How to call Coastguard in New Zealand: 111, Channel 16 or *500
There’s no single “Coastguard number” for emergencies. If a life is in danger you call 111 and ask for Police — Police tasks Coastguard — or you call on VHF Channel 16. *500 is Coastguard’s line for help that isn’t urgent. Here is each one, in Coastguard’s, Police’s and Maritime NZ’s own words.
Life in danger: 111, ask for Police
If your boat is sinking, someone is injured or life is in danger, immediately call VHF Channel 16 (the international maritime distress channel) or another local VHF channel you know is being monitored, or call 111 from your mobile phone and ask for Police.
Coastguard NZ, what to do in an emergency · coastguard.nz
You can either call 111 and Police will task Coastguard with responding, or you can use Channel 16 (the international maritime distress channel) to contact Coastguard directly. Other boaties nearby will also hear your distress call if they’re listening to channel 16 at the time.
Coastguard NZ, what to do in an emergency · coastguard.nz
111 calls are free, even from a phone with no credit, and Police receives your phone’s location (Emergency Caller Location Information) from mobile calls. Still say where you are: the operator needs words, not just a dot on a map.
- “Police. Boat emergency, I’m on the water.”
- “I’m in [place in words, e.g. Hauraki Gulf, near Waiheke Island].”
- “My position is [latitude and longitude, read slowly].”
- “[Number] people on board. [What happened]. Lifejackets [on / not on].”
- “The boat is a [length] metre [type], [colour], called [name].”
- Stay on the line and answer the operator’s questions.
VesselSOS shows this script filled in with your position in words when you tap “Yes”.
VHF Channel 16
Channel 16 is the international distress channel for VHF. In New Zealand, it is monitored 24/7 by Maritime NZ’s Maritime Operations Centre, On Channel 16, a trained operator will take your emergency call within about a minute and begin coordinating your rescue.
Maritime NZ, VHF marine radio · maritimenz.govt.nz
You need a VHF Radio Operator Certificate to use a marine VHF, except to transmit in an emergency or distress situation. A phone has limits on the water: Maritime NZ says “Mobile phones are only helpful if kept dry and when used close to land”, and Police says that if boating, you should “take a marine VHF radio”. How to make a MAYDAY call.
Not urgent: *500 or 0800 BOATIE
Call *500 or 0800 BOATIE (0800 262 843) and select 1 for non-urgent on-water assistance.
Coastguard NZ, contact us · coastguard.nz
Use it for a mechanical or electrical breakdown, a flat battery, logging and closing trip reports, bar crossing reports and VHF radio checks — not for emergencies. Coastguard doesn’t say which mobile networks support *500, so keep 0800 262 843 as the fallback.
Members get free non-urgent assistance. Coastguard: “Non-members will be charged $400 per hour for the full duration of the service.” Individual membership was NZ$150 a year when we checked (Coastguard membership page, 3 October 2026). Search and rescue itself is free for everyone.
RCCNZ: offshore and beacons
For a search and rescue emergency, call the 24‑hour emergency number: 0508 4 RCCNZ, (0508 472 269)
Maritime NZ, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand · maritimenz.govt.nz
Police coordinates Category 1 searches: land, rivers, lakes and close-to-shore marine searches, usually within 12 nautical miles. RCCNZ coordinates Category 2: offshore marine searches and activated distress beacons. From outside New Zealand, RCCNZ is +64 4 577 8030.
Category One searches are coordinated by Police at a local level. … These searches include: land searches; subterranean searches (for missing cavers); river, lake and inland waterway searches; close-to-shore marine searches - usually within New Zealand territorial waters (12 nautical miles).
NZ Police, search and rescue · police.govt.nz
Texting 111 and satellite phones
Can I text 111? No, unless you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired and have registered to use the emergency 111 TXT service. Texts from phones that are not registered won’t go through.
NZ Police, FAQ · police.govt.nz
Traditional satellite phones generally can’t reach 111. Police answers +64 9 571 2800 for satellite phone users who can’t reach 111, but says it “is not an emergency services call-answering platform”. Offshore search and rescue is coordinated by RCCNZ: 0508 472 269, or +64 4 577 8030 from outside New Zealand.
Before you go: let someone know
Log a Coastguard trip report by VHF, *500 or the Coastguard app, and a bar crossing report before you cross a bar. How trip reports work if you’re overdue · Bar crossings.
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
What is the Coastguard emergency number in NZ?
In an emergency, dial 111 and ask for Police (Police tasks Coastguard), or use VHF Channel 16. Coastguard’s *500 (or 0800 262 843, option 1) is for non-urgent help only.
What is *500?
Coastguard’s number for non-urgent on-water help from a mobile: breakdowns, flat batteries, trip reports, bar crossing reports and radio checks. The landline alternative is 0800 BOATIE (0800 262 843), then select 1.
What is RCCNZ’s phone number?
0508 4 RCCNZ (0508 472 269), 24 hours. From outside New Zealand: +64 4 577 8030.
Can I text 111 from a boat?
Only if you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired and registered for the 111 TXT service. Texts from unregistered phones won’t go through.
Does Coastguard charge for a rescue?
Coastguard’s search and rescue response is free. Non-urgent assistance is free for members; non-members are charged $400 per hour (Coastguard, checked 3 October 2026).
Sources
- Coastguard NZ — what to do in an emergency
- Coastguard NZ — contact us
- Coastguard NZ — membership
- Maritime NZ — VHF marine radio
- Maritime NZ — RCCNZ
- NZ Police — search and rescue
- NZ Police — 111 emergency
- NZ Police — satellite phones and 111
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.