West Coast boating rules: lifejackets, speed and the local bylaw
The rules on West Coast 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 on the West Coast
No regional navigation safety bylaw found (Greymouth: Port Bylaw 2014)
No West Coast Regional Council navigation safety bylaw found. Greymouth only: Grey District Council 'Greymouth Port Bylaw Outlining Standard Terms and Conditions of Business 2014' (in force 14 October 2014)
Who looks after the water: West Coast Regional Council (regional navigation safety function); Port of Greymouth: Grey District Council
Lifejacket rules in the bylaw
No regional wear rule found – national Maritime Rules Part 91 apply: carry a correctly sized lifejacket for everyone on board and wear them at times of heightened risk (e.g. bar crossings, rough water, emergencies). Greymouth Port Bylaw 2014 cl 9.11: the master and crew of any vessel approaching the Greymouth bar must wear a well-fitting Type 401 lifejacket (manual inflatable or semi-rigid foam) or a Type 408 PFD from at least 200 m before crossing the bar until 200 m after crossing it.
Source: greydc.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
No regional harbourmaster contact is published on the WCRC website. WCRC general line/hotline 0508 800 118 (Maritime NZ also lists +64 3 768 0466). Port of Greymouth (Grey DC): 03 768 5666 (also the port's out-of-hours emergency number), port@greydc.govt.nz; Grey District Council 03 769 8600. 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 West Coast waters
National Maritime Rules Part 91 only (no regional bylaw found): 5 knots within 200 m of the shore, any structure or a vessel showing a dive flag; within 50 m of any other vessel or a swimmer; or when anyone is outside the rails/over the edge of a powerboat. No regional speed uplifts or zones found.
Jet ski (PWC) rules and registration
No regional PWC rules found; no PWC registration requirement. National rules: under 15s may not operate a craft capable of more than 10 knots unless closely supervised by someone older within reach of the controls; 5-knot rules apply.
Other West Coast rules
River-mouth bars are the main hazard: Grey River bar (Greymouth) – compulsory lifejacket rule above; Grey DC publishes bar soundings and asks motorists to dip/switch off headlights at the breakwaters at night so skippers can see the leads. Buller River bar (Westport) is also a recognised hazard. WCRC's Long-term Plan 2024–2034 says the council holds the delegated navigation safety and harbour management role but 'to date ... has not undertaken activity in this area as this has been overseen by the District Councils of the region for their respective river ports and Jacksons Bay'; it planned to review these responsibilities in 2024/25 and implement the outcome from 2025/26.
Popular boating waters on the West Coast
- Grey River bar (Greymouth)
- Buller River bar (Westport)
- Lake Brunner / Moana
- Hokitika River mouth
- Lake Kaniere
- Lake Mahinapua
- Jackson Bay
Some of the waters local boaties know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on West Coast 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 on the West Coast?
From Friday 9 October 2026, everyone on board recreational craft 6 m or under must wear a lifejacket while underway, everywhere in New Zealand, the West Coast included. The regional rule: No regional wear rule found – national Maritime Rules Part 91 apply: carry a correctly sized lifejacket for everyone on board and wear them at times of heightened risk (e.g. bar crossings, rough water, emergencies). Greymouth Port Bylaw 2014 cl 9.11: the master and crew of any vessel approaching the Greymouth bar must wear a well-fitting Type 401 lifejacket (manual inflatable or semi-rigid foam) or a Type 408 PFD from at least 200 m before crossing the bar until 200 m after crossing it.
What is the speed limit near the shore on the West Coast?
National Maritime Rules Part 91 only (no regional bylaw found): 5 knots within 200 m of the shore, any structure or a vessel showing a dive flag; within 50 m of any other vessel or a swimmer; or when anyone is outside the rails/over the edge of a powerboat. No regional speed uplifts or zones found.
Do jet skis need to be registered on the West Coast?
No regional PWC rules found; no PWC registration requirement. National rules: under 15s may not operate a craft capable of more than 10 knots unless closely supervised by someone older within reach of the controls; 5-knot rules apply.
Sources
Regional authority: West Coast Regional Council (regional navigation safety function); Port of Greymouth: Grey District Council
- https://www.wcrc.govt.nz/council/sitemap
- https://www.wcrc.govt.nz/council/a-z-services
- https://www.wcrc.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id:2459ikxj617q9ser65rr/hierarchy/Documents/Publications/Corporate%20Plans%20and%20Reports/Long%20Term%20Plans/Long-term%20Plan%202024%20-%202034%20-%20Published%20-%209%20October%202024.pdf
- https://www.greydc.govt.nz/05our-district/port
- https://www.greydc.govt.nz/05our-district/port/key-information
- https://www.greydc.govt.nz/04your-council/policies-and-bylaws
- https://www.greydc.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id:2cvtsvtyv1cxbyz1k6uz/hierarchy/sitecollectiondocuments/Your%20Council/Council%20Publications/by-laws/Port%20Bylaw%202014.pdf
- https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational/regional-safety-information/
- https://www.coastguard.nz/lifejacket-changes
- https://www.boprc.govt.nz/living-in-the-bay/boating-in-the-bay/recreational-boating/lifejackets/
- https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/harbourmaster/recreational-water-use
Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with West Coast 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.