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
- 18 – 24 NZDF Parachute Operations, Inner Hauraki Gulf
- 17 – 24 RNZAF Sere Course Training
- 13 – 24 Pest fish control Lake Tomarata
- 14 – 24 Distress Signal Training, Te Atatu Boating Club
- 15 – 24 Aids to Navigation missing, Tamaki River
- 12 – 24 Marine Survey, Hauraki Gulf
- 10 – 24 Great Barrier Island temporary wharf closures, Okupu & Tryphena
- 05 – 24 Te Wero lifting bridge – mechanical issues
- 03 – 24 Navigational Hazard, Sandbank shoaling, Whau River Mouth
- 34 – 23 Marine farm development, Western Firth
- 30 - 23 O Mahurangi Penlink Weiti River Bridge Construction Works
- 29 – 23 Missing Isolated Danger Mark, Spray Rock, Waiheke
- 21 - 23 Marine construction, Hobsonville Point
- 43 – 22 Fallen trees, Matakana River
- 41 – 21 Great Barrier Island – no anchoring areas
- 19 – 21 Navigational hazard, sand bank shoaling, Tamaki River
- 12 – 21 Kennedy Point Marina Construction Zone
- 57 – 19 Submerged pile in the approaches to Tramcar Bay Boat yard, Whangateau
- 32 – 19 Motuihe Wharf Closure
- 28 – 18 Hobson Bay / Okahu Bay wave screen
- 22 – 17 Wairoa River Fallen Tree
- 08 – 17 Chart Plotters (Updated)
18 – 24 NZDF Parachute Operations, Inner Hauraki Gulf
The RNZAF Parachute unit will be conducting parachute drops into the Gulf Harbour over the period of Thursday 2 May at 1200 hours and Friday 3 May at 1600 hours.
Impact point IP North
Lat: S36’ 38.8200’ Long: E 174’ 49.5300’ MGRS 60HUE 05617 42084
Impact point IP South
Lat: S36’ 39.6400’ Long: E 174’ 47.6700’ MGRS 60HUE 02881 40504
Drop-zone dimensions
Length: 3700m
Width: 1400m
Drop-zone axis: 041 Degrees Magnetic/221 Degrees Magnetic MGRS 60 HUE 04225 41284
There will be use of smoke on the water as a drop zone indicator for the parachutists.
*Not to be used for navigation
This notice expires Friday 3 May 2024 at 1800 hours.
Gareth Williams
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
17 – 24 RNZAF Sere course training from Defence Facilities Hobsonville, Devonport and Ardmore
All mariners are advised that the RNZAF will be undertaking Sere Signal Training at the NZDF facilities in Hobsonville, Devonport and Ardmore from 29 April 2024 to 17 May 2024, between 0900 hours to 1500 hours.
Pyrotechnics will be used (day/night handheld flares, mini flares and pistol flares).
Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster's Office
13 – 24 Pest fish control Lake Tomarata
All mariners are advised that Auckland Council will be conducting pest fish control operations in Lake Tomarata between 15 April 2024 and 19 April 2024. Nets will be set in the lake, and the operation of vessels (by the public) on the lake will not be possible.
Note: Work vessels will be operating on the lake and information signage will be
posted. Any queries, please contact Auckland Council (09 301 0101).
*Not to be used for navigation.
Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
14 – 24 Distress Signal Training, Te Atatu Boating Club
All mariners are advised that Auckland Sailing School will be undertaking Distress Signal Training at 32 Bridge Avenue, Te Atatu South.
Distress signals to be used as below:
Between 1300 hours and 1400 hours on 5 May 2024
| Number | Description |
| 6 | Handheld red distress flares |
| 1 | Handheld orange smoke signals |
| 1 | Buoyant orange smoke signals |
Between 1300 hours and 1400 hours on 26 May 2024
| Number | Description |
| 6 | Handheld red distress flares |
| 1 | Handheld orange smoke signals |
| 1 | Buoyant orange smoke signals |
*Not to be used for navigation
Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
15 – 24 Aids to navigation missing, Tamaki River
All mariners are advised that the No.2 Channel marker at the Tamaki River entrance has been reported as missing.
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
12 – 24 Marine Survey, Hauraki Gulf
All mariners are advised that there will be marine survey operations in Hauraki Gulf
from 18 April 2024. The survey will be conducted for a period of 4 to 8 weeks, weather permitting. All mariners are advised to contact the vessel Ocean Invincible directly
via VHF if any queries regarding the operation.
Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
10 – 24 Great Barrier Island temporary wharf closures, Okupu & Tryphena
All mariners are advised that the following 2 Auckland Transport wharf structures at Great Barrier Island will be closed to the public whilst the marine contractor STF Limited undertakes wharf maintenance work.
Okupu Wharf – STF will have a piling barge and dive crews on site from 12 March for 10 days, replacing the fender piles and stairs.
Tryphena Wharf – STF will have a variety of barges and divers working in and around the wharf from 22 March through mid-August 2024. The Inner Pontoon berth will be available. All vessels are requested to keep wake to a minimum and approach the wharf facility with caution.
Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
05 – 24 Te Wero lifting bridge – mechanical issues
The Te Wero lifting bridge in the Viaduct Marina currently has mechanical issues and may not be able to fully lift as expected.
All vessels intending to navigate through the bridge span should navigate with caution and make an early call, prior to entering the buoyed approach channel on entry, to Viaduct Control on VHF Ch.73 for advice.
Please note that the double-span bridge lift is available if requested, for any reason at all (for example, size of vessel, wind strength, direction or skipper confidence). So please contact Viaduct Control early to discuss any requirements.
All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operating in this area.
Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster
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.
*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 09/11/2023. 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.
*Not to be used for navigation.
Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
29 – 23 Missing Isolated Danger Mark, Spray Rock, Waiheke
All mariners are advised that an Isolated Danger Mark is reported as missing from
Spray Rock, North of Waiheke Island. 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
21 – 23 Marine construction, Hobsonville Point
All mariners are advised that marine construction will commence on the water at Hobsonville Point. The affected area is on the map below. Operations will be under way between 22 May 2023 and the end of March 2024, weather permitting, and the platform and barge will be involved in construction.
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
Notice: 43 – 22 Fallen trees, Matakana River
All mariners are advised that there are several fallen trees reported in upper reaches of Matakana River, potentially impeding navigation in this area. All mariners are advised to navigate with caution when operating in this area.
*Not to be used for navigation.
Jason Son
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.
*Not to be used for navigation.
Jason Son
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
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.
*Not to be used for navigation
Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
Harbourmaster’s Office
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.
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.
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).
Map not to be used for navigation.
Christiaan Moss
Deputy Harbourmaster
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.
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