradually reposition from South to North as its work progresses in the areas highlighted in green below. Work boat tenders will be servicing the barge. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution and to keep well clear of the barge. Wakes in the vicinity should be kept to a minimum.  

Drilling barge operation Inner Harbour map

* Not to be used for navigation.
 
Jason Son  
Maritime Officer 
Harbourmaster’s Office  


19– 25 Shoaling off Kawakawa Bay

Shoaling has been observered in the vicinity of the drying bank to the south of Karamuramu Island.

The shoaling appears to be particularly severe to the south and west of the South Cardinal beacon where depths are significantly less than those charted.

All mariners are advised to navigate with extreme caution while operating in this area.

Map showing location of shoaling near Kawakawa Bay

*Not to be used for navigation

Andrew Hayton
Harbourmaster’s Office


50 – 24 Bayswater Marina fuelling pier installation work, Bayswater

Bayswater Marina Fuelling Pier is closed to the public while we install fuel pumps and equipment on the pier.

The above works have started. Work is now not expected to finish by Friday 31 January 2025.

All vessels are requested to keep wake to a minimum and approach the Bayswater Marina facility with caution.

Map showing location of Baywater Marina fuelling pier.

*Not to be used for navigation

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


41 – 24 Great Barrier Island temporary wharf closure Tryphena Harbour

Auckland Transport's wharf structure at Tryphena Harbour on Great Barrier Island will be closed to the public until May 2025. The wharf is closing while the marine contractor STF Limited undertakes wharf maintenance work.

All vessels are requested to keep clear of the wharf structure. You must keep your wake to a minimum when transiting the area.

Map showing location of Tryphena Wharf

*Not to be used for navigation

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


03 – 24 Navigational Hazard, sandbank shoaling, Whau River mouth

All mariners are advised that there is shoaling on the western side of the channel,
near the Whau River Mouth. The location is identified with yellow, as below.
All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.

Map of Whau River Mouth showing sandbank shoal navigational hazard

*Not to be used for navigation.

Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster
Harbourmaster’s Office


34 – 23 Marine farm development, Western Firth

All mariners are advised that there will be marine farm development at Western Firth from 9 November 2023. The development includes the installation of navigation aids, mussel lines, and others. The site is located in YELLOW on the map below. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


30 - 23 O Mahurangi Penlink Weiti River bridge construction works

All mariners are advised that construction of the O Mahurangi Penlink River Bridge will commence mid-September 2023 with the installation of temporary platforms built on the western and eastern banks of the Weiti River to facilitate the construction of the permanent Weiti River bridge. Work will involve pile drilling, vibing and hammering into the seabed.

A barge will operate between the two staging platforms providing materials to the work sites through to December 2026.

Passage through the Weiti River Bridge Construction Zone will remain open to mariners, however Weiti River closures are expected during the finally stages of the project build. All river closures will be notified prior to the planned works. Mariners are requested to keep wake to a minimum when transiting through the bridge construction zone for the safety of construction staff.

O Mahurangi Penlink Weiti River Bridge Construction Works satelite

O Mahurangi Penlink Weiti River Bridge Construction Works Map
*Not to be used for navigation.

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


Notice: 41 – 21 Great Barrier Island – no anchoring areas

This notice replaces previous Local Notice to Mariners 39 – 21.

All mariners are advised that there are three no anchoring/closed areas on Great Barrier Island. The no anchoring areas are: Blind Bay, Whangaparapara and Tryphena Harbours. You can anchor with a permit from MPI, but not for any other reason.

There is guidance on the MPI page.

Please contact Ministry of Primary Industries for further details Ministry for Primary Industries.

*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer


Notice: 19 - 21 Navigational hazard, sandbank shoaling, Tamaki River

All mariners are advised that a sandbank, which is North of the No.15 marker in Tamaki River, is shoaling due to sand-building. Locations are identified as per below and the depth in the vicinity could be lower than charted depth.

All mariners are to navigate with additional caution while operating in this area.

Map of sand bank shoaling navigational hazard, Tamaki River

*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office


57 - 19 Submerged pile in the approaches to Tramcar Bay Boatyard, Whangateau

The Harbourmaster has received reports of a submerged pile in the approaches to Tramcar Bay boat yard in the waters between Whangateau Harbour and Tramcar Bay.

All mariners are advised to navigate with extreme caution when operating in this area.

Area showing submerged pile in the approaches to Tramcar Bay Boat Yard, Whangateau
Not to be used for navigation.

Pulasthi Ranasinghe
Maritime Officer


32 - 19 Motuihe Wharf closure

All mariners are advised that the Department of Conservation has closed the Motuihe wharf due to public safety, the wharf will remain closed until further notice.

The Department is working closely with engineers to look at options available to remedy issues and re-open the wharf as soon as practicable.

The Department apologises for any inconvenience and will continue to keep the public informed as they seek solutions.

Updates will be provided on the DOC website and should you require further information, please contact the DOC hotline on 0800 362 468.

View of above Motuihe Wharf  which is closed temporarily
Map not to be used for navigation.

Pulasthi Ranasinghe
Maritime Officer


28 - 18 Hobson Bay/Okahu Bay wave screen

All mariners are advised to navigate with caution in the vicinity of the Hobson Bay/Okahu Bay derelict wave screen. Mariners are reminded that they should only navigate through the recognised entry/exit (as per chart NZ 5322).

Notice 28-18 Hobson Bay Okahu Bay wave screen
Map not to be used for navigation.

Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster


22 - 17: Wairoa River, fallen tree (upper reaches), 20 July 2017

All Mariners are advised that a large tree has fallen into the upper reaches of the Wairoa River, potentially impeding navigation.

GPS coordinates:

  • Latitude 36°58’840
  • Longitude 175°02’655 

All mariners are advised to navigate with extreme caution in this area.

Notice 22–17 map
The map is not to be used for navigation.

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer


08 - 17: Chart plotters - updated 14 March 2017

All mariners are reminded that electronic chart plotters are to be used as an aid to navigation and paper charts should be updated and consulted.

Electronic raster charts used on some plotters may not incorporate the latest chart corrections.

Mariners are reminded to use up to date charts for navigation and advised to contact their plotter supplier if in doubt.

Harbourmaster’s Office


Some images on this page are based on/include LINZ’s data which are licensed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.


Pest warning: Mediterranean fanworm

The Mediterranean fanworm is a pest that has been spotted in the Waitematā Harbour/inner Hauraki Gulf, as well as the Whangarei Harbour and Lyttleton Port.

Keep your boat's hull clean to reduce the risk of this pest clinging and causing damage to our marine life.

Marine biosecurity information: new rules and regulations

Marine pests spread easily through ballast water and hull fouling, including Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella Spallanzani) and Clubbed tunicate (Styela clava). Check to ensure your hull is clean and be aware of other regions rules before leaving Auckland.

Visit marinepests.nz for more information and to check marine biosecurity rules and regulations for different regions in the northern North Island.

Read further information on marine pests (PDF 334KB)


Weather information

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