Boating Rules

The Marlborough District Council exercises authority over harbour waters through powers vested in it by the Local Government Act and Maritime Transport Act. This includes the powers to make bylaws relevant to safety and navigation.

No person in charge of a recreational craft shall use it unless they are on board at the time of use, and in a readily accessible location with sufficient personal flotation devices of an appropriate size for each person on board.

No person under the age of 15 years shall be in charge of, or propel or navigate, a power driven vessel that is capable of a proper speed exceeding 10 knots unless he or she is under the direct supervision of a person over 15 years who is within immediate reach of the controls, and is not the lookout person as provided for in clause 3.4.

The owner of a power driven vessel that is capable of a proper speed exceeding 10 knots must not allow any person who is under the age of 15 years to be in charge of or navigate that vessel, unless he or she is under the direct supervision of a person over the age of 15 years who is within immediate reach of the controls.

No person shall, without reasonable excuse, propel or navigate a vessel (including a vessel towing a person or an object) at a proper speed exceeding five (5) knots within:

(a) 50 metres of any other vessel, raft or person in the water; or

(b) either 200 metres from the shore or any structure, or on the inshore side of any row of buoys demarcating that distance from the shore or structure; or

(c) 200 metres of any vessel or raft that is flying Flag A of the International Code of Signals (diver’s flag)