Welcome to the home page for Navigation Safety and Safe Boating Southland
The Southland Navigation Safety Rules
There are two navigation safety authorities that work together in Southland. The Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) is the central government agency tasked with maritime safety throughout the country. MNZ's principal objective is to undertake activities that promote a safe maritime environment and provide effective marine pollution prevention and an effective marine oil pollution response system, at reasonable cost.
The MNZ develops maritime and marine protection rules. Other services include technical advice on maritime safety and environmental protection issues, advice on Ministerial correspondence, parliamentary questions and industry liaison.
Environment Southland has the statutory function to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being in our region, which includes navigation safety. We do this by making navigation safety bylaws and through powers exercised by appointing a harbourmaster and honorary enforcement officers.
There are some areas of overlap, for example rules regarding navigational safety. MNZ developed Maritime Rule Part 91 “Navigation Safety”. This is a national standard which aims for a consistent approach across the country. Each region has its own little (and large) issues and so most regions have chosen to apply Navigation Safety Bylaws that allow for local issues; for example speed up-liftings for part or all of certain rivers. In Southland we have the Southland Navigation Safety Bylaws 2003 which governs safe navigation practices on our rivers, lakes and out to the 12 mile limit at sea.
 Download the PDF (2.4MB)
Draft Southland Navigation Safety Rules
Environment Southland’s responsibilities include the powers conferred by the Local Government Act 1974 to regulate shipping movements and navigation safety throughout our region. In 2003, the Council implemented Navigation Safety Bylaws, and after five years, these are now under review. The revision of these bylaws is required to keep them up-to-date and reflect the concerns of Southlanders.
Environment Southland is now entering the public consultation period of the Navigation Safety Bylaws review, and submissions from interested parties are invited on the draft.
The changes that we are proposing include:
1. Sections 2-5: most amendments to ensure consistency with Maritime Rules, and with Navigation Safety Bylaws in other regions. Submitters may consider these sections, and provide comment and request changes, but any further amendments can not conflict with the relevant Maritime Rules;
2. Section 2.13: this section requires that all vessels have some form of identification mark on the hull (for example boat name, owner name or some other identifying mark or number);
3. Schedule 3, 1 Prohibited Anchorages - prohibited anchorages arising from other legislation, and the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland, have been added;
4. Schedule 3, 4 Special Provisions for Milford Sound - A speed uplift between 100m and 200m from shore, to allow vessels’ speed to increase to 15 knots, is proposed;
5. Schedule 3, 5 - 8 Special Provisions for Doubtful Sound, Colac Bay, Oreti Beach, and Porpoise Bay - Sections added to reflect navigation safety requirements with regard to speed for these areas, arising from the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland;
6. Schedule 3, 9 Access Lanes Lake Manapouri - Additional ski lane in Circle Cove;
7. Schedule 3, Access Lanes Lake Te Anau - Changes to access lanes proposed:
- consideration of removal of Blue Gum Point ski lane;
- new access lane to the east of Bluegum Point (for jet skis only);
- new ski lane west of the Upukerora River; and
- new ski lane at Garden Point.
These changes and any other changes to the Bylaws are proposed to improve navigation safety in Southland.
Download the Draft Navigation Safety Bylaws (3.7MB PDF).
If you would like to comment on any part of the draft bylaws, or suggest further amendments, please reply, in writing, to the Maritime Manager/Harbourmaster at Environment Southland. Written submissions will be received up to 4.30 pm, Friday, 29 August 2008. Alternatively, fill out our online submission form here.
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