Safety Regulations

Maritime NZ Certification
As the Pacific sailing season is approaching, Maritime NZ is reminding anyone intending to take a recreational craft overseas...

U-turn on fish sizes not enough for some
Advocacy groups are supporting the government's U-turn on minimum size limits for commercial fishers, but still want the gove...

Local Notice to Mariners: Imminent disestablishments of 3G Virtual Aids to Navigation
All mariners are advised that all 3G Virtual Aids to Navigation in Auckland are due for imminent disestablishme...

Politicians divided over whether boating rules are fit for purpose
Two lawmakers have expressed different views on whether New Zealand's boating rules are fit for purpose, but the rules look u...

A national lifejacket law: why now is the time to act
Water Safety NZ and Coastguard say the law needs to go further if New Zealand wants to save lives

Rethinking the rescue boat: How next generation vessels could transform SAR
Mike Hammond says tomorrow’s rescue boats may look very different from the fleets we know today.
Marine rescue boats have ...

Caulerpa invasion: ‘Government isn’t taking it as seriously as they need to’
In the more than four years since exotic caulerpa was first discovered in New Zealand waters, it has been a time of uncertain...

Yellow legged hornets Auckland: latest detections, public warnings, and next steps
Nine confirmed queens, two new nests, and a major ground response as Biosecurity New Zealand widens its search on the North S...

Aucklanders urged to stay alert for yellow-legged hornets
Biosecurity New Zealand ramps up surveillance as a new invasive threat emerges on the North Shore.

Buoy-Boy makes waves for summer boating safety
Buoy-Boy brings boating safety to life, reminding Kiwis that most accidents happen close to shore.

We All Play a Part: Water Safety New Zealand encourages collaboration and participation for Water Sa...
As summer begins, Water Safety Month calls Kiwis to action: stay vigilant and help prevent drownings.

FENZ grounds its watercraft following Maritime NZ compliance request, RNZ understands
Ngāruawāhia volunteer fire station has operated two jet skis as part of their rescue equipment since 2018. Huntly has had a b...

Our Changing World: SAR4SaR – The folding, floating search and rescue device
Imagine you're on a boat lost at sea, too far from the coast for a VHF radio or mobile phone to work.
Maybe you've got a p...

Hull checks to resume across Northland
Thousands of vessel hulls to be inspected as summer biosecurity campaign begins.

Whangapoua Harbour declared invasive Mediterranean fanworm free
After five years of sustained monitoring and community vigilance, Waikato Regional Council confirms the invasive Mediterranea...

Refresh your boat’s first aid kit
Don’t let ageing supplies compromise your safety at sea.
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Dr Dave offshore medic course
Dr Dave (Dave Austen MD) is offering a two-day offshore medical course, November 15-16, at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Auckla...

Fire risk on the rise: how battery systems are changing boat insurance
A spark that’s catching insurers’ attention
If you’ve added a lithium battery bank, e-foil, or even an e-bike to your boat i...

SAR4SAR – a new eye in the sky for search and rescue
New Zealand scientists are developing low-cost radar reflectors for space-based detection of small craft in distress, aiming ...

Prepare for summer: clean your anchor locker and stop pests hitching a ride
A boatie’s pre-season guide to clean your anchor locker, choose the right hook, and keep sea pests off your gear.
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Man dies after falling overboard near Auckland’s Outboard Boating Club
A man has died after falling from a boat near the Outboard Boating Club area of Tāmaki Drive, Parnell, on Sunday afternoon

Check your safety gear before next season
Because when things go wrong, you won’t have time to second-guess your kit.
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Sea spurge found at Kapowairua (Spirits Bay)
A new sea spurge infestation has been found at Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) – the first discovery of the unwanted beach weed east...

Panerai’s Luna Rossa watches are for sailors, with a watch LOVE or deep pockets (actually, both)
They’re bold, beautiful, and built with America’s Cup pedigree. I sail too — just not in the sort of circles where your wrist...

Radio silence: Communication questions raised in Rushour rescue
When the multihull Rushour capsized during the 2025 Groupama Race off New Caledonia, its crew were eventually rescued safely...

Porco Rosso: Midnight MOB in the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
During the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Porco Rosso—a well-campaigned offshore yacht with a winning pedigree—faced...

The night that changed everything: Flying Fish Arctos and the 2024 Sydney to Hobart tragedy
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has long been a proving ground for offshore sailors — 628 nautical miles of fickle wind, sudd...

Toughest night in years: The 2024 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race’s devastating first 24 hours
What began as another glittering Boxing Day start from Sydney Harbour soon turned into one of the most dramatic and tragic op...

CYCA releases independent safety review after tragic 2024 Sydney Hobart
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has released the findings of an independent review into the three serious inciden...

Beyond the horizon: What the Greta Thunberg yacht interception reveals about sailing into conflict z...
Greta Thunberg claims she was "kidnapped" in international waters while aboard a yacht bound for Gaza. Israel says the vessel...

Survitec validates high-viscosity fluorine-free foam concentrates
Survitec validates performance of high-viscosity flourine-free foam concentrates as the industry prepares to transition

Respected, not conquered: Fishing New Zealand’s Wild West Coast
If you think fishing the West Coast is all about trophy catches and postcard views, think again. While the fishery off New Ze...

Man Overboard: Drill like it’s real—because one day it will be
It’s the realisation every skipper dreads: “Man overboard.” Before panic sets in, it's time to use all the training you've ta...

Southern Bluefin Tuna pre-season 2025 seminar series
Knowledge, preparation, and safety – before the bite begins.

Emerging NZ boating safety concerns
New Zealander's love affair with boating continues strongly, albeit with the latest IPSOS Boating Monitor figures telling us ...

Exotic caulerpa – stop the spread in the Hauraki Gulf
Help stop the spread of exotic caulerpa in the Hauraki Gulf and immediate surrounds.

$6.2M Northland exotic Caulerpa funding welcomed but we all need to do more to safeguard NZ waters
New Zealand’s coastal waters face an escalating threat from exotic caulerpa, an invasive seaweed now confirmed at Waiheke Isl...

Check for marine pests
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules ...

Rough seas, hard lessons: The safety debate after the 2024 Sydney to Hobart tragedy
Were the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race’s safety protocols and the balance between adventure and responsibility in competitive s...








