Have your say about major changes to vessel design, construction and equipment rules

15 May 2025

MARITIME NZ Web Content Template v1.

MARITIME NZWeb Content Template v1.0

Web Page Content Template

Use this template to prepare content for the Maritime NZ website. Complete all required fields (*) before submitting for review. Yellow cells indicate where content should be entered.

1. Change summary

This section provides a summary of any updates that have been made to the content, including where content has been refreshed.

2. Page Identification & Migration

This section identifies the page and links it to existing content being replaced or consolidated.

New Page Title *

Have your say about major changes to vessel design, construction and equipment rules

URL Slug *

 

Parent Section *

☐ Commercial Operators    ☐ Seafarers    ☐ Recreational Boating    ☐ Surveyors    ☐ About Maritime NZ    ☐ Readiness & Response    ☐ HSWA

Full Navigation Path

news/2025/may/have-your-say-about-major-changes-to-vessel-design-construction-and-equipment-rules/

Migration Details

Link this new page to the existing content it replaces or consolidates.

Source URL(s)

https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/news/2025/may/your-notifications-matter-use-our-online-form/

Migration Action

☐ New content (no source)    ☐ Migrate as-is    ☐ Migrate with updates    ☐ Consolidate multiple pages    ☐ Complete rewrite

Redirect Required?

Yes    ☐ No If yes, old URLs will redirect to the new page URL.

3. Metadata & SEO

This information helps search engines and users find the page. Meta titles and descriptions appear in search results.

Meta Title *

Have your say about major changes to vessel design, construction and equipment rules

Meta Description *

MARITIME NZ Web Content Template v1.

Primary Audience *

☐ Commercial operators    ☐ Seafarers    ☐ Recreational boaters    ☐ Surveyors    ☐ General public    ☐ Industry stakeholders    ☐ Internal staff

Content Type

☐ Landing page    ☐ Guide/How-to    ☐ Policy/Rules    ☐ Form/Application    ☐ News/Update    ☐ Resource/Download    ☐ Contact/Service

Topic Tags

 

4. Page Content

3.1 Introduction

Page Summary *

 

Published date

21 May 2025

3.2 Main Body Content

Maritime NZ is proposing important changes to the Maritime Rules for vessel design, construction and equipment. These rules (sometimes known as the ‘40-Series’) are well over 20 years old and are in need of reform.

The proposed changes are being consulted on as packages, each including four proposed new Rule Parts and the associated maritime transport instruments (MTIs). In total, 15 existing Rule Parts will be reformed through this programme. The proposed new rules and MTIs will come into force at the same time, after all changes have been consulted on.

Maritime NZ consulted on the first package of proposals towards the end of 2024. Consultation on package two is now open. The proposed changes in package two relate to:

  • stability, drainage, freeboard, and subdivision
  • watertight and weathertight
  • electrical, and
  • radio equipment.

“Consultation is your chance to tell us what you think, and help to influence the new rules. The proposals in this consultation aren’t a done-deal,” says Peter Brunt, Maritime NZ’s Deputy Chief Executive, Regulatory Frameworks. 

“In particular, we really want to hear how you think the new stability rules should apply to existing vessels. We want to understand the costs and practical implications of the different options.”

The proposals have been developed with extensive input from people working in the sector, and now everyone will be able to see what they look like.

A snapshot of the proposed changes sits alongside the ‘Invitation to Comment’ and drafts of the new rules on our consultation webpage. You can use this information to help you to comment on the proposals by Friday, 11 July 2025.

If you have questions or need help, please email [email protected].

3.3 Tip/Alert Boxes

Use for important callouts, warnings, or helpful tips that should stand out from body text.

Box Type

Content

☐ Info (blue)☐ Warning (yellow)☐ Alert (red)☐ Success (green)

 

☐ Info (blue)☐ Warning (yellow)☐ Alert (red)☐ Success (green)

 

3.4 Accordion Sections

Use for expandable content sections (e.g., FAQs, detailed breakdowns). Users click to expand.

Accordion Title

Expanded Content

   
   
   
   

5. Media Assets

5.1 Images

Provide image details for each image on the page. Alt text is required for accessibility.

Image File/Source

Placement

Alt Text *

Caption (optional)

 

☐ Hero☐ Inline☐ Gallery

Describe the image for screen readers. (125 chars max)

 
 

☐ Hero☐ Inline☐ Gallery

   
 

☐ Hero☐ Inline☐ Gallery

   

5.2 Videos

Video URL/Source

Title

Transcript Available?

   

☐ Yes    ☐ No    ☐ To be created

   

☐ Yes    ☐ No    ☐ To be created

6. Links & Documents

6.1 Related Documents (Downloads)

Downloadable files such as PDFs, forms, guides. These appear in the "Tools & Resources" section.

Document Title

File Type

File Name/Location

Description

 

☐ PDF☐ Word☐ Excel☐ Other

   
 

☐ PDF☐ Word☐ Excel☐ Other

   
 

☐ PDF☐ Word☐ Excel☐ Other

   

6.2 Related Pages (Internal Links)

Links to other Maritime NZ pages. These appear in the "Related links" section.

Link Text

Destination Page/URL

Consultations

/about/rules-and-publications/have-your-say/ DCE-40-series-package-2/

   
   
   

6.3 External Links

Links to websites outside Maritime NZ. Note: External links open in a new tab.

Link Text

External URL

Context/Purpose

     
     
     

7. Calls to Action & Promotional Tiles

7.1 Primary Call to Action

Main action you want users to take. Appears as a prominent button or banner.

CTA Button Text

Keep short and action-oriented, e.g., "Apply now", "Download form", "Contact us" (25 chars max)

CTA Destination URL

 

CTA Style

☐ Primary button (blue)    ☐ Secondary button (outline)    ☐ Banner with background

7.2 Secondary Calls to Action

Button Text

Destination URL

Style

   

☐ Primary    ☐ Secondary

   

☐ Primary    ☐ Secondary

7.3 Promotional Tiles / Card Grid

Cards displaying related content with images and descriptions. Typically 2-6 cards in a grid.

Card Grid Settings

Grid Layout

☐ 2 columns    ☐ 3 columns    ☐ 4 columns

Card #

Card Title

Card Description

Card Image

Link URL

1

(50 chars max)

(100 chars max)

   

2

       

3

       

4

       

5

       

6

       

8. Governance & Workflow

8.1 Content Ownership

Content Owner *

Person or team responsible for keeping this content accurate and up to date.

Content Author

Person who wrote/prepared this content.

Subject Matter Expert

SME who can verify accuracy of content.

8.2 Review Schedule

Content Created Date

 

Target Publish Date

31 March 2025

Review Frequency

☐ Quarterly    ☐ 6-monthly    ☐ Annually    ☐ As needed    ☐ Event-triggered

Next Review Date

 

Expiry Date

Leave blank if content has no expiry. Use for time-sensitive content only.

8.3 Approval Workflow

Current Status *

☐ Draft    ☐ In Review    ☐ Revisions Required    ☐ Approved    ☐ Published    ☐ Archived

Version

Date

Reviewer

Status

Comments/Changes

0.1

     

Initial draft

0.2

       

0.3

       

1.0

     

Approved for publish

8.4 Reviewer Comments

Use this space for reviewer feedback, questions, and revision requests.

8.5 Final Approval Sign-off

Approved by

 

Approval Date

 

Signature

 

9. Additional Notes

Any additional context, dependencies, or notes for the web team.

Maritime NZ Web Content Template | Version 1.0 | January 2026Character Limit Quick Reference:• Meta Title: 50-60 characters• Meta Description: 150-160 characters• Page Title (H1): 60 characters recommended• CTA Button Text: 25 characters max• Card Title: 50 characters max• Card Description: 100 characters max• Image Alt Text: 125 characters max