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
- 36 -23 Ocean Swim Series, Rangitoto to St Heliers Beach
- 34 – 23 Marine farm development, Western Firth
- 33 - 23 Navigation hazard - Orewa Estuary
- 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
- 42 – 22 Fallen trees, Weiti 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
- 02 – 21 Navigational hazard, a lost mast near Maraetai
- 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
- 04 – 18 Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach marina damaged breakwater, low wake zone
- 22 – 17 Wairoa River Fallen Tree
- 08 – 17 Chart Plotters (Updated)
36 – 23 Ocean Swim Series, Rangitoto to St Heliers Beach
All mariners are advised of an area of exclusive use for the purposes of the Rangitoto swim event on Sunday, 26 November 2023. Mariners are advised that the Banana Boat Ocean Swim will be taking place from Rangitoto Wharf to St Heliers Beach, with some 1,100 swimmers taking to the water from 0600 hours to 0830 hours.
During these hours, the provisions of Auckland Council Navigation Bylaw 2021 Clause 31 (1) (F) Special Reserved Area allocated to sporting events, training activity, ceremonial or customary events, or other organised water activity will apply.
The swim courses will be marked with yellow buoys, and patrol boats will be stationed around the event. All mariners are warned to navigate with caution during this event and to follow instructions given by course marshals.
*Not to be used for navigation
Bruce Goff
Maritime Officer
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
33 – 23 Navigation hazard - Orewa Estuary
All mariners are advised that a wood pole reported in the vicinity of Orewa River
mouth at Orewa Estuary. The pole is not visible at high tide, 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 constructions will be commenced at Hobsonville Point on water, the affected area is located on the map below. Operations will be between 22/05/2023 to the end of 2023, weather permitted, and platform and barge will be involved in construction.
All mariners are advised to navigate with caution while operation 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: 42 – 22 Fallen trees, Weiti River
All mariners are advised that there are several fallen trees reported in upper reaches of Weiti 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
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: 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.
*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.
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: 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.
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