Bar crossings · New Zealand · checked Oct 2026

Crossing a bar in New Zealand: report it, wear lifejackets

A bar is a build-up of sand, silt and mud at the entrance to a harbour or river. It makes the water shallower and the waves bigger and harder to predict. Coastguard counts 29 preventable drowning deaths on bars over the last decade. This is what Coastguard and Maritime NZ tell boaties to do.

SHORT ANSWER

Before you cross, log a bar crossing report with Coastguard Radio on your local VHF channel or by calling *500 — it can’t be done in the Coastguard app. Everyone wears a lifejacket. Close the report once you’re safely over: if you don’t, Coastguard starts a search. Make a separate report for the trip back in.

Bar crossing reports are actively watched

Bar crossings are a bit different because of the risks involved. We still record the same details as with a regular trip report, but we’ll follow up if you don’t close the report after a certain time - usually 15-30 minutes - because we want to make sure you’ve safely made it over the bar. It’s really important to close your bar crossing report; if you don’t, we’ll start a search-and-rescue response.
Coastguard NZ, trip reporting · coastguard.nz

Unlike a regular trip report, which Coastguard only follows up if someone reports you overdue, a bar crossing report puts you on a search-and-rescue watch. Coastguard’s bar page gives the watch as between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the bar.

What to tell Coastguard Radio

The name and VHF callsign of your boat.
Which bar you’re crossing, and whether you’re heading in or out.
Your current location.
Destination, route and estimated time of arrival (ETA).
Number of people on board (POB).

Logging by VHF needs a VHF Radio Operators Certificate and a callsign. Coastguard: “Unfortunately, you can’t use the Coastguard app to log a Bar Crossing Report.”

You must close the report once you’re safely over. If Coastguard hasn’t heard from you and can’t reach you or your shore contacts on a known number, search and rescue procedures start.

Lifejackets at the bar

Under Maritime Rules, it is the skipper’s legal responsibility to ensure lifejackets are worn in situations of heightened risk, such as when crossing a bar, in rough water, and during an emergency.
Maritime NZ, lifejackets · maritimenz.govt.nz

That applies on boats of any size. Some bylaws are more specific: the Waikato bylaw requires lifejackets from 200 m before to 200 m after crossing a bar on vessels over 6 m, and the Greymouth Port Bylaw from at least 200 m before the Greymouth bar until 200 m after. On craft 6 m or under, lifejackets are worn whenever you’re underway anyway from 9 October 2026. New lifejacket rules.

Before you head out

Ask the locals. Coastguard suggests checking with your local Coastguard unit, fishing or boating club for the best way across and the local markers, and going out with an experienced local on a calm day.
Check the boat is up to it. Different bars have different requirements; Coastguard gives the Manukau bar (a boat that can do at least 20 knots and is at least 5.5 m long) and the Kaipara bar (at least 5 m with a 90 hp outboard) as examples.
Check the tides and weather for going out and for coming back.
Take a bar crossing seminar. Coastguard runs free Bar Awareness Seminars.

At the bar

Watch it first. If it looks rough, don’t cross; consider waiting for better conditions, such as high tide. Don’t cross just because you feel you need to get home.
Secure everything and close the hatches.
Brief your crew: everyone in the centre of the boat, and one person watching for waves from behind.
Lifejackets on everyone, and your VHF and PLB within reach (an EPIRB out of its bracket, in a grab bag held by a crew member).
Bow into the waves, trimmed up, throttling back as you crest each one; once you’ve committed to a gap, don’t turn back.
Close your report once you’re safely over.

Bars named in the regional pages

Coastguard names the Kaipara, Manukau, Port Waikato, Bowentown, Mana and Greymouth bars. Our region pages list the bars their councils name, for example the Hokianga, Kaipara and Mangawhai bars in Northland, the Manukau and Kaipara bars in Auckland, Raglan in Waikato, the Tauranga entrance, Bowentown, Kaituna and Whakatāne in the Bay of Plenty and the Grey and Buller river bars on the West Coast.

Where VesselSOS fits

VesselSOS can’t log a bar crossing report — do that with Coastguard Radio or *500. If something goes wrong at the bar, it puts 111 one tap away with your position in words, and it can share a live link with someone ashore. It doesn’t replace a VHF radio or a PLB.

WHAT VESSELSOS DOES HERE

VesselSOS on New Zealand waters

Life in danger? Tap “Yes” and the app dials 111. The screen shows your GPS position in words and a word-for-word script that starts “Police. Boat emergency, I’m on the water.”, then where you are and what happened.
The rescue-centre list also has RCCNZ (0508 472 269) as a second Call button for offshore, and a VHF Channel 16 MAYDAY text filled with your boat’s details for you to read on your own radio.
A live link for family ashore (Plus, free during the beta): your position, speed, course and phone battery in any browser, no app needed on their end. You send it by text yourself.
Not an emergency? Tap “No” for Coastguard’s non-urgent line, 0800 262 843 option 1 (the same help as *500, which iPhone apps can’t dial).

What it doesn’t do: it doesn’t log a Coastguard trip report or bar crossing report, and it isn’t connected to 111, Police, Coastguard or RCCNZ. Nobody is alerted automatically if you’re late: the return-time check only asks “Are you OK?” on your own phone. The Coastguard app does text your shore contact after three unanswered prompts, so log your trip with Coastguard as well. A phone doesn’t replace a VHF radio, an EPIRB or PLB, or a lifejacket.

iPhone only, in invite-only TestFlight beta. Not in the App Store yet, no Android. New Zealand support (111 routing) is in beta version 1.5 and later.

Quick answers

How do I make a bar crossing report?

Call Coastguard Radio on your local VHF channel or dial *500 from your mobile. Give your boat’s name and callsign, which bar you’re crossing and in which direction, your location, destination, route and ETA, and the number of people on board. Close the report once you’re over.

Can I log a bar crossing report in the Coastguard app?

No. Coastguard: bar crossing reports can’t be made through the app; log them by VHF radio or by calling *500.

What happens if I don’t close my bar crossing report?

Coastguard follows it up after a set time, usually 15 to 30 minutes, and if they can’t reach you or your shore contacts, they start a search-and-rescue response.

Do you have to wear a lifejacket crossing a bar?

Yes. Maritime NZ: the skipper must ensure lifejackets are worn in situations of heightened risk, such as when crossing a bar. Coastguard: “Lifejackets must be worn by everyone.”

Sources

CHECKED OCT 2026

Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Maritime NZ, Coastguard or your regional harbourmaster before you go.

This page summarises the rules for planning; it isn’t legal advice. Where this page and the official text differ, the official text wins. Spotted an error? Email support@vesselsos.com.