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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: 24 March 2025 (PDF, 121KB)

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

On this page: Local notices to mariners currently in force

16 – 25 Coastguard Kaipara flare demonstration

All Mariners are advised that Coastguard Kaipara will conduct a flare demonstration. The details are as follows:

Location

Kaipara Marine Rescue Centre 
85 Springs Road, Parakai, Auckland, 0830
Coordinate: 36° 39.473S, 174°26.418E

Time

Tuesday 1 April 2025 between 1900 and 1945 hours.

Distress signals

Distress signals to be used as the below:

Number Description
2 Red Hand Flare
2 Orange Hand Smoke
2 Orange Buoyant Smoke

Map showing location of flare demonstration at Coastguard Kaipara

*Not to be used for navigation

Vu Nguyen
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

10 – 25 Vessel sunk, south of Emu Point

All mariners are advised that a yacht is reported as sunk, south of Emu Point, Motutapu Island. Approximate location is identified on the chart below.

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

Chart showing location of vessel sunk south of Emu Point

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
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

49 – 24 Jubilee Bridge installation, Panmure Basin

That there will be new Jubilee Bridge installation at Panmure Basin from 25 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, weather permitted.The bridge lifting is planned on 28 December 2024 and there will be personnel in place to keep the channel clear during the bridge lifting and landing. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.

Map indicating the location of the new bridge in Panmure Basin.

*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
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)

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