Wellington boating rules: lifejackets, speed and the local bylaw
The rules on Wellington 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 Wellington
Wellington Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws 2021
Wellington Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws 2021 (in force 1 July 2021; replaced the 2009 bylaws)
Who looks after the water: Greater Wellington Regional Council (Te Pane Matua Taiao) – Harbourmaster
Lifejacket rules in the bylaw
Carry: a pleasure craft may only be used if it carries a lifejacket of appropriate size for each person, readily accessible (cl. 2.1.1). Wear: on any recreational craft 6 m or less overall, everyone must wear a properly secured lifejacket while underway (cl. 2.1.2); when not underway they must still be worn unless the skipper expressly allows removal and considers there is no significant reduction in safety (cl. 2.1.3). On any pleasure craft, lifejackets must be worn when tides, river flows, rough seas, bad weather, poor visibility or emergencies create danger (cl. 2.1.10), and by anyone being towed (cl. 2.1.8). Exemptions: surfboards riding breaking waves; sailboarders (incl. kitesurfers, wing sailors) in a wetsuit; divers in a full dive suit on boats 6 m or less within 5 NM of shore; supervised sport/training (cl. 2.1.4); paddle craft, body boards and surfboards used with a suitable leash within 200 m of shore are exempt from the underway wear rule (cl. 2.1.5).
Source: gw.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
Greater Wellington Harbourmaster's office: office hours 04 830 4160 or 0800 496 734, harbours@gw.govt.nz; after hours for urgent matters (e.g. oil spill, unsafe boating) 04 388 1911 or 04 473 4547; VHF Ch 14 (Wellington Harbour Radio) in Wellington Harbour, Ch 62 in Porirua Harbour/Kāpiti. 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 Wellington waters
5 knots maximum (proper speed), without reasonable excuse: within 50 m of any other vessel, floating structure 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 floating structure flying Flag A; when knowingly approaching within 200 m of a marine mammal (cl. 3.2.1). 5 knots on a powered vessel while anyone is over the bow or side (cl. 3.2.2). Lambton Harbour (west of a line from the Pile Light at Thorndon Container Terminal to the Carter Fountain, Oriental Bay): 12 knots maximum in addition to the 5-knot rules (cl. 6.8). The Harbourmaster may set other speed limits in parts of the harbour. The 200 m rule does not apply to vessels using a water-ski access lane or PWC reserved area for its purpose, sailboards, or racing yachts/rowers (cl. 3.2.7).
Jet ski (PWC) rules and registration
Every PWC (jet ski) must display a distinctive number on both sides above the waterline – either its trailer registration number or a PWC registration number from Greater Wellington (or another regional council with an equivalent scheme) – at least 90 mm high, contrasting colour, legible from 50 m; a PWC registration number must also be shown on the trailer; notify sale/disposal within 30 days (cl. 5.4). GW says a trailer number is only an option if the PWC is used solely in the Wellington region; for use in other regions it directs owners to register with Auckland Transport (one-off fee; $56.50 quoted on GW's bylaw page – verify current fee with Auckland Transport). PWC reserved areas (black and white striped poles): Petone Beach (east), Onepoto Arm (Porirua Harbour), Castlepoint, Grays Road (Pāuatahanui Inlet) (Schedule 3 Part B). Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a power-driven vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by a person over 15 within immediate reach of the controls (cl. 3.1).
Kayak, paddle board and kite rules
Kitesurfers, windsurfers and wing sailors are 'sailboards': exempt from lifejacket rules if wearing a wetsuit at all times (cl. 2.1.4(b)) and from the 200 m shore speed limit (cl. 3.2.7(d)). Paddle craft (incl. SUPs and kayaks), body boards and surfboards are exempt from the underway lifejacket-wearing rule only within 200 m of shore with a suitable leash (cl. 2.1.5). Non-powered vessels within a harbour or 1000 m of the coast need one waterproof means of communication (cl. 2.15.2). Small sailing, rowed or paddled craft that cannot show sidelights/sternlight must show an all-round white light at night in Wellington and Porirua Harbours (cl. 3.3.3). Eastern end of Pāuatahanui Inlet is reserved for non-powered craft only (Schedule 3 Part D).
Other Wellington rules
At least two means of communication on every vessel, working after submersion on vessels under 6 m (cl. 2.15.1). Wellington Harbour: vessels under 500 GT must not impede vessels of 500 GT or more and should not anchor within 100 m of the marked shipping tracks (cl. 6.5); pleasure craft crossing the harbour entrance at night or in restricted visibility must report to Wellington Harbour Radio on VHF Ch 14, and without VHF (or other means of contact) must not transit the entrance at night or in restricted visibility (cl. 6.1); all vessels with VHF must listen on Ch 14 at night (cl. 6.3.2); no entry into the commercial port areas without permission (cl. 6.9). Water-ski access lanes: Worser Bay, Kau Bay, Evans Bay, Petone Beach (west), Days Bay, Bradey's Bay and Grays Road (Pāuatahanui). Towing needs a lookout aged 10 or over; no towing in darkness or restricted visibility (cl. 3.6–3.7). Swimmers more than 200 m from shore must tow a bright float; dive flag at least 60 × 60 cm (cl. 3.4–3.5). Vessels over 4 m need a name/number at least 90 mm high (also on trailer); smaller vessels should show owner contact details (cl. 5.5). Lyall Bay (western end) flagged swimming/body-boarding area. Alcohol is not addressed in the bylaw.
Popular boating waters in Wellington
- Wellington Harbour (Te Whanganui-a-Tara)
- Evans Bay and Oriental Bay
- Petone Beach and Days Bay
- Porirua Harbour and Pāuatahanui Inlet
- Kāpiti Coast and Kāpiti Island
- Lyall Bay and the south coast
- Castlepoint
- Lake Wairarapa and Lake Onoke
Some of the waters local boaties know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on Wellington 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 Wellington?
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway, everywhere in New Zealand, Wellington included. The regional rule: Carry: a pleasure craft may only be used if it carries a lifejacket of appropriate size for each person, readily accessible (cl. 2.1.1). Wear: on any recreational craft 6 m or less overall, everyone must wear a properly secured lifejacket while underway (cl. 2.1.2); when not underway they must still be worn unless the skipper expressly allows removal and considers there is no significant reduction in safety (cl. 2.1.3). On any pleasure craft, lifejackets must be worn when tides, river flows, rough seas, bad weather, poor visibility or emergencies create danger (cl. 2.1.10), and by anyone being towed (cl. 2.1.8). Exemptions: surfboards riding breaking waves; sailboarders (incl. kitesurfers, wing sailors) in a wetsuit; divers in a full dive suit on boats 6 m or less within 5 NM of shore; supervised sport/training (cl. 2.1.4); paddle craft, body boards and surfboards used with a suitable leash within 200 m of shore are exempt from the underway wear rule (cl. 2.1.5).
What is the speed limit near the shore in Wellington?
5 knots maximum (proper speed), without reasonable excuse: within 50 m of any other vessel, floating structure 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 floating structure flying Flag A; when knowingly approaching within 200 m of a marine mammal (cl. 3.2.1). 5 knots on a powered vessel while anyone is over the bow or side (cl. 3.2.2). Lambton Harbour (west of a line from the Pile Light at Thorndon Container Terminal to the Carter Fountain, Oriental Bay): 12 knots maximum in addition to the 5-knot rules (cl. 6.8). The Harbourmaster may set other speed limits in parts of the harbour. The 200 m rule does not apply to vessels using a water-ski access lane or PWC reserved area for its purpose, sailboards, or racing yachts/rowers (cl. 3.2.7).
Do jet skis need to be registered in Wellington?
Every PWC (jet ski) must display a distinctive number on both sides above the waterline – either its trailer registration number or a PWC registration number from Greater Wellington (or another regional council with an equivalent scheme) – at least 90 mm high, contrasting colour, legible from 50 m; a PWC registration number must also be shown on the trailer; notify sale/disposal within 30 days (cl. 5.4). GW says a trailer number is only an option if the PWC is used solely in the Wellington region; for use in other regions it directs owners to register with Auckland Transport (one-off fee; $56.50 quoted on GW's bylaw page – verify current fee with Auckland Transport). PWC reserved areas (black and white striped poles): Petone Beach (east), Onepoto Arm (Porirua Harbour), Castlepoint, Grays Road (Pāuatahanui Inlet) (Schedule 3 Part B). Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a power-driven vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by a person over 15 within immediate reach of the controls (cl. 3.1).
Sources
Regional authority: Greater Wellington Regional Council (Te Pane Matua Taiao) – Harbourmaster
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2022/01/Navigation-and-Safety-Bylaws-2021-Text-1.5-WEB.pdf
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/environment/harbours-and-coasts/wellington-regional-navigation-safety-bylaws-2021/
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/environment/harbours-and-coasts/
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/environment/harbours-and-coasts/boating-safety/
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/environment/harbours-and-coasts/jetski-registration/
- https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-region/plans-policies-and-bylaws/bylaws/wellington-regional-navigation-safety-bylaws-2021/
- 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 Greater Wellington 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.