Hawke's Bay boating rules: lifejackets, speed and the local bylaw
The rules on Hawke's Bay waters, from the regional authority and Maritime NZ, linked line by line: lifejackets, speed limits, jet skis, paddle craft and who looks after the water.
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway.
It applies on all waters — coast, harbours, lakes and rivers — and covers kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, dinghies and tenders. “Underway” means not at anchor, aground, or tied to a dock or the shore, so drifting counts. Penalties for the new rule have not been created yet. Who must wear one, exemptions and how to measure 6 m →
Emergency on the water
How to call Coastguard: 111, Channel 16 or *500
Navigation safety bylaw in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay Navigation Safety Bylaw 2024
Hawke's Bay Navigation Safety Bylaw 2024 (cited as 'Navigation Safety Bylaw for Hawke's Bay 2024'), adopted 13 December 2023, in effect 19 March 2024
Who looks after the water: Hawke's Bay Regional Council (Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Te Matau-a-Māui) – Harbourmaster
Lifejacket rules in the bylaw
Wear: everyone on board a pleasure craft 6 m or less must wear a properly secured personal flotation device of appropriate size when the vessel is underway (cl. 17.1). On pleasure craft over 6 m, anyone must wear one when the person in charge instructs it (cl. 17.2). The person in charge is responsible for carriage and wearing of lifejackets (cl. 16.2); the carriage rule itself comes from Maritime Rules Part 91 (a lifejacket of the right size for each person). Exemptions: surfboards or similar non-motorised craft; board sports (incl. windsurfing, kiteboarding, SUP, surfing, foiling) if a wetsuit is worn at all times; recreational divers in a full wetsuit on craft 6 m or less within 5 miles of shore; supervised sport/training (cl. 17.3). The council's safety page adds that wearing is also legally required at times of heightened risk (bar crossings, strong tides, rough water, emergencies).
Source: hbrc.govt.nz
Where the bylaw conflicts with the national law above, the national law applies from 9 October 2026 (Coastguard: councils have up to five years to update their bylaws).
Harbourmaster and council contacts
Hawke's Bay Regional Council Harbourmaster: council phone +64 6 835 9200 or 0800 108 838 (phones staffed 8am–5pm Monday–Friday; not a dedicated harbourmaster number); online Harbourmaster incident report form on the council website; 24/7 pollution hotline 0800 108 838. Emergencies: 111.
These are published contacts for reporting hazards and asking about the rules. In an emergency call 111 and ask for Police, or use VHF Channel 16.
Speed limits on Hawke's Bay waters
5 knots maximum (proper speed), without reasonable excuse: within 50 m of any other vessel or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure (or inshore of buoys marking that distance); within 200 m of a vessel or structure showing Flag A; in any reserved area with a 5-knot limit; in any mooring zone (cl. 27.1). 5 knots on a motorised craft while anyone has part of their body over the side (cl. 27.2). Speed-uplifted inland areas (Schedule 2): Wairoa River (Waiau confluence to sea, at least 5 m from the bank); Mohaka River (Pakaututu Road Bridge to sea, but 5 knots 16 Oct–31 Mar at Mohaka River Farm, Glenfalls campsite and Everett's Park); Te Awa o Mokotūāraro (Clive River) and Ngaruroro River zones (open area, buffer, regulated area with set hours and anti-clockwise circulation, 5-knot rowing area near SH51 bridge, 5-knot passive area, shared area 5 knots in duck-shooting and whitebait seasons); Mangakuri River; Pōrangahau River. Board sports are exempt from the 200 m shore limit if done with due regard for others (cl. 27.4(c)). HBRC's jet ski page also lists 5 knots within 30 m of the shore and 50 m of structures on inland waters; that inland distance was not found in the bylaw text.
Jet ski (PWC) rules and registration
Every PWC (jet ski) must display on both sides a unique identification number registered with Hawke's Bay Regional Council (or another council) before use in regional waters; change of ownership/disposal form required (cl. 36.5–36.6). HBRC registration: one-off fee of $100 incl. GST including the sticker, valid throughout NZ; numbers at least 90 mm high, above the waterline, legible from 50 m (HBRC jet ski page). Speed from shore only in designated jet ski reserved areas, otherwise 5-knot rule (HBRC page). Minimum age: a vessel capable of more than 10 knots may only be operated by a person over 15 (cl. 26.1); exception only with a written Harbourmaster exemption plus direct supervision by someone over 15 within reach of the controls who is not the towing observer (cl. 26.2).
Kayak, paddle board and kite rules
Paddle craft 6 m or less (kayak, SUP, waka) must be clearly visible to other water users more than 200 m away, e.g. hi-vis gear, flags or lights (cl. 28.1). Board sports (incl. kiteboarding, windsurfing, SUP, foiling) are exempt from wearing a lifejacket if a wetsuit is worn at all times (cl. 17.3(b)) and from the 200 m shore speed limit (cl. 27.4(c)). Foiling boards are banned in the Hardinge Road (Napier Port Beach) passive area; motorised and foiling craft are banned in the Ahuriri Estuary (Pandora Pond) reserved area; motorised/high-speed craft incl. foiling and sail boards banned on Pourerere Stream below the road bridge (Schedule 1).
Other Hawke's Bay rules
Vessels navigating coastal waters must carry at least one means of communication that works throughout the area and voyage, waterproof or in a waterproof bag on vessels 6 m or less (cl. 25). Motorised craft over 4 m and non-motorised craft over 6 m must be named/numbered (min. 90 mm high) (cl. 36). No jumping, diving or swimming within 50 m of commercial wharves, or of other wharves/ramps when a vessel is manoeuvring nearby (cl. 18). Napier Pilotage Area: vessels under 500 GT must not impede vessels of 500 GT or more and must not anchor, moor or navigate within 50 m of them; entry to the Breakwater Harbour needs Napier Harbour Control approval; no anchoring or set nets there (cl. 31, Schedule 1.6). Access lanes at Mahia Beach and Waimārama Beach; passive recreation areas closed to motorised craft at Mahia, Hardinge Road, Ahuriri Estuary and Pourerere Stream; cautionary launching zones at Whangawehi, Waikokopu, Kairakau and Pourerere beaches. Reserved area for rocket operations (Rocket Lab, Māhia) by public notice (cl. 9). All incidents/accidents to be reported to the Harbourmaster (cl. 29, 37). Alcohol is not addressed in the bylaw.
Popular boating waters in Hawke's Bay
- Ahuriri / Napier inner harbour and estuary
- Hawke Bay off Napier and Hastings
- Māhia Peninsula and Whangawehi
- Waimārama Beach
- Te Awa o Mokotūāraro (Clive River) and Ngaruroro River
- Mohaka River
- Wairoa River
- Kairakau and Pourerere beaches
Some of the waters local boaties know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on Hawke's Bay 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
Do you have to wear a lifejacket in Hawke's Bay?
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway, everywhere in New Zealand, Hawke's Bay included. The regional rule: Wear: everyone on board a pleasure craft 6 m or less must wear a properly secured personal flotation device of appropriate size when the vessel is underway (cl. 17.1). On pleasure craft over 6 m, anyone must wear one when the person in charge instructs it (cl. 17.2). The person in charge is responsible for carriage and wearing of lifejackets (cl. 16.2); the carriage rule itself comes from Maritime Rules Part 91 (a lifejacket of the right size for each person). Exemptions: surfboards or similar non-motorised craft; board sports (incl. windsurfing, kiteboarding, SUP, surfing, foiling) if a wetsuit is worn at all times; recreational divers in a full wetsuit on craft 6 m or less within 5 miles of shore; supervised sport/training (cl. 17.3). The council's safety page adds that wearing is also legally required at times of heightened risk (bar crossings, strong tides, rough water, emergencies).
What is the speed limit near the shore in Hawke's Bay?
5 knots maximum (proper speed), without reasonable excuse: within 50 m of any other vessel or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure (or inshore of buoys marking that distance); within 200 m of a vessel or structure showing Flag A; in any reserved area with a 5-knot limit; in any mooring zone (cl. 27.1). 5 knots on a motorised craft while anyone has part of their body over the side (cl. 27.2). Speed-uplifted inland areas (Schedule 2): Wairoa River (Waiau confluence to sea, at least 5 m from the bank); Mohaka River (Pakaututu Road Bridge to sea, but 5 knots 16 Oct–31 Mar at Mohaka River Farm, Glenfalls campsite and Everett's Park); Te Awa o Mokotūāraro (Clive River) and Ngaruroro River zones (open area, buffer, regulated area with set hours and anti-clockwise circulation, 5-knot rowing area near SH51 bridge, 5-knot passive area, shared area 5 knots in duck-shooting and whitebait seasons); Mangakuri River; Pōrangahau River. Board sports are exempt from the 200 m shore limit if done with due regard for others (cl. 27.4(c)). HBRC's jet ski page also lists 5 knots within 30 m of the shore and 50 m of structures on inland waters; that inland distance was not found in the bylaw text.
Do jet skis need to be registered in Hawke's Bay?
Every PWC (jet ski) must display on both sides a unique identification number registered with Hawke's Bay Regional Council (or another council) before use in regional waters; change of ownership/disposal form required (cl. 36.5–36.6). HBRC registration: one-off fee of $100 incl. GST including the sticker, valid throughout NZ; numbers at least 90 mm high, above the waterline, legible from 50 m (HBRC jet ski page). Speed from shore only in designated jet ski reserved areas, otherwise 5-knot rule (HBRC page). Minimum age: a vessel capable of more than 10 knots may only be operated by a person over 15 (cl. 26.1); exception only with a written Harbourmaster exemption plus direct supervision by someone over 15 within reach of the controls who is not the towing observer (cl. 26.2).
Sources
Regional authority: Hawke's Bay Regional Council (Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Te Matau-a-Māui) – Harbourmaster
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/Plans/Navigation-Safety-Bylaws/Bylaw-Document-2023-V19.pdf
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/services/harbourmaster/navigation-safety-bylaw/
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/services/harbourmaster/
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/services/harbourmaster/jetskipwc-registration/
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/services/harbourmaster/safety-on-the-water/
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/contact-us/
- https://www.coastguard.nz/lifejacket-changes
- https://www.boprc.govt.nz/living-in-the-bay/boating-in-the-bay/recreational-boating/lifejackets/
Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Hawke's Bay Regional Council 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.