ORC Harbourmaster

⚠️Marine pest alert: Mediterranean fanworm found at Port Chalmers ⚠️

We urge boat owners and water users along Otago’s coast to check vessels and moorings for this invasive pest. It poses a serious threat to local marine ecosystems.

Please share to spread awareness.

Kia ora team🙋‍♀️

Don't be alarmed if you see flares this Friday (6th September) between 12:30-13:30. Otago University is holding a flare safety training at Portobello Marine Lab and will be letting off various flares between this time.
This is a good chance to get a glimpse of what a flare might look like in daylight 💥

This Friday the 6th of September at 12.30, the Health & Safety office of Otago University is holding a flare safety training day at Portobello Marine Lab (Harbour side of the Otago Peninsula).

Approximately 30 rocket flares, 10 smoke flares and 10 hand flares will be deployed. If you happen to see flares/coloured smoke in this location on the 6th of September at 12:30-13:30, please do not be alarmed, this is for training purposes only.

Last week we had the opportunity to take part in Dunedins first Clued Up Kids - what a wonderful event!😄

It was great to meet and talk to the rangatahi of Andersons Bay School, listen to their stories and share water safety knowledge.🛟

Big thanks to Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management for organising the event; we look forward to meeting more of Ōtepoti's bright minds next year 😊

This year has proven to be a bad year for boating fatalities with incidents being 7% higher than the same time last winter.

This is a timely reminder to be vigilant and prepared for the trip you are planning to take, and to remember the key boating principles before leaving the shore.

⚠️❄️🚤 Boaties are being warned to think about what can go wrong on the water after spate of horrific incidents on the water this winter.

Over the last seven weeks, seven people have died in three incidents involving recreational craft around New Zealand. On average, 18 people a year die in recreational craft incidents.

Three people died after the boat they were in capsized in-between the Māhia Peninsula and Gisborne in late June, a man died after falling overboard off Whakatāne in late July, and over the weekend (3 August) three people died just 100 metres from shore after their boat capsized on the Riverton bar.

“These incidents are nothing short of heartbreaking, and I want to offer my condolences to everyone impacted by them. This has been the worst winter I can remember in my near decade at Maritime NZ,” Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, Matt Wood says.

Read the full story: https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/news/2024/august/winter-2024-one-of-the-worst-on-the-water-in-recent-years-for-recreational-boaties/

Kia ora boating whānau 🙋‍♂️

Yesterday we had quite the fright when we noticed we were on a collision course with a loose waka!

Luckily we managed to avoid the incident and hauled the waka onboard😄

Long story short; is anyone missing this impressive waka?🤔🛶

Good news for our wave data enthusiasts - the White Island wave buoy has been re-deployed! 🫡🌊

Have a look at the Dunedin City Council wave buoy page if you are interested in checking out our regions wave buoy network:

https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/roads-and-footpaths/projects/coastal-works/dunedin-wave-buoy-network

Kia ora team😊

We will work on re-setting the White Island wave buoy once the weather conditions improve - updates to follow🫡

🙊 Oops! This Wave Buoy got confused and thought it was a Beach Buoy 🏖️

🛟 Yesterday our buoy by White Island experienced failed mooring and got loose, finding itself washed up on Blackhead Beach.

🌊 Wind and ocean currents near White Island can get pretty strong, which can impact the rope and chains keeping the buoy in place. This is how this buoy broke free!

⛵🩵 The Otago Harbourmaster has ever so kindly collected this naughty buoy for us, and we’ll work on getting it relaunched with some extra measures to keep it in place once sea conditions improve.

[Image: black and yellow wave buoy in ocean with coast and blue sky in distance]

Kia ora boaties🙋‍♂️

With the predicted weather coming our way, now is a good time to check your mooring before it's too late! 🌧☔️

Looking ro learn more about Drowning prevention?

Join us for a special community event for World Drowning Prevention Day – learn how to keep yourself safe in the water and win some awesome prizes while doing so! 🏊‍♂️

Lots of our local water sports clubs will be there, including: Port Chalmers Swim Club, the Port Chalmers United Rowing Club, along with Port Otago, the Harbourmaster team and Professor Chris Button from Otago University.

When: Thursday 25 July, 6.00 – 7.30pm

Where: Rolfe Room, Port Chalmers Library

We hear there might be blue kai to share! 🫐

See you there!😊

Kia ora team! 🙋

There will be a temporary lake closure on Lake Waihola on Saturday 20th July due to the Powerboat Marathon. The Lake will be closed between 7:30am - 5pm, but you are welcome to watch from the shoreline! 🏁🚤

This is to respectfully advise that Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou have placed a rāhui (a temporary closure) out of respect for a tūpāpaku (body) having been found in waters off the coast of Otago.
The rāhui covers the currents and tidal movements between Blackhead and Taiari Mouth lifting at 11.40am Friday 28th June 2024.

⚠️Attention⚠️

All vessels transiting around the Tairoa head/Otago Harbour area to be aware of floating debris from a vessel that ran aground this morning.

Link to Wave Buoy Data. https://www.portotago.co.nz/otago-harbour/harbour-conditions/buoys-dashboard/ The data refreshes on an hourly basis.

Buoys' Dashboard » Port Otago

Wave buoy positions

Taieri Mouth Wave - 46.064783S E170.234450E
Taiaroa Head – 45.704017S 170.725600E
St Clair (White Island) – 45.941902S 170.489855E

These buoys are the size of a basketball so quite small, they have a flashing yellow light.

Link for the data will be available soon. When we have it we will post if here.

Send a message to learn more

Kia ora team 🙋

The Regional Council is asking for feedback on its Long-Term Plan for 2024-34 which includes some proposed changes regarding how Otago Regional Council rates are allocated to navigational safety. The Harbourmaster team's work is funded by ORC ratepayers (except the Queenstown Lakes District which is looked after by QLDC). This makes the mahi that we do and the support we provide possible.

We are always working to provide water safety support and assurance around the region. As you know, our priority as the Harbourmaster team is to keep people safe on the water around the region and (for those of you who have seen us at events like South Dunedin Street Festival and Brighton Gala day) we are always interested in constructive feedback.

You can find out more and have your say about this and the ORC’s other work at www.orc.govt.nz/ltp

We understand that everyone is under pressure at this time of year and appreciate any feedback that you have. Feel free to direct message us, email or call if you have any questions.

Thank you for your time and input, team, have a great week 😊

Kia ora everyone😊

With the onset of winter and daylight savings coming this weekend, this is a friendly reminder to display your navigational lights at night (sunset to sunrise) and at times of reduced visibility☁️

Kia ora team🙋
Looking for something to do today?

Haere mai to the South Dunedin Street Festival which provides a fun day for everyone in the whānau. Head on down for a kōrero and climb aboard Kaitiaki! 🛥

We hope to see you here😁

⚠️Attention boat owners⚠️

With the forecast of strong winds predicted from midnight tonight, this is a good reminder to check your moorings and lines to ensure your boat is properly secured.

Mōrena team,

We hope you’re having a lovely weekend and managing to get out and enjoy that beautiful ☀️😍

We’re spending our Sunday at Brighton Gala Day, having conversations, checking out the other wonderful service providers who are out in force and of course the local businesses 🥰

If you’re out at Brighton, come say hi, climb aboard Kaitiaki, and sign up to go in the draw to win one of the following:

- 1x Adult Hutchwilco lifejacket
- 1x ACR Personal Locator Beacon
- 1x Child/Youth Hutchwilco lifejacket

Have a great day team, and a belated happy new year to you all 🥳🌊

Anyone lost a dinghy overnight in Otago Harbour? It would be great to return this to its owner.

The Harbourmaster team have been busy over the summer period patrolling both central and coastal Otago. On New Year’s Day they dealt with a sunken boat at Old Cromwell and cleaned up associated pollution. Remember the boating code so you always get home safe after a day of fun on the water.

The Boating Safety Code:

Wear your life jacket
Take two waterproof ways to call for help
Check the marine weather forecast
Avoid alcohol
Be a responsible skipper

This is to respectfully advise that Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou has placed a rāhui/temporary closure out of respect for a tūpāpaku (body) having been found in waters off the coast of Otago Peninsula.

The rāhui covers the currents and tidal movements between Smaills Beach and Boulder Beach, lifting at 5:30pm, Saturday 28th October.

Please share with your whānau/family, friends and contacts, including surfers, seafood gatherers, fishers, commercial fishers and divers. Please follow responsible water usage at this time.

We would like to thank everyone who stopped by to say hello on Saturday, and to all the tamariki who climbed onboard Kaitiaki at Port Chalmers Seafood Festival - we hope you had lots of fun despite the classic Ōtepoti weather!🌨☔️🚤

Setting up in the snow was certainly a first for us! 😅