New Zealand - Bio-Security
Biosecurity New Zealand is responsible for ensuring unwanted pests, diseases and other organisms are prevented from entering the country and has strict bio-fouling regulations.
All vessels must arrive at one of New Zealand’s approved Places of First Arrival, where a biosecurity inspector will inspect and clear your vessel and passengers for entry into New Zealand.
Biosecurity officers will come aboard and ask you to complete the Master’s Declaration form and sign it in their presence. The Masters Declaration lists items that are prohibited.
The officers will inspect the yacht, examine any animals on board, remove the rubbish, look for dirt on any bicycles and sports gear and ask for specific information about the crew, goods aboard and voyage history.
You will be asked to declare all food and ‘at risk’ goods. The main risk items are fruit, vegetables, plant products, eggs, pot plants, meat and other animal products. It is advisable to arrive with a minimum of fresh stores, as would normally be the case after a sea voyage.
Biosecurity risk often depends on the origin of the goods, so try to keep food sealed in original wrappings. If you are uncertain about anything, declare it. Risk goods will be removed for destruction by the inspector unless you request that items such as wooden trinkets be treated at your expense and returned to you.
Craft Risk Management
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries updated their Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for Vessels in October 2023. Most yachts and recreational vessels arriving in New Zealand fall under the CRMS long-stay category. Long-stay vessels are those staying 29 days or longer, or visiting areas not approved as ports of first arrival.
Anyone bringing a long-stay vessel to New Zealand, must meet the CRMS requirements by providing evidence that the entire hull, including niche areas, has been cleaned less than 30 days before arrival. Short-stay vessels (in NZ for less than 29 days) can meet the standard by providing evidence of continual hull maintenance using best practice.
If this cannot be done prior to your departure for New Zealand, you must make arrangements for your vessel to be cleaned within 24-hours of arrival; evidence of this arrangement must be provided to MPI on arrival. The work must be carried out at a facility approved by MPI for cleaning international vessels. For more information see the following MPI information.
- MPI – Clearance procedures or yachts and pleasure craft
- MPI – Biofouling requirements
- MPI – Yachts and Recreational Vessels
- MPI – Approved Facilities for hull cleaning (Biofouling)
MPI provides a flow chart to self-assess your vessel. If your vessel is likely be assessed as high risk, consider reducing your risk by carrying out an in-water inspection or hull cleaning.
Please note, this information is guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice or confirmation of compliance status. If you need any help assessing your vessel, please email vessels@mpi.govt.nz OR standards@mpi.govt.nz
Marine Biosecurity
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and regional councils are responsible for marine biosecurity. Work programmes are underway to help prevent marine pests arriving in New Zealand in the first place, to detect and take action against any new arrivals and to help manage any that do become established.
Download this Boaties Guide to Marine Biosecurity which contains information on marine pests in New Zealand and guidelines on preventing their spread and is relevant if you plan on visiting some of New Zealand’s stunning cruising grounds.
The following website provides a guide for marine pests, biofouling, cleaning equipment and boat maintenance in New Zealand.
Last updated: January 2024
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COVID-19:
- All restrictions were lifted for small craft in August 2022 and borders opened.
Our thanks to www.ghradio.co.nz, NZ Marine Industry Assoc., Sail South Pacific, Viki Moore and NZ Customs for keeping us informed throughout the Pandemic.
Resources:
- New Zealand Ministry of Health website
- Radio New Zealand website
- Immigration NZ Website
- NZ Official COVID-19 website
Reports:
- NZ: German Yacht Breaks Border Restrictions – Crew to be Deported and Yacht Liable for Duty (September 2020)
- South Pacific: Australia and New Zealand Refuse Cyclone Refuge for Yachts (September 2020)
- See September 2020 TV interview with the Prime Minister of NZ today: Will PM lend hand to stranded Yachties?
- https://www.youtube.com/embed/3K_WRTlsZJ0 (September 2020) – Recording of the Pacific/Asia webinar by the SCCA with panelists from all organisations involved in lobbying for Pacific cruisers to gain entry into NZ and Australia for Cyclone season. Also touches on moves to establish a proper self-isolation facility for arriving NZ boats at the end of the season and concern over next season’s wave of Pacific boats going through Panama and already over-crowded situation in Pacific.
- Covid-19: No Clear Solution yet for Cyclone Refuge in Australia or New Zealand (August 2020)
- New Zealand: Border Exemption for Foreign-Flagged Vessels with Maintenance and Refit Booked (June 2020)
- NZ and Australia for Cyclone Season: OCC Working on Solutions (28 April, 2020)
- South Pacific: New Zealand’s Current Position for Yachts under COVID-19 Restrictions (April 2020)
History:
- From Mid-March 2020 every person entering NZ from anywhere in the world was required to self-isolate for 14 days, excluding the Pacific. There was a travel ban for China and Iran and cruise ships.
- On March 19th 2020 New Zealand closed its borders to ALL non-nationals or resident visa holders until further notice.
- Cruising boats already in the country were informed that NZ Immigration would be sympathetic to requests to extend visas. Late March it was announced that temporary visas would be automatically extended until late September 2020.
- March 26th 2020 NZ went into total lockdown for 4 weeks and all non-essential boating ceased.
- At the start of April border restrictions were tightened further and only NZ citizens/residents were allowed into the country.
- Mid April, the NZ Customs Service agreed to give a blanket extension to all TIEs of yachts/vessels stuck in NZ due to the lockdown to 01 September 2020.
- Mid-May 2020 the lockdown moved to Level 2 and recreational sailing was permitted once again.
- Mid-June a new maritime exception was announced to allow entry to vessels that had a compelling need to travel to NZ (inc. delivery for refit and repair, responding to emergency and humanitarian situations, crew changes, discharge of catch or resupply). At the time this rule only applied to superyachts and commercial vessels, but after lobbying by the NZ Marine Industry Assoc. re. the value contribution from smaller cruising craft the border exemption was extended to yachts under 25m. In all cases, a vessel was not permitted to arrive unless every person on board was an NZ citizen, or satisfied NZ immigration requirements.
- By August 2020 the NZ Marina Operators Association, Sail South Pacific and the Ocean Cruising Club were working hard to gain entry for yachts prior to the start of cyclone season in the South Pacific. Here they provide an update.
- During August 2020 NZ Immigration announced that yacht crews already in the country on a visitor visa could now apply to stay for up to a year and NZ Customs exteded TIEs to July 1st 2021.
- The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Maritime Border) Order (No 2) 2020 is in effect from 11.59pm on Sunday 6 September, governing persons who arrive in New Zealand by sea.
- John and Lyn Martin of Sail South Pacific [john@sailsouthpacific.com], assist vessels in obtaining exemption approvals. Exemptions can take approx. 2 months for health to process and a further 3-4 weeks for visa application. Vessels heading to NZ before cyclone season should start applying in July. Their standard application fee is $750NZD and it usually takes 7-10 days to process all the paperwork and submit it to health. The Vessel Exemption process involved a lot of paperwork and a commitment to spend $50,000 on repairs.
- New Zealand Government announce new border system based on low, medium and high-risk entry paths to begin in early 2022.
- Changes to the maritime border come into effect at 11.59pm on Saturday, 13 November 2021, reducing the length of isolation period required from 14 days to 10 for vessels entering NZ under the exemption process.
- May 2022 air borders opened further and quarantine on arrival rules were eased.
- August 1st, 2022, maritime borders for small craft re-opened. See Noonsite news item re. border opening and new entry rules.
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Looking for affordable haul out facilities and storage in New Zealand. Boat is 15 meters, 2.1m draft. Any recommendations?
November 2022 – reported by Werner Gysi of SY Princess Del Mar:
Princess Del Mar arrived at the Bay of Island Marina in Opua Nov 1st, 2022. We did the same 8 years ago, when the word biosecurity did not exist. This time I was asked to haul out either in Opua or Marsden Cove Marina and have the hull cleaned. I inquired and found the cost to do so reasonable at $350 for in/out, power wash and one day on hard compared to Opua at $500 plus $25 environmental fee. Marsden Cove Marina would have also been able to accomodate me on Nov 8. already rather Nov. 21. in Opua. Three days later I received an email from Biosecurity that Marsden Cove Marina does not at the time have the licence to do so, so I had to stick around and use the marina in Opua. I did not think that to be very professional, but suggest that sailors arriving in NZ that are not sure about their hull cleanliness should skip Opua and sail the extra 50 or so nm to Marsden Cove Marina. If indeed they have to haul out they at least get a better deal. By the way the re-inspection by Biosecurity after power wash was a modest charge of about $50 to receive the necessary paperwork to keep sailing in NZ.
I assume that after all Biosecurity noticed that my hull was clean enough. In any case, I was told that the inspector was lenient.
To get the latest pricing contact:
info@marsdencovemarina.co.nz
info@boimarina.co.nz
Werner Gysi
Princess Del Mar
Oceania Marine,; Whangarei, New Zealand Haul Out at Boat Yard
After a raucous sail up the west coast with over 6 meter seas and 45 knots of wind, boat speeds above 16 kn hitting 20kn, tired after logging our first ever 300+ mile day….We decided to haul-out in Whangarei at Oceania Marine. They had the very best rate for the haul-out and also if we paid them to do all the anti-fouling… so they were almost the most competitive priced of all the yards that had a travel lift for our beam. (Their Travel lift is 10+ meters wide so easily accommodated our 8.06 meter beam.)
In the last four year of world cruising with two major refits and three bottom jobs…. I would say that I am the most satisfied with this yard for quality of work, friendliness of the staff, and overall ability to get the work done just like I wanted it. This in my experience… is a rare thing to get when you are not doing everything yourself. They did an outstanding job and I am more than 100% satisfied.
We are hanging in the slings now ready to go back in the water. April 23, 2021.
All TIEs are now renewed/extended until June 2022.
Good new for those of us with yachts stuck in New Zealand
Still here! Over five months now on the north island of New Zealand.
There is now one (1) active Covid case here. NZ has beaten the pandemic!!
The problem is where to go from here. All the islands in the South Pacific are closed. When they will open is anyone’s guess.
Should we go on westwards through Asia and the Indian Ocean with the virus looming, or bang our way back to Panama (with the virus looming)?
Suggestions are welcome.
After spending several months moored in Opua I would like to share my experiences with the local technicians doing business there. There seems to me that the business owners prey on new arrivals and look at them as their personal solution to providing money for their lives. For sure several yacht owners do not know very much about the inner workings of their vessels so they have no choice but to pay someone to take care of their problems. That’s of course OK, but when they start getting beat up with ridiculous pricing for things being done and for things that really do not need doing then the ugly starts showing.
My personal experience and nightmare was with a boat watcher that just stopped looking after my boat while I was in the US. Upon my return I found grave damage done due to his incompetence which ultimately cost him several thousand dollars and never an apology or a reason for his failure.
While there I happened to hear a government report of boats that checked into New Zealand then moved on to different anchorages due in part to Opua’s growing reputation for not a nice place to stay and severe lack of supplies available. The government count was 300 less boats staying in the area for the 2018 season.
Opua is a convenient place to check into the country, but that’s all it is good for in my humble opinion.
A short situation report from New Zealand.
After spending most of the 2019-2020 cyclone season (November through April) in the South Pacific exploring the varied and beautiful eastern coast of the North Island of NZ the fabric of modern civilization has fallen apart. We are now in limbo.
Conditions here in NZ are identical to the reports coming in from other countries and islands. Self-isolation until further notice. A short visit to the nearest grocery store, pharmacy or medical clinic is the only acceptable reason to venture off the boat.
The NZ authorities have also urged all local boat owners to stay off the water for two reasons. First to avoid contact with others and second to minimize the necessity of any rescue operations by the Coast Guard whose personnel are also in self-isolation. In order to further discourage the use of private boats they have specifically forbidden fishing as well.
Being a foreign (Norwegian) vessel we have little choice but to keep to ourselves and enjoy the now near empty anchorages. Many of our neighbors are also flying courtesy flags and are in the same situation.
Our plans were to sail back up to Tonga in the middle of May before exploring Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and on. We have considered venturing north and accepting the weeks of self-isolation that are required at the few destinations that have not specifically announced that entry is not allowed at all. However, should the situation remain unchanged until the next cyclone season, it will be a dubious proposition to legally reenter the safety of New Zealand waters.
What to do? Hope/try to avoid the virus and stay put, at least until the situation becomes more transparent. It’s hard to see how this lockdown can be upheld for many months as the results will be devastating for most individuals and all nations. Our circumnavigation may be prolonged for a year, but hopefully society will be back on track soon.
Stay safe!
Lionheart
A lot of yachties have been worried about the new regulations for boats arriving in NZ, so here is the latest experience from my arrival from Tonga yesterday 24th November 2019.
Met at the Dock with a handshake and a smile. Quickly filled in the documents and then the quarantine guy used his camera on a stick to check the hull. He was very happy and gave me my clearance which allows me to sail to any other areas of the coast. Just before I left Tonga I had a local Tongan scrub the Hull thoroughly (unfortunately this removes a lot of the antifouling but that can’t be helped), was very inexpensive and satisfied all the NZ requirements.
So, it looks as if we don’t need to worry too much.
Having done this trip 12 times now I can confirm that both NZ and Tonga are friendly and welcoming places: just make sure that you conform to the regulations, particularly sending Advance Notice of Arrival, which is easy enough.
Mike Watts
SV Kokoamo
Dockland 5 – The story of a shipyard on the other side of the world
The sun has just risen and the level of the Hatea River has almost reached the high water mark. Europe is still asleep and New York is getting ready for work. But here, in New Zealand, where time begins, there is already pure action. It is early morning because the tides dominate the operation. The forklift, heavily loaded with shipyard equipment, wooden blocks, supports and pallets are on there way to the next hardstand. The new manager, Boss John Peagram and Big-John, who are always prudent travel lift operators, are preparing to lift out a larger motor vessel. The travel lift, heavy lift-belts and shackles are carefully inspected before is going down to business.
Nothing is left to chance in this not always uncritical business. The tide has to be right, the currents of the river and often also the wind which blows in the Hatea Valley, but mostly weaker than in the country. The Dockland 5 shipyard is surely one of the best on the river. A short time later, the heavy vessel is hanging over the washing area and is been cleaned by the water jet. The offwash is collected, separated and disposed of, but this is handled by shipyard and does not need to burden the respective captains or owners.
After 30 minutes to approx. 2 hours depending on the size of the vessel and the amount of cleaning required, the ship stands at its stand and shipowners work can commence. Whether DIY or contractors is left to the ship owner’s decision. If you need advice, you are in the right hands with Boss John and Big John. In administrative matters, postal matters and the local business environment. Natasha in here office likes to advice.
Many improvements and future plans are on the to-do list and there is a healthy optimism prevailing. Finally, the Steve & Bev Bowling Group is behind Dockland 5 and that’s a good thing. Bev and Steve are longtime entrepreneurs and are real go-getters as in the book. Their group works from the South Seas to the Antarctic. So it’s good reason to believe in a good future for Dockland 5.
That was not always so! Years of sales efforts and the associated future uncertainties had brought down the yard down to the bones. The management was deprived of the ground under their feet day after day, on which a healthy company should stand. In May 2019 the sale and thus the takeover finally took place. From one day to the other, the customers came back. From now on emails and phone calls where answered and appointments been kept. A completely new and heart freshening feeling.
Today, the main focus targets the worldwide sailing scene, fishing, pilot boats, rescue boats, work pontoons, tug boats, dive- and specialty-vessels and local boats from small dinghies to mega-yacht, the storage of vessels, transfers from land to water or on to trucks and vice versa.
In the yard itself and in the nearby environment there is a wide range of service companies for shore site assistance. That makes Dockland 5 a hotspot in the entire NZ Northland region if not even the South-West Pacific.
Finally, a little bit about the history of Dockland 5: The shipyard was founded in the last century by Dave Culham (Culham Engineering). Later it was sold to Jack and Mary Maclardy, who had it operated by a manager for a little over 20 years. Jack and Mary sold Dockland 5 because they wanted to retired and travel, spending more time with their family. One of the many highlights in the shipyard history was the construction of the 22.8m yacht “Isabel of Newport” by the then United States Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry and many other yachts of the former Friendship era.
Today, in 2019, it is fair to say:
“The dockyard shipyard Dockland 5, for generations support for world circumnavigators from all over the world, has awakened to a new life ”
How to reach Dockland 5:
Boss John Peagram
Email: john@dockland5.co.nz
Mobil: 0064 (0) 274 930 812
Phone 0064 (0) 9438 8558
Office:
Admin Natasha Bowling
Email: support@dockland5.co.nz
Phone 0064 (0) 9438 8558
By Mail:
Dockland 5 Marine Limited
211 Lower Port Road
Postbox 11031
Whangarei / New Zealand
Website of Dockland 5: https://www.dockland5.co.nz/
English Site http://www.atlantis-sail.de/Maritim/Technische_Berichte/Dockland-5_Shipyard_2019-english.htm
German Site: http://www.atlantis-sail.de/Maritim/Reiseberichte/Shipyard-Dockland-5-Whangarei-NZ-2019.htm
A report of http://WWW.Atlantis-Sail.de
Email: Mailbox@Atlantis-Sail.de
Has anyone tried using an Android Tablet for operating Navionics charts instead of an iPad ( for example)?
Yes. Bought a Samsung Galaxy TabA and it works. Way cheaper too.
Missing harbour — Kaikoura (South Island, east coast). Anchoring is available off the northern beach, but there are no marina facilities. Subsequent to the 2016 earthquake, some areas of the seabed have risen by between 1 and 5m from their charted depths. It is not advisable to rely on shallow areas of the charts without good current local knowledge. In an emergency it may be possible to shelter within the harbour at South Bay (south west of peninsula), by contacting Whale Watch Kaikoura by phone. Although this is shown as almost drying on most charts there is room for vessels up to 2.1m draft after dredging (2019). Berths in the harbour are private and should be entered only by invitation. Entry should only be considered if Lyttelton (south) or Picton (north) are not practical, each of which are around 12 hrs away.
This now seems to be settled (at least for 2019) and many of the ports listed as Port Of Entry are now no longer available – see https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/border-clearance/vessels/arrival-process-steps/yachts-and-other-recreational-vessels/
Statement from MPI:
Ports of first arrival are approved for specific types of craft (i.e recreational craft). Approval can be removed if the port no longer wishes to receive a certain type of craft or does not have the facilities (hull cleaning facilities) to manage the type of craft. As biofouling requirements have been brought in this season, MPI is reconfirming with each port that normally receives yachts if they are still intending to receive yachts or not.
Should any changes occur this will be notified on the below webpage. Please check the webpage prior to arrival to ensure you arrive at an MPI approved port.
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/importing/border-clearance/places-of-first-arrival/seaports/
Auckland is no longer a port of entry, as we received the following mail from the Customs NZ:
Due to changes with biosecurity requirements governed by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in New Zealand, all arriving small craft can only now be cleared at approved Ports of First Arrival (POFA).
Auckland is no longer a POFA.
Auckland is a POFA according to the MPI Web Site.
Auckland is NOT a POFA for recreational vessels (yachts). It is only a POFA for “Super yachts only for specified clients only” as per the Biosecurity NZ website.
New biosecurity rules for boats arriving in NZ: Marine pests and diseases introduced to New Zealand on vessel hulls (biofouling) are a threat to NZ’s marine environment and resources. From May 2018, all commercial and recreational vessels arriving in New Zealand will need to have a clean hull. This means vessels will only be allowed to be carrying a slime layer and goose barnacles. For more info go to http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz.
Have a dive and check niche areas of your hull before you leave for NZ (bottom of the keel tends to get less antifoul and more growth).
Re. Wet Exhaust Silencers/Water Locks:
Brent at Marine Exhausts Ltd in Auckland was very helpful. We had leaky stainless end caps on our Volvo warlocks that had reached the end of their life. Brent fabricated entire new fibreglass units that exactly matched our old units for our main engine and generator.
The fibreglass option will never pit and corrode as the stainless steel ones did. He completed the job for less than the cost of the new Volvo parts only!
As we have met many cruisers who report the same issue with their waterlocks, I thought I’d put his details here and hopefully, it helps someone.
Brent can be contacted on 021-119-3043.
I spent last cyclone season in Whangarei working on my yacht. Whilst I believe there must be some honest and hardworking contractors I didn’t find any. Almost without exception the work was delayed, poor or came in way over quotation. Not a good destination for yachties.
Comment from Noonsite
The 2 years Alan mentions is for the YACHT only, NOT for the crew. See the Immigration section above for the details on visas etc.
Alan! I just read your comment regarding the 2-year stay in New Zealand! Where can I find information about this? We were just about to apply for VISA- but after reading your comment maybe this is all for nothing!
//Daniel
No fresh produce can be bought into NZ! If the Quarantine officer finds any kind of pests(bugs or anything) in your dry stores, they may be taken and destroyed, meat rules change as to where you can bring certain goods in from as the authorities react to outbreaks of diseases in other countries, therefore rules can change overnight.
They often want to check wooden souvenirs especially from the Pacific islands for insect damage (or insects themselves) NZ has very few pests and diseases making it’s meat and produce some of the best you will ever have! But there are VERY strict rules in place to keep it this way. I know of a person who tried to hide (his salami and cheeses of all things) and almost ended up in prison, but got away with a hefty fine, $12,000NZD I believe. Please declare and ask if you are unsure. From a former Quarantine Inspector-turned-cruiser.
Additional comment from Alan:
Word of caution – no meat can be brought in to NZ, except bacon from Sweden and Finland!!…don’t ask; read the rules, they are very strict.
A French boat ahead of us had two large sacks of probably most of their provisions taken away by quarantine.
If you want any SSB work done in Auckland, contact Jaques Calvo, Calvotech,
+64 29 415 0454
http://www.calvotech.co.nz
Visiting yachts now get an automatic 24 month stay allocated – no extensions, everyone gets 2 years, whether you want it or not!
Re ICOM radio repairs: If you are having issues with your ICOM HF radio go to anyone in New Zealand but ICOM NZ. I took my 802 to them (as did one other yacht) and the result was they said “we cannot find out what the fault is but it is uneconomical to repair. We recommend you buy a new one”. In addition, they charged several hundred dollars for their failed efforts. You’d be throwing your money away.