Applying to hold a temporary maritime event

Important information when you are planning a boat race, rally, or regatta, and who you must apply to for your temporary maritime event. 

About temporary maritime events

Temporary maritime events include power boat races, jet boat rallies, yachting regattas, and paddle craft races.

You can hold a temporary maritime event on a river, lake, or coastal areas where you need:

  • exclusive use of an area, or
  • a temporary suspension of speed requirements for recreational vessels.

Depending on who is responsible for safety on the waterway, you will need to apply to:

  • Maritime NZ, or
  • the local regional council.

In general, regional or unitary councils are responsible for inland regional waterways and activities within 12 nautical miles (22.5 km) of the shore. In some cases, Maritime NZ has this responsibility.

How to organise your event

Step 1. Determine who you need to apply to

Check the area where you want to hold your event to work out who you must apply to.

You must apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways you want to use.

Northland

map of New Zealand with Northland regional boundaries highlighted in white
You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.
Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Coastal areas & Kai Iwi Lakes         1
Other rivers & lakes 2  

1Northland Regional Council is responsible for coastal areas and Kai Iwi Lakes.

2Maritime NZ is responsible for other rivers / lakes 

Auckland

 

map of New Zealand with Auckland regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/lakes   1
Oceans   1

1Auckland Council is responsible for these waterways.

map of New Zealand with Bay of Plenty regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterways Maritime NZ area Council bylaw areas
Rivers/Lakes   1
Oceans/harbours   1

 

1 Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for these waterways.

Waikato

map of New Zealand with Waikato regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event. 

 

Waterway type Department of Internal Affairs Council bylaw area
Oceans/rivers/lakes   1
Lake Taupo 2  

 

1Waikato Regional Council is responsible for oceans / rivers / lakes.
2Department of Internal Affairs is responsible for Lake Taupo.

Taranaki

map of New Zealand with Taranaki regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Oceans/rivers/lakes  
Ports  

 

Taranaki Regional Council is only responsible for the Port Taranaki.

Maritime NZ is responsible for oceans / rivers / lakes 

Hawke's Bay

map of New Zealand with Hawkes Bay regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Lakes 1 2
Oceans/rivers   2
Reserves   3

1 Maritime NZ is only responsible for the Lakes Waikareiti and Waikaremoana.
2 Hawkes Bay Regional Council is responsible for these waterways.
3 Department of Conservation is responsible for Te Angiangi Marine Reserve

Manawatu

map of New Zealand with Manawatu Wanganui regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council  bylaw area
Oceans/lakes    
Rivers/tributaries   1
Ports   2

 

1 Horizons Regional Council is only responsible for the Manawatu River and tributaries.
2 River City Port Ltd. is only responsible for the Port of Wanganui.

Wellington

map of New Zealand with Wellington regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers 1 2
Oceans/lakes   2

 

1 Maritime NZ is only responsible for the Ruamahanga River.
2 Greater Wellington Regional Council is responsible for these waterways.

map of New Zealand with Tasman regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/Lakes   1
Oceans/harbours   1

 

1 Tasman District Council is responsible for these waterways.

Marlborough

map of New Zealand with Marlborough regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/Lakes   1
Oceans   1

 

1 Marlborough District Council is responsible for these waterways

map of New Zealand with Canterbury regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/Lakes   1
Oceans/harbours   1

 

1 Environment Canterbury is responsible for these waterways

West Coast

map of New Zealand with West Coast regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/ lakes/ oceans    
Ports   1,2

 

1 Grey District Council is responsible for the Port of Greymouth.
2 Buller District Council is responsible for the Port of Westport .

Otago

map of New Zealand with Otago regional boundaries highlighted in white

You will have to apply to the organisation responsible for the waterways where you would like to hold your event.

 

Waterway type Maritime NZ area Council bylaw area
Rivers/oceans   1,3
Lakes    1,2
Harbours   3

 

1 Queenstown Lakes District Council is responsible for the Queenstown Lakes District waterways.
2 Central Otago District Council is responsible for Lake Dunstan.
3 Otago Regional Council is responsible for the Dunedin Harbour and Karitane Harbour.

Step 2. Know your responsibilities

The club or organisation coordinating the event is responsible for:

  • keeping all participants and the public safe
  • complying with all requirements applying to the event.

As the organiser, you should check with your regional, unitary or local authority (city or district council), and WorkSafe NZ, to find out which requirements apply to your event. Some requirements may fall outside Maritime NZ’s responsibilities.

Step 3. Complete the application form

If you want to hold your event in an area that Maritime NZ is responsible for, you must apply to the Director of Maritime NZ (the Director) for a grant to temporarily:

  • suspend or uplift vessel speed limits
  • reserve areas of waterways.

You must complete the form below and provide any supporting documents required.

Temporary maritime event application form
PDF: 335kB, 12 pages
Download (opens in new tab)

Under Maritime Rules Part 91 Navigation Safety Rules, and before granting the permit the Director must be satisfied that:

  • you have the appropriate safeguards in place to ensure public safety, and
  • you have consulted with parties who may be affected.

If you would like to hold your event in an area that Maritime NZ is not responsible for, you will need to contact the relevant authorities.