Northland boating rules: lifejackets, speed and the local bylaw
The rules on Northland 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 Northland
Northland Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017 (a 2025 bylaw is adopted but not yet in effect)
Northland Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017, still in force (published 1 Aug 2017). The council adopted a new Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025 on 26 August 2025, but it is not yet in effect: it waits for the Ministry of Transport to approve its enforcement schedule. There is also a separate Kai Iwi Lakes Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017.
Who looks after the water: Northland Regional Council (Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Te Taitokerau) – Harbourmaster / Maritime team
Lifejacket rules in the bylaw
2017 bylaw (in force), clause 2.1: on vessels 6 m or under, everyone must wear a properly secured, correctly sized lifejacket (PFD) at all times while underway. The only exception is a tender within 200 m of shore, where the person in charge, after assessing the circumstances, may expressly allow it to be removed. All vessels must carry enough lifejackets in good condition, of the right size, in a readily accessible place. Everyone must wear one in heightened risk: tides, river flows, poor visibility, rough seas, bad weather, crossing a bar, emergencies. Anyone being towed must wear one, and the council says jet ski riders must always wear one. Exemptions: board sports with a wetsuit or a leash suited to the conditions; divers on boats under 6 m within 5 nm wearing a wetsuit; approved sporting events. The adopted 2025 bylaw (not yet in force) removes the tender exception and adds a SUP exemption within 200 m of shore with a leash.
Source: nrc.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
24/7 NRC Incident Hotline: 0800 504 639. Use it to report dangerous boating, navigation hazards, broken navigation lights and pollution. Council general line (listed by Maritime NZ for Northland bylaws): 0800 002 004 or +64 9 470 1200. Neither number is labelled non-emergency, so we found no dedicated harbourmaster phone number. Emergencies: 111 (or VHF channel 16).
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 Northland waters
5 knots maximum (2017 bylaw, clause 3.2) within 50 m of any other vessel, raft or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure, or inshore of the buoys (yellow) marking that distance; within 200 m of a vessel or raft flying Flag A (dive flag); and while anyone has part of their body over the bow or side. No one may be towed above 5 knots in those areas. Ski access lanes and speed-uplifting areas allow higher speeds; skippers must check the area is clear first. The council publishes ski access lane and prohibited-area maps.
Jet ski (PWC) rules and registration
Every jet ski or other PWC used in Northland waters must show a unique number on each side, at least 90 mm high with digits at least 80 mm wide. The number must be registered with the council or its agent, with the owner's name and address (clause 3.19). Registration is handled by the Auckland harbourmaster register, which covers Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Riders must wear a lifejacket at all times. Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a powered vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by someone over 15 within immediate reach of the controls (clause 3.1).
Kayak, paddle board and kite rules
Board sports with a wetsuit or leash are exempt from carrying and wearing a lifejacket (2017, clause 2.1.4). Board sports, including kiteboarding and windsurfing, are prohibited in the Ruakākā and Waipū estuaries under the 2017 bylaw; the adopted 2025 bylaw proposes removing that ban. The council publishes a kiteboarding code of conduct: give way to all other users, no jumps within 50 m of the beach or of anyone downwind, and start more than 50 m from others. The 2025 bylaw exempts SUPs within 200 m of shore with a leash from the lifejacket rule.
Other Northland rules
The person in charge must not be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines to the point of being unable to properly control the vessel (clause 2.2). Towing needs a lookout aged 10 or older, and there is no skiing between sunset and sunrise. Moorings must be licensed by the council. Power-driven vessels are prohibited in Motutangi Stream (Houhora Harbour) by harbourmaster direction. Bar harbours include Herekino, Hokianga, Kaipara, Mangawhai, Pārengarenga and Whāngāpē; Ngunguru, Pataua and Whananaki can also be difficult. Red and yellow flagged areas are set aside for swimming. The adopted 2025 bylaw adds a requirement for at least two means of communication, at least one of which must work after being submerged on vessels 6 m or under, and requires lifejackets when tendering.
Popular boating waters in Northland
- Bay of Islands (Paihia, Russell, Ōpua)
- Whangārei Harbour
- Hokianga Harbour (and bar)
- Kaipara Harbour – northern part (and bar)
- Mangawhai Harbour
- Tutukākā Coast / Poor Knights Islands
- Whangaroa Harbour
- Kai Iwi Lakes
Some of the waters local boaties know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on Northland 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 Northland?
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway, everywhere in New Zealand, Northland included. The regional rule: 2017 bylaw (in force), clause 2.1: on vessels 6 m or under, everyone must wear a properly secured, correctly sized lifejacket (PFD) at all times while underway. The only exception is a tender within 200 m of shore, where the person in charge, after assessing the circumstances, may expressly allow it to be removed. All vessels must carry enough lifejackets in good condition, of the right size, in a readily accessible place. Everyone must wear one in heightened risk: tides, river flows, poor visibility, rough seas, bad weather, crossing a bar, emergencies. Anyone being towed must wear one, and the council says jet ski riders must always wear one. Exemptions: board sports with a wetsuit or a leash suited to the conditions; divers on boats under 6 m within 5 nm wearing a wetsuit; approved sporting events. The adopted 2025 bylaw (not yet in force) removes the tender exception and adds a SUP exemption within 200 m of shore with a leash.
What is the speed limit near the shore in Northland?
5 knots maximum (2017 bylaw, clause 3.2) within 50 m of any other vessel, raft or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure, or inshore of the buoys (yellow) marking that distance; within 200 m of a vessel or raft flying Flag A (dive flag); and while anyone has part of their body over the bow or side. No one may be towed above 5 knots in those areas. Ski access lanes and speed-uplifting areas allow higher speeds; skippers must check the area is clear first. The council publishes ski access lane and prohibited-area maps.
Do jet skis need to be registered in Northland?
Every jet ski or other PWC used in Northland waters must show a unique number on each side, at least 90 mm high with digits at least 80 mm wide. The number must be registered with the council or its agent, with the owner's name and address (clause 3.19). Registration is handled by the Auckland harbourmaster register, which covers Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Riders must wear a lifejacket at all times. Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a powered vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by someone over 15 within immediate reach of the controls (clause 3.1).
Sources
Regional authority: Northland Regional Council (Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Te Taitokerau) – Harbourmaster / Maritime team
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/your-council/have-your-say/navigation-safety-bylaw-review/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/bylaws-and-rules/navigation-safety-bylaws/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/media/er1hrrg2/navigationsafetybylaw2017finalweb.pdf
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/media/xgqp1jts/final-navigation-safety-bylaw-2025.pdf
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/bylaws-and-rules/key-bylaws-for-jet-skis/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/bylaws-and-rules/kiteboarding-code-of-conduct/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/marine-pollution-and-boat-cleaning/report-an-incident-or-oil-spill/
- https://www.nrc.govt.nz/maritime/safe-boating/bar-harbours/
- https://at.govt.nz/maritime-safety/jetskis-personal-watercraft
- https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational-craft/on-the-water/rules-and-safety/regional-safety-information/
- 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 Northland 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.