Benefits of vessels on Auckland’s waterways

Vessels on Auckland’s waterways provide enjoyment, cultural experiences, sporting events and transport.

How people use these waterways

Every day, people use these waterways for activities such as boating, kayaking, kiteboarding, swimming, fishing and transporting passengers and cargo.

About the Navigation Bylaw

The shared use of Auckland’s waterways brings risks. This can lead to fatalities, injury, crashes and property damage.

What the Navigation Bylaw does

The Navigation Bylaw 2021 makes rules about:

• wearing personal flotation devices, like lifejackets

• where certain boating activities are allowed.

• approving on-water events and moorings

• managing large vessels.

These rules help reduce the risk of:

• accidents

• nuisance

• damage within Auckland’s waterways.

There are also controls that set rules for how people can use certain areas of Auckland’s waterways.

You can find these at the end of the bylaw.

We recently checked how the bylaw and control are working and identified some improvements.

We are proposing to:

• require people on small boats to wear lifejackets while moving, to reduce the risk of deaths
• add safety rules to manage new types of watercraft, like motorised hydrofoil boards and foil boards.
• update older mooring licences to ensure everyone follows the same rules
• include existing harbourmaster rules for the Ferry Terminal Basin to reduce conflict between ferries and cruise ships
• create a no-go zone for powered boats near Auckland Airport to improve safety
• create restricted areas in busy or sensitive areas, including:
  • Horne Rock
  • the Tāmaki River rowing area
  • the Harbour Bridge
  • Simpson Rock.
• remove 14 access lanes that are rarely used.

How you can have your say

There are three ways to have your say. You can:

• complete the online feedback form
• scan and email your completed form to communityconsultation@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• post your completed form to:

Navigation Bylaw
Auckland Council
Private Bag 92300
Victoria Street
West Auckland
1142.

When you can have your say

You can have your say from Monday 4 May to Sunday 7 June 2026.

We will present your feedback to local boards between June and July.

The Bylaw Panel will consider your feedback in August.

We will make a final decision and seek approval from the Governing Body in late 2026.

We want to know what you think.

From 4 May through to 7 June 2026, we want you to tell us what you think about the proposal

to improve our Navigation Bylaw and Control.