This report was updated on 1/12/2025 to reflect that anchoring is allowed in both HPA and SPA of the Hauraki Gulf.
The fortnight to 28 November 2025 has produced one of the more consequential batches of chart updates in recent memory. New Zealand Notices to Mariners Edition 24 covers Notices NZ 69 to 71 and reaches into waters that will be busy throughout summer: the Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier Island, Whanganui, Akaroa Harbour, and the approaches to Otago Harbour. Recreational crews and commercial operators alike have good reason to read this edition carefully before their next passage.
Hauraki Gulf marine protections now active
The headline change in this edition is the establishment of new marine protected areas across the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā Toi. Three categories of protection have been introduced: marine reserves, High Protection Areas (HPAs), and Seafloor Protection Areas (SPAs). The spread of these zones is illustrated on page 6 of the Notices, with coverage reaching from Mokohinau and Little Barrier in the north, through Waiheke, and south to the Aldermen/Whakahau group and the Mercury Islands.
All of these protections are already in force, even though the boundaries have not yet been added to official charts. Boaties planning to cruise or fish anywhere in the Gulf this season should treat the DOC website as essential reading before departure. While fishing may be restricted within HPAs, anchoring is permitted in both High Protection Areas and Seafloor Protection Areas.
DOC's website can be found here:
What you can and can't do in Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana
Exotic caulerpa controls remain in place
Notice NZ 70(T)/25 maintains Controlled Areas for exotic caulerpa at five locations: Aotea (Great Barrier), Ahuahu (Great Mercury), Little Barrier, Waiheke Island, and Te Rawhiti Inlet in the Bay of Islands. Depending on the specific zone, rules cover anchoring, fishing, and the deployment of gear, so a blanket approach will not serve crews well here.
These temporary restrictions touch a wide range of charts spanning the Hauraki Gulf, the outer Gulf islands, and eastern Northland. MPI's dedicated caulerpa page holds the precise boundaries and is the most reliable source for planning anchorages in the affected areas. Anyone heading to these islands should make that check a fixed part of their pre-departure routine.
Whanganui: bar lights out and dredging under way
Whanganui commands attention in this edition for two separate reasons. Active dredging is taking place alongside Wharf No. 1 and Wharf No. 2, with two spoil grounds in the vicinity marked by 40-metre and 60-metre radiuses respectively. A temporary pile has been placed at one of the spoil grounds to assist in identifying the work area.
The more pressing concern is that the North Head Bar leading lights are unlit until 12 December. The Whanganui Bar is not a place that forgives complacency at the best of times, and without functioning leads, the case for daylight crossings and solid local knowledge becomes even stronger. Crews should approach the bar with real caution and plan accordingly until the lights are restored.
New sector light for Otago Harbour
A new sector light at U Shed, Victoria Wharf in Dunedin is now operational, providing clearer guidance for vessels making for Otago Harbour. The light covers red, white, and green sectors across narrow bearings centred on 252 degrees, has a range of two miles, and sits at a height of 11 metres. Chart updates will follow, but the light is already in service and is a useful addition for commercial and local traffic navigating this stretch of the harbour.
Marine farm added in Akaroa Harbour
Notice NZ 69/25 records a new marine farm in Akaroa Harbour on chart NZ 6324, positioned at 43°50'.00S 172°56'.52E. Akaroa Harbour already has farm structures in place, so skippers transiting the area should give the new site a generous clearance, particularly in reduced visibility where the temptation to cut corners is greatest.
New chart edition for Poverty Bay approaches
A new edition of chart NZ 5571, covering Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay and Approaches to Gisborne, is due for release in the near future. This chart serves coastal cruisers, fishing operators, and commercial vessels working the East Coast approaches, and anyone who relies on it should watch for the updated edition.
Charts affected in this edition
This edition carries corrections and temporary notices across the following charts:
Temporary Notice 70(T): NZ 512, 522, 5125, 5221, 5222, 5223, 5224, 5312, 5314, 5318, 5324 Permanent Notice 69: NZ 6324 Preliminary Notice 71(P): NZ 6612
Crews using charts anywhere from the Hauraki Gulf and eastern Northland through to Whanganui, Akaroa, Dunedin, and the Mercury Bay region will find this edition directly relevant to their waters.
Practical steps before heading out
Apply the latest corrections to any affected paper charts. Study the new Hauraki Gulf protection zone boundaries on the DOC website before cruising or fishing in the Gulf. Consult MPI's caulerpa guidance before anchoring or setting gear near the affected islands. Give the Whanganui Bar extra respect while the leading lights remain unlit. Take note of the new Dunedin sector light when using the Otago Harbour approaches. And allow a safe margin around the new Akaroa marine farm. Heading into the busiest season on the water, staying current with these changes is simply part of good seamanship.
