Events on waterways

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If you're wanting to organise a race, speed trial, competition or any other organised recreational activity on a waterway in the Waikato region, you will first need to apply for permission from Waikato Regional Council. This permission is to:

  • temporarily suspend restrictions under the Navigation Safety Bylaw, and
  • reserve an area for the purpose of that activity.

Apply to conduct a temporary maritime event

Note: Any event at Lake Karāpiro cannot be applied for online. Please use the 'Temporary maritime event - Lake Karāpiro' PDF form.

  • To apply online, you'll need a RealMe® account.  If you don't have an account already, you'll need to create one. Once you have logged in you will be redirected back to the Waikato Regional Council website to begin your application. You will be asked to verify your email address as part of Waikato Regional Council's Privacy Policy. Go to our online portal to login and/or set up your RealMe® account.
  • If you wish or need to use a PDF form, please download and save it first before you start entering information. If you start editing in the original version on this webpage, your changes won't save. 

Here's some help with your application

Calendar of events

The calendar below lists current and upcoming events on our region's waterways that have been authorised by Waikato Regional Council.

You should also check out the full list of Lake Karāpiro events (as approved by the Lake Karāpiro Users Group), as events listed there might not yet have been issued with a temporary event authorisation from Waikato Regional Council.


LAKE KARĀPIRO
Date Event Time Zone(s)
15 - 19 April 2025 Rowing NZ U19 / Development Team Trials  7.00am to Midday and 2pm to 5pm except 19th which is 7am to 10am only 4, 5, 6
21 - 29 (30th) Reserve Day 2025 NZ Secondary Schools Rowing Championships / Maadi Regatta 

5am to 6pm (24 - 29, Zones 3 -6)

10am to 5pm (21 - 23 Zones 4 - 6

5am to 6pm Reserve day 30th all zones 

 3, 4, 5, 6
21 - 23 March 2025 Waikato Regional Water Ski Championships 7am to 6.30pm 9 (Hora Hora)
26 - 30 March 2025 Oceania Water Ski and Wake Board Championships  7am to 6.30pm 9 (Hora Hora)
4 - 5 April 2025 NZ Dragon Boat Nationals 7.30am to 5.30pm 3, 4, 5
OTHER WATERWAYS
Date Time Event Location
30 June 2022 to 30 June 2028 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday Bylaw Exemption for DoC for 2.5.1 c) speed in proximity to shore Whangamarino River Wetlands area and Maramarua River Wetlands Area 
1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028 Daylight Hours Bylaw Exemption for Camjet (2011) 2.5.1 a) (Camjet Vessels only), c) and d) Waikato River between Shakespeare Street Bridge in Cambridge and 50 metres downstream of the  Karapiro Hydro Dam Structure and between Victoria Street Bridge in Cambrdige and a point opposite Banks Road in Cambridge
1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028 Daylight Hours Bylaw Exemption for Huka Jet - 2.5.1 c) and 2.5.1 d) Lake Aratiatia Waikato River
1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028 Daylight Hours Bylaw Exemption for Freedom Adventures - 2.4.1 c) and 2.4.3 Mercury Bay specific areas
10 November 2024 to 30 June 2028 Daylight Hours Bylaw Exemption for Whitianga Volunteer Coastguard during emergency deployment for 2.4.1 and 2.5.1 for everything except b) Whitianga River, Whitianga
15 - 16 March 2025 7am to 5pm National Championships and Series 8 & 9 (NZWSRA) Lake Arapuni
13 February to 6 October 2025 Daylight Hours Edgar Forest Clearing  Lake Arapuni (Partial closure around forestry site)
15 - 16 March 2025 7am to 5.30pm Wake NZ North Island Championships Lake Maraetai
22 - 23 March 2025 11am to 3.30pm NZ Offshore Powerboat Championships Series Mercury Bay (200m offshore from the front of Buffalo Beach and Wharekaho Beach out to Centre Island) 
28 - 30 March 2025 7.00am to 6.00pm  Oceania Championships and Trans Tasman Lake Maraetai
3 - 5 April 2025 7.00am to 5.30pm Wake NZ National Championships 2025 Lake Maraetai