Moorings

• Approval for the vessel from the Harbourmaster's office is required prior to a lease agreement being entered into or buying a mooring.
• The mooring lease or transfer will not be approved unless there is an up-to-date mooring certificate for the mooring, or indication in writing that arrangements have been made for the mooring to be lifted and inspected by a Regional Council approved mooring inspector. The boat owner must satisfy themselves as to the adequacy of the mooring when considering the size of the vessel intended to be moored.
• The boat owner must give consideration to the position of the mooring relative to other moorings in close proximity and the possibility that larger or different vessels than those that originally occupied the mooring may endanger or damage other moored vessels.

Request a Mooring Transfer Form from Moorings@boprc.govt.nz

• Approval for the vessel from the Harbourmaster's office is required prior to a lease agreement being entered into or buying a mooring.
• The mooring lease or transfer will not be approved unless there is an up-to-date mooring certificate for the mooring, or indication in writing that arrangements have been made for the mooring to be lifted and inspected by a Regional Council approved mooring inspector. The boat owner must satisfy themselves as to the adequacy of the mooring when considering the size of the vessel intended to be moored.
• The boat owner must give consideration to the position of the mooring relative to other moorings in close proximity and the possibility that larger or different vessels than those that originally occupied the mooring may endanger or damage other moored vessels.

You can complete the change of vessel on mooring form below.

No. You must have permission from the Mooring owner before attaching anything to a mooring that you do not own or lease. Under section 3.12.20 of the Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017, it is an offence to secure any vessel to a mooring without the mooring owner’s prior permission; this offence carries a $200 infringement.

Moorings must be purchased or leased from the current owner. See our moorings for sale or lease page. Available moorings may also be advertised on TradeMe, in the Waterline magazine and on location at boat clubs or on local notice boards.

A few things to remember before deciding to buy or rent a mooring:

• All moorings are individually owned. The mooring holder holds a licence for that mooring which is boat specific and subject to compliance under clause 3.12 of the bylaw. There is an annual mooring licence fee.
• Every mooring must be inspected every two years to the Harbourmaster’s specifications, by an approved inspector.
• Moorings can accommodate vessels up to 15m only. Vessels larger than 15m will require an engineered solution approved by a Naval Architect or similar professional.
• All vessels need to be approved for a particular mooring prior to moving onto this mooring – this is to ensure that the mooring block, chain and swing room etc. are suitable for that vessel. Contact the Moorings Officer (moorings@boprc.govt.nz) with details of the mooring and your vessel before signing a lease agreement.

You and the current owner must both sign and forward a Mooring Transfer or Change of Vessel on Mooring (lease or change of boat) to the Moorings Officer at moorings@boprc.govt.nz. 

A letter acknowledging the approval of the lease or transfer request will be sent to both mooring owner and boat owner.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council, in processing these mooring requests accepts no liability for the inadequacy of any part of the mooring to securely moor a particular vessel.

The Navigation Safety Bylaw 2017 bylaw, section 3.12.20 states that it is illegal to secure a vessel to a mooring unless permission has been granted by the mooring owner. The Harbourmasters office can issue a $200 infringement to the master of any vessel on a mooring without the owner’s permission.

If you find someone on your mooring contact the Harbourmaster’s office on 0800 5KNOTS.

Bay Marine Works are the approved inspector for mooring repairs, please contact them directly at www.baymarineworks.co.nz.