COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Wellington is at Alert Level 2 while the rest of NZ remains at Alert Level 1
Under Alert Level 2, recreational water-based activities are permitted as long as it is done in a safe way where physical distancing and official public health guidance is applied.
Please use the NZ Covid Tracer App and scan the QR codes wherever you go and turn on the Bluetooth functionality on the App. This will make it easier for tracing to be carried out. If you are unable to use the QR codes or there are none available, sign in and/or keep a record of your travel. Wear masks or a face covering in situations where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing and practice good hygiene.
A link to information on the COVID-19 website is here: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-2/.
Please refer to the Ministry of Transport's website and Sport New Zealand's website for further information on recreational boating.
Quarantine Free Travel
New Zealand now has 2-way ‘Quarantine Free Travel’ arrangements in place with the Cook Islands (commenced 17 May) and Australia (commenced Monday 19 April), however the maritime border between both countries and New Zealand remains closed until further notice.
This includes all small craft and yachts coming to New Zealand from the Cook Islands and Australia.
New Zealand registered small craft with all New Zealand crew are able to enter New Zealand but must still serve a 14-day quarantine period from the time they last had contact with anyone else outside of their vessel.
Foreign registered small craft must apply for a vessel exemption from the Ministry of Health, regardless of the crew's nationality.
Vessel crew that are not New Zealanders, New Zealand permanent residents, Australian nationals who live in New Zealand and their immediate families, must apply for a temporary visitor's visa from Immigration NZ, regardless of the country the small craft is registered to.
Non-passenger commercial maritime vessels undertaking cargo operations will continue to be exempt from the maritime border closure and can continue to operate.
Information for:
Important links
Latest guidance
COVID-19 Guidance for ships' crew changes in NZ[Date: 27 October ; PDF: 737kB, 18 pages]
COVID-19 Guidance for the Maritime Industry[PDF: 313kB, 14 pages]
COVID-19 Guidance for ships' crew changes in NZ[PDF: 737kB, 18 pages]
COVID-19 Guidance for ships' crew changes in NZ
Simplified Chinese[PDF: 737kB, 18 pages]
COVID-19 Guidance for the Maritime Industry
Tagalog[PDF: 313kB, 16 pages]
COVID-19 Guidance for ships' crew changes in NZ
Tagalog[PDF: 737kB, 27 pages]
Latest maritime industry updates
Maritime industry update 082 - 10 June 2021[PDF: 339kB, 8 pages]
Maritime industry update 081 - 4 June 2021[PDF: 173kB, 8 pages]
Maritime industry update 080 - 28 May 2021[PDF: 3095kB, 8 pages]
Maritime industry update 079 - 21 May 2021[PDF: 177kB, 8 pages]