Regional safety information
About regional bylaws
New Zealand is a unique country with regional variations in the environment, water conditions and weather.
Regional bylaws exist to ensure the safety of all water users and to reduce conflicts between the different water-based activities in an area.
Bylaws apply whether you are on a lake, river or the sea, and regardless of whether you are water skiing, swimming, boating, kayaking, jetskiing or taking part in other water activities.
You should check your regional bylaws before you head out.
How to prepare for your region
1. Find your regional bylaws
Check which regional authority is responsible for the waterways where you plan to go boating and find out which bylaws apply:
Northland
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Northland Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 002 004 or +64 09 470 1200
Email:
Website:
Auckland
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Auckland Council.
Phone:
+64 9 301 0101
Email:
Waikato
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Waikato Regional council.
Phone:
0800 800 401 or +64 7 859 0999
Email:
Bay of Plenty
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 884 880
Email:
Gisborne
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Gisborne District Council.
Phone:
0800 653 800 or +64 6 867 204
Email:
Hawke’s Bay
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 108 838 or +64 6 835 9200
Email:
Manawatu-Wanganui
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council.
Phone:
0508 800 800 or +64 6 9522 800
Taranaki
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Taranaki Regional Council.
Phone:
+64 6 765 7127
Email:
Wellington
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 496 734 or +64 4 384 5708
Email:
Tasman
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Tasman District Council.
Phone:
+64 3 543 8400
Email:
Nelson
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Nelson City Council.
Phone:
+64 3 546 0200
Email:
Marlborough
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Marlborough Regional Council.
Phone:
+64 3 520 7400
Email:
Grey
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Grey District Council.
Phone:
+64 3 769 8600
Email:
West Coast
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the West Coast Regional Council.
Phone:
0508 800 118 or +64 3 768 0466
Email:
Canterbury
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by Environment Canterbury.
Phone:
0800 324 636 or +64 3 353 9007
Email:
Queenstown Lakes
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Phone:
+64 4 441 0499
Email:
Otago
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Otago Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 474 082 or +64 3 479 0015
Southland
The boating bylaws in this region are determined by the Southland Regional Council.
Phone:
0800 76 88 45 or +64 3 211 5115
Email:
2. Know your responsibilities
In addition to adhering to the bylaws, you must meet all other requirements of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
Instant fines can be given for offences against a regional bylaw. For more serious offences, you can:
- be prosecuted under the Maritime Transport Act
- have your vessel detained
- have conditions imposed on the continued use of your vessel.
