The Department of Conservation looks after marine mammals and marine reserves.
Alert the Department of Conservation to a whale stranding, seal in distress or suspicious activity inside a marine reserve, by calling 0800 DOC HOT (362 468).
Harbourmaster team
Our Harbourmaster and Maritime Team work to keep Bay of Plenty waterways safe for everyone to enjoy.
Role of the Harbourmaster
- Carry out regular patrols to ensure that harbour and lakes users know the rules and are abiding by the Bay of Plenty Navigation and Safety Bylaw.
- Maintain more than 800 navigation aids, lights and beacons around the region.
- Remove hazards (when accessible), such as large logs and fallen trees from local waterways.
- Dispose of abandoned vessels.
- Maintain safe boating signage at your local boat ramps.
- Respond to marine oil spill events.
- Issue mooring licences for 482 swing moorings.
- Manage aquatic events and lakes closures.
- Promote safe boating.
- Keep local and visiting boaties informed of changes to local rules and regulations.
Other organisations
We work with other organisations who are also working to care for our harbours, lakes and wildlife.
Department of Conservation (DOC)
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) provides lots of free ways to check the fisheries rules. This includes a free text service, a free Smartphone app, or by visiting their website or offices. Fishing is one of New Zealand’s most popular outdoor activities. To keep the fisheries sustainable MPI sets recreational fishing rules. By sticking to the rules and fishing responsibly, you can help make sure that there will be fish today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
Free text the name of the species you are fishing for (e.g. blue cod or paua) to 9889 and receive legal size and bag limit via return text.
Coastguard is a charity, run by volunteers, dedicated to saving lives at sea. They have units placed along New Zealand's coastline and major lakes and rivers and are manned by volunteers who dedicate their time to saving lives. Coastguard units consist of vessel crew, communications volunteers, air patrols, incident managers and essential support crew.
Coastguard membership is for boaties. It functions rather like an automobile breakdown service, entitling you to free mechanical assistance.
Port of Tauranga has all the information you need on Tauranga’s shipping and cruise ship schedules.
Contact us
Duty Harbourmaster: 0800 5 KNOTS (0800 55 66 87)
24/7 Pollution Hotline: 0800 884 883
Maritime NZ: 0508 222 433
If your call is an emergency then dial 111 in the first instance. Also remember that Coastguard is available on Marine Radio.