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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

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

On this page: Local notices to mariners currently in force

Notice 28 – 22 NZ Defence Force live firing activity, South Kaipara

All mariners are advised that there will be live firing activities off South Kaipara Head between 29/09/2022. The operations will be between 0800hrs and 2200hrs, weather permitted, and the area will be marked by flags on the beach and road access, which will be patrolled. All mariners are advised to stay well clear of the area during the periods of activation.

Affected waterways are indicated as below.

Affected waterways local notice to mariners 28-22

*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

Notice: 27 – 22 Sunk boat, Wairoa River, Clevedon

All mariners are advised that a sunk boat is reported at S36.9809231 E175.0438501, Wairoa River, Clevedon. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.

An aerial photograph showing a section of Wairoa river curving up around grassy banks. A road can be seen running vertically along the left of the image. A small grey house can be seen near the top left of the image. A red dot is marked in the river with the writing "Lat/Long (degrees decimal) X,Y: 175.04385, -36.980923". A nautical map of the area is displayed in the bottom right of the image

*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

Notice: 26 – 22 Barge operations, Queens Parade Devonport

All mariners are advised that there will be barge operations at Queens Parade, Devonport, 0800 to 1600hrs from 27/09/2022 to 29/09/2022.

All mariners are advised to navigate with caution and to make minimum wake as much as possible while operating in this area.

an aerial photograph of a neighbourhood in Devonport and part of the Waitemata HArbour. A red circle is marked around a section of the shore and road alongside Queens Parade. In the bottom right of the image is a nautical map of the area, with a square in red marking out where barge operations are taking place.

*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

Notice: 25 – 22 Distress Signal Training, Outboard Boating Club

All mariners are advised that a Distress Signal Training will be undertaking at 7 Tamaki Drive, Outboard Boating Club, between 1930 hrs and 2030 hrs on 11/10/2022.

Distress signals to be used as the below:

Number

Description

40

Handheld red distress flares

2 to 4

Orange smoke distress flares


*Not to be used for navigation

Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

Notice: 24 – 22 Penlink Weiti River Seabed Drilling Operation

All mariners are advised that a Geotechnical seabed drilling barge will be conducting operations some 500m up river from the Stillwater Boat Club Facility Weiti River.

The drilling operation will commence on 19 September 2022 and be completed by 2 December 2022. The Barge Zena and Work Boat Team Effort II ZMU 2630 will be operating Monday to Saturday between the hours of:

  • Monday to Friday 0700 hours to 1800 hours
  • Saturday 0800 hours to 1700 hours.

All mariners are requested to keep wake to a minimum when transiting through the area.

An aerial photograph showing a stretch of river. Banks with thick growths of trees are seen on either side. A house can be seen on the bank to the left. Rocky shallows are seen near the left bank as well. There is a yellow quadrangle marked across the river. Several red dots are marked along the length of the river.

A map of Stillwater and part of Stanmore Bay and Arkles Bay. A section of the Weiti River on the map is marked with a red quadrangle.
*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.

Notice 19-21 Map of sand bank shoaling in Tamaki River
*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer

Notice: 12 - 21 Kennedy Pt Waiheke Island Marina Development Project Stage 1

All mariners are advised that construction work for the new Kennedy Point Marina Devolvement will commence next week. Construction vessels, including a Jack-up Barge, will be operating in the area highlighted below.

All vessels are requested to keep clear of the marina construction zone and all authorised vessels to maintain a safe distance from any construction and work vessel during Stage 1 of the marina construction programme.

Notice: 12 - 21 Kennedy Pt Waiheke Island Marina Development Project Stage 1
*Not to be used for navigation

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office

Notice: 02 – 21 Navigational hazard, a lost mast near Maraetai

All mariners are advised that a navigational hazard is reported near Maraetai (GPS coordinates 36 51.289S, 175 00.569E). A 16-metre long mast was lost and attached with an orange buoy for location.

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

Navigational hazard, a lost mast near Maraetai location map.
*Not to be used for navigation.

Jason Son
Maritime Officer

Notice to Mariners: 57 - 19 Submerged pile in the approaches to Tramcar Bay Boat Yard, 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

Notice to Mariners: 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

Notice: 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

Notice: 04 - 18 Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach marina damaged breakwater, low wake zone

All mariners are reminded to reduce their speed to 5 knots and/or their minimum steerage speed, in order to create a low wake while in the vicinity of the Bucklands Beach Marina. The breakwater was damaged by the recent storm event and requires extensive repair. Mariners should navigate with caution while in this area.

Local Notice to Mariners 04 -18 Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach marina damaged breakwater, low wake zone
Map not to be used for navigation.

Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster

Notice: 50 - 17 Navigation Hazard: Sunk Yacht - Henderson Creek

All mariners are advised of a yacht 9.7 meters in length that have sunk in the Henderson Creek, potentially impeding navigation. The yacht lies on the eastern side of the creek bank.

GPS coordinates:

  • Latitude 36° 44' 123
  • Longitude 174° 46' 123

All mariners are advised to navigate with extreme caution when transiting the creek.

Navigation Hazard - Sunk Yacht in Henderson Creek
Map not to be used for navigation.

Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer

Notice 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

Notice 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 Farmworn is a pest that has been spotted in the Waitemata 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 & 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

For up-to-date weather information, visit the MetService website.

Link to Coastguard Now Casting Weather Information VHF Channels: https://www.coastguard.nz/boating-safely/marine-weather