EPIRBs and PLBs in New Zealand: register, carry, use
An emergency beacon sends your distress alert to the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) by satellite — beyond the reach of your phone and your VHF. Here is what Maritime NZ and Coastguard say about choosing, registering and using one.
Registering your beacon is a legal requirement, and it’s free (beacons.org.nz, 0800 406 111). An EPIRB is made for boats and registered to the vessel; a PLB is carried on a person and registered to them. Set it off only in distress; if you set it off by accident, leave it on and call RCCNZ on 0508 472 269.
When set off in an emergency, it’s used to alert the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) in Wellington by sending coded signals via satellite and ground stations. If you’re going out of mobile phone or VHF range, a beacon might be your best lifeline if you get into trouble.
Coastguard NZ, emergency beacons · coastguard.nz
EPIRB or PLB?
EPIRB (emergency position‑indicating radio beacon): Best for boats, ships, and other activities on the water. … PLB (personal locator beacon): PLBs are designed to be carried on a person.
Maritime NZ, emergency beacons · maritimenz.govt.nz
| EPIRB | PLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered to | The vessel | A person |
| Minimum battery life | 48 hours | 24 hours |
| Activation | Manual or automatic versions; some self-deploy if the boat sinks | Manual |
| Floats | Designed to float upright | Not all float — worth checking |
Coastguard’s advice for bar crossings: a waterproof PLB carried on you, rather than an EPIRB, because you may end up in the water with little or no time to grab the beacon. It also recommends a GPS model, and an EPIRB under 10 years old so it transmits on 406 MHz.
Register it: free, and the law
Registering your emergency beacon is a legal requirement. … Registering your emergency beacon with the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is free and takes only a few minutes.
Maritime NZ, emergency beacons · maritimenz.govt.nz
Register online at beacons.org.nz, by email or by post; the registration line is 0800 406 111 (from outside New Zealand +64 4 577 8042). Keep your contact details up to date. Coastguard: “If you don’t register your beacon, we don’t know who set it off and what vessel to look for.”
When to set it off
If you are in immediate danger and need urgent help, make a distress call on your VHF marine radio or set off your emergency beacon.
Maritime NZ, communications · maritimenz.govt.nz
Activated beacons are a Category 2 search, coordinated by RCCNZ. If you also have signal, call 111 and ask for Police as well.
Set it off by accident?
If your emergency beacon is set off accidentally contact the Rescue Coordination Centre on one of the following: +64 4 577 8030, 0508 472 269, Maritime Radio VHF Channel 16 or SSB frequencies
Maritime NZ, emergency beacons · maritimenz.govt.nz
Coastguard adds: leave it on and contact RCCNZ immediately — “They will advise you to turn the beacon off once they have identified it on their systems.” For a PLB, Coastguard says there is no penalty if you report the accidental activation straight away.
Looking after it
- Check the battery expiry date on the label. Maritime NZ: “If the battery needs to be replaced it must be done by a supplier or agent.”
- Coastguard recommends an EPIRB self-check once a month, following the manual so you don’t send a distress signal; a self-check doesn’t need to be reported to RCCNZ.
- Keep it where you can grab it: an EPIRB in its bracket somewhere visible (float-free if it self-deploys), a PLB on your lifejacket, in a pocket or in a grab bag.
A phone app is not a beacon
VesselSOS has no satellite, EPIRB or PLB function: it only works where your phone has signal. Carry a registered beacon and a VHF radio as well. How to call Coastguard: 111, Channel 16 or *500.
VesselSOS on New Zealand 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 register an EPIRB or PLB in NZ?
Yes. Maritime NZ: “Registering your emergency beacon is a legal requirement.” Registration with RCCNZ is free; register at beacons.org.nz or call 0800 406 111.
What’s the difference between an EPIRB and a PLB?
An EPIRB is made for boats: registered to the vessel, designed to float upright, with at least 48 hours of battery and manual or automatic activation. A PLB is carried on a person: registered to them, manually activated, with at least 24 hours of battery (Coastguard NZ).
What do I do if I set off my beacon by accident?
Leave it on and contact RCCNZ: 0508 472 269, +64 4 577 8030, or VHF Channel 16. They will tell you when to turn it off.
Sources
- Maritime NZ — emergency beacons
- Maritime NZ — RCCNZ
- Coastguard NZ — emergency beacons
- Coastguard NZ — personal locator beacons
- NZ Police — search and rescue
Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Maritime NZ, Coastguard or your regional harbourmaster 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.