Manawatū-Whanganui boating rules: lifejackets, speed and the local bylaw
The rules on Manawatū-Whanganui waters, from the regional authority and Maritime NZ, linked line by line: lifejackets, speed limits, jet skis, paddle craft and who looks after the water.
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway.
It applies on all waters — coast, harbours, lakes and rivers — and covers kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, dinghies and tenders. “Underway” means not at anchor, aground, or tied to a dock or the shore, so drifting counts. Penalties for the new rule have not been created yet. Who must wear one, exemptions and how to measure 6 m →
Emergency on the water
How to call Coastguard: 111, Channel 16 or *500
Navigation safety bylaw in Manawatū-Whanganui
Manawatū River and Tributaries Navigation Safety Bylaw 2022
Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, Manawatū River and Tributaries Navigation Safety Bylaw 2022 (in force 1 July 2022; replaced the 2010 bylaw)
Who looks after the water: Horizons Regional Council (Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council) – Harbourmaster for the Manawatū River and tributaries
Lifejacket rules in the bylaw
Carry: no master of a recreational craft may use it unless there are on board, in a readily accessible place, enough personal flotation devices of an appropriate size for each person (cl. 4.1.1). Wear: everyone must wear a properly secured PFD when tides, river flows, visibility, rough water, adverse weather, emergencies or other situations cause danger (cl. 4.1.5); anyone being towed must wear one (cl. 4.1.6). The bylaw has NO compulsory wearing rule for small craft. Exemptions: surfboards and similar unpowered craft; sailboards/windsurfers in a wetsuit; divers in a full dive suit on boats 6 m or less within 5 miles of shore; supervised sport/training; events with a support vessel (cl. 4.1.2–4.1.4). Horizons' bylaw page also reminds users that 'life jackets are to be worn' (in its water ski/jet ski areas summary).
Source: horizons.govt.nz
Where the bylaw conflicts with the national law above, the national law applies from 9 October 2026 (Coastguard: councils have up to five years to update their bylaws).
Harbourmaster and council contacts
Horizons Regional Council Harbourmaster: 0508 800 800 (Horizons' 24-hour freephone, also the number the bylaw gives for verbally reporting accidents to the harbourmaster), harbourmaster@horizons.govt.nz. Emergencies: 111.
These are published contacts for reporting hazards and asking about the rules. In an emergency call 111 and ask for Police, or use VHF Channel 16.
Speed limits on Manawatū-Whanganui waters
Bylaw area only (Manawatū River and tributaries, incl. tidal waters within 1.25 NM of the mouth): 5 knots maximum within 50 m of any other vessel, raft or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure (except in speed-uplifted areas); within 200 m of a vessel or raft flying Flag A; within 100 m up/downstream of the Whirokino boat ramp; within 200 m up/downstream of the Manawatū Marine Boating Club ramp; in the Foxton–Te Awahou River Loop between Speir's Corner and the corner by the Water Tower (cl. 5.3.1). 5 knots on a powered vessel while anyone is over the bow or side (cl. 5.3.2). Speed-uplifted areas (Schedule 2): Oroua River below Aorangi Bridge; Mangahao River below Marima Domain; Manawatū River from the Tiraumea confluence to the mouth; the Foxton–Te Awahou Loop; and (subject to seasonal limits) upper Manawatū, Oroua (Feilding–Kimbolton), Pohangina and Tiraumea rivers and Mangapuaka Stream. Seasonal 5-knot limit 1 November–31 March on: Manawatū River from 350 m above the SH3 bridge at Ashhurst to Jackeytown Road; Manawatū River from the SH2 bridge (Woodville–Eketāhuna) to Weber Road; Oroua River (Aorangi Bridge, Feilding to Kimbolton); Pohangina River; Tiraumea River; Mangapuaka Stream (cl. 5.3.5).
Jet ski (PWC) rules and registration
Every PWC (jet ski) used on the bylaw waters must be registered with the Council or its authorised agent; registration number displayed on both sides above the waterline, legible, characters at least 90 mm high; change of ownership/deregistration within 30 days of sale (cl. 5.1). Horizons directs owners to register through Hawke's Bay Regional Council's online system (registration covers all of NZ). Jet skis must not exceed 5 knots at any time on the Manawatū River from 350 m above the SH3 bridge at Ashhurst to Jackeytown Road (cl. 5.3.5(g)). Recognised water ski/jet ski areas: near Whirokino Bridge and boat ramp, Te Pehu trig to Cooks Drain, 1–4 km below the Foxton–Shannon bridge, and from 200 m above the Manawatū Marine Boating Club ramp to the Foxton–Te Awahou Loop (cl. 5.5). Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a powered vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by a person over 15 within immediate reach of the controls who is not the towing lookout (cl. 5.2).
Kayak, paddle board and kite rules
No specific paddlecraft, SUP or kite rules in the bylaw. Surfboards and similar unpowered craft, and sailboards/windsurfers wearing a wetsuit, are exempt from the lifejacket carriage rule (cl. 4.1.2).
Other Manawatū-Whanganui rules
Towing above 5 knots needs a lookout aged 10 or over (cl. 5.6); no water skiing or towing between sunset and sunrise (cl. 5.7). No diving or swimming from wharves, jetties or ramps in regular use without Harbourmaster consent (cl. 4.3). No obstructions, including fishing apparatus, that restrict navigation (cl. 4.5). Accidents: report to Maritime NZ and verbally to the Harbourmaster (cl. 3). Temporary events (races, Tira Hoe Waka) need Harbourmaster approval and public notice (cl. 6.2). Rāhui may be placed on parts of the river (foreword). Alcohol is not addressed in the bylaw.
Popular boating waters in Manawatū-Whanganui
- Manawatū River estuary and Foxton Beach
- Foxton–Te Awahou River Loop
- Lower Manawatū River (Whirokino, Shannon)
- Manawatū River through Palmerston North and Ashhurst
- Whanganui River
- Whanganui coast and Castlecliff
- Lake Wiritoa
Some of the waters local boaties know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on Manawatū-Whanganui waters
- Life in danger? Tap “Yes” and the app dials 111. The screen shows your GPS position in words and a word-for-word script that starts “Police. Boat emergency, I’m on the water.”, then where you are and what happened.
- The rescue-centre list also has RCCNZ (0508 472 269) as a second Call button for offshore, and a VHF Channel 16 MAYDAY text filled with your boat’s details for you to read on your own radio.
- A live link for family ashore (Plus, free during the beta): your position, speed, course and phone battery in any browser, no app needed on their end. You send it by text yourself.
- Not an emergency? Tap “No” for Coastguard’s non-urgent line, 0800 262 843 option 1 (the same help as *500, which iPhone apps can’t dial).
What it doesn’t do: it doesn’t log a Coastguard trip report or bar crossing report, and it isn’t connected to 111, Police, Coastguard or RCCNZ. Nobody is alerted automatically if you’re late: the return-time check only asks “Are you OK?” on your own phone. The Coastguard app does text your shore contact after three unanswered prompts, so log your trip with Coastguard as well. A phone doesn’t replace a VHF radio, an EPIRB or PLB, or a lifejacket.
iPhone only, in invite-only TestFlight beta. Not in the App Store yet, no Android. New Zealand support (111 routing) is in beta version 1.5 and later.
Quick answers
Do you have to wear a lifejacket in Manawatū-Whanganui?
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway, everywhere in New Zealand, Manawatū-Whanganui included. The regional rule: Carry: no master of a recreational craft may use it unless there are on board, in a readily accessible place, enough personal flotation devices of an appropriate size for each person (cl. 4.1.1). Wear: everyone must wear a properly secured PFD when tides, river flows, visibility, rough water, adverse weather, emergencies or other situations cause danger (cl. 4.1.5); anyone being towed must wear one (cl. 4.1.6). The bylaw has NO compulsory wearing rule for small craft. Exemptions: surfboards and similar unpowered craft; sailboards/windsurfers in a wetsuit; divers in a full dive suit on boats 6 m or less within 5 miles of shore; supervised sport/training; events with a support vessel (cl. 4.1.2–4.1.4). Horizons' bylaw page also reminds users that 'life jackets are to be worn' (in its water ski/jet ski areas summary).
What is the speed limit near the shore in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Bylaw area only (Manawatū River and tributaries, incl. tidal waters within 1.25 NM of the mouth): 5 knots maximum within 50 m of any other vessel, raft or person in the water; within 200 m of the shore or any structure (except in speed-uplifted areas); within 200 m of a vessel or raft flying Flag A; within 100 m up/downstream of the Whirokino boat ramp; within 200 m up/downstream of the Manawatū Marine Boating Club ramp; in the Foxton–Te Awahou River Loop between Speir's Corner and the corner by the Water Tower (cl. 5.3.1). 5 knots on a powered vessel while anyone is over the bow or side (cl. 5.3.2). Speed-uplifted areas (Schedule 2): Oroua River below Aorangi Bridge; Mangahao River below Marima Domain; Manawatū River from the Tiraumea confluence to the mouth; the Foxton–Te Awahou Loop; and (subject to seasonal limits) upper Manawatū, Oroua (Feilding–Kimbolton), Pohangina and Tiraumea rivers and Mangapuaka Stream. Seasonal 5-knot limit 1 November–31 March on: Manawatū River from 350 m above the SH3 bridge at Ashhurst to Jackeytown Road; Manawatū River from the SH2 bridge (Woodville–Eketāhuna) to Weber Road; Oroua River (Aorangi Bridge, Feilding to Kimbolton); Pohangina River; Tiraumea River; Mangapuaka Stream (cl. 5.3.5).
Do jet skis need to be registered in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Every PWC (jet ski) used on the bylaw waters must be registered with the Council or its authorised agent; registration number displayed on both sides above the waterline, legible, characters at least 90 mm high; change of ownership/deregistration within 30 days of sale (cl. 5.1). Horizons directs owners to register through Hawke's Bay Regional Council's online system (registration covers all of NZ). Jet skis must not exceed 5 knots at any time on the Manawatū River from 350 m above the SH3 bridge at Ashhurst to Jackeytown Road (cl. 5.3.5(g)). Recognised water ski/jet ski areas: near Whirokino Bridge and boat ramp, Te Pehu trig to Cooks Drain, 1–4 km below the Foxton–Shannon bridge, and from 200 m above the Manawatū Marine Boating Club ramp to the Foxton–Te Awahou Loop (cl. 5.5). Minimum age: under 15s may not be in charge of a powered vessel capable of more than 10 knots unless directly supervised by a person over 15 within immediate reach of the controls who is not the towing lookout (cl. 5.2).
Sources
Regional authority: Horizons Regional Council (Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council) – Harbourmaster for the Manawatū River and tributaries
- https://www.horizons.govt.nz/media/wcvhhnxu/manawatu-river-and-tributaries-navigation-and-safety-bylaw-2022.pdf
- https://www.horizons.govt.nz/environment/natural-hazards-and-flood-management/manawatu-river-navigation-safety-bylaw/
- https://www.horizons.govt.nz/news/changes-to-navigation-bylaw-on-the-manawatu-river
- https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/services/harbourmaster/jetskipwc-registration/
- https://www.coastguard.nz/lifejacket-changes
- https://www.boprc.govt.nz/living-in-the-bay/boating-in-the-bay/recreational-boating/lifejackets/
Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Horizons Regional Council before you go.
This page summarises the rules for planning; it isn’t legal advice. Where this page and the official text differ, the official text wins. Spotted an error? Email support@vesselsos.com.