Maritime services - It's what we do | Waikato Regional Council

Maritime services. It's what we do.

There are an estimated 160,000 recreational boaties living in, or that visit, our region every year.

We look after the region’s harbours and coastal and inland waterways to ensure they are safely navigable. The Waikato has nearly 1200 kilometres of coastline and many hundreds of kilometres of hydro lakes and rivers. Our maritime services team is responsible for:
- removal of navigation hazards
- liaising with owners of derelict vessels to have them removed from waterways or removing them ourselves by way of enforcement
- maintenance of navigation aids, and safety signage
- maintenance and hosting of bar cameras to enhance boating safety
- authorising and assessing safety plans for special events on waterways
- management of moorings
- investigating boating incidents and complaints
- boating safety education and enforcement patrols
- promotion of boating safety through media channels and public events.
The Environmental Performance Committee, which is made up of six councillors and meets every three months, is responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of, and compliance with, the council’s regulatory responsibilities, including monitoring the effectiveness of the council’s navigation safety bylaw.
We partner with iwi Māori to ensure their values, knowledge, and aspirations are reflected in the management of maritime activities.
- Co-governance arrangements shape maritime plans and policies, embedding Māori perspectives in decision-making.
- Iwi are consulted on maritime plans and policies, projects, and water safety initiatives, particularly in culturally significant areas.
- We work with Waikato-Tainui to manage Authorised Customary Activities related to navigation safety within the Waikato River co-management area, as outlined in the Joint Management Agreement between Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Waikato Regional Council.
Through these partnerships, Waikato Regional Council upholds its Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments while fostering safe, sustainable, and culturally informed maritime management.

Stories about maritime services

Maritime services Waikato Regional Harbourmaster on Facebook

More information on maritime services

More information on maritime services

Maritime services Waikato Regional Harbourmaster on Facebook

What else do we do?

Improving water quality, enhancing the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems, protecting and restoring our unique native plants and animals and the ecosystems they live in, keeping people safe on our roads and waterways as well as from floods and other hazards, and providing passenger transport services.

We do all this, and more.

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Every decision made by councillors significantly impacts the lives of Waikato residents, today and for the future. Elected members have the responsibility to represent the interests of all residents and ratepayers in the region, going beyond their immediate constituencies.

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Waikato Regional Council has co-governance and co-management arrangements with several iwi partners.

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