Moorings

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Resource consent required

All moorings require a resource consent or other approval under the Coastal Plan from Tasman District Council.

Anchoring

Anchoring (where the anchor is taken with you when you depart) is permitted anywhere except;

The prohibited area off Port Tarakohe
In access lanes
Reserved areas
Where it may obstruct a wharf, ramp or channel
or otherwise create a hazard.

Marinas

Marinas are located at Port Tarakohe and at Motueka (operated by Motueka Power Boat Club, Motueka Yacht and Cruising Club and Motueka Peninsula Marine Society).

When preparing your application for a coastal permit (resource consent) for a mooring, please ensure that you provide the following information. Some of this is not specifically asked for by the standard form, but without it processing of your application is more likely to be held up with requests for further information.

Details of the intended vessel or vessels intended to be moored, including overall length, draft, general description, any commercial registration number(s) and, where possible, a photograph.
Details of any sewage treatment or holding facilities aboard the vessel(s).
A statement of whether or not it is sought to allow that any vessel using the mooring be occupied overnight (also known as ‘live-aboard’).
The proposed position as latitude and longitude in WGS84 datum, or as easting and northing in NZTM format.
Depth reduced to chart datum or at mean high water springs
Composition of the seabed (this has a bearing on mooring block selection).
Details of the proposed mooring construction including a sketch and specifications of components, or a statement that it will be a TDC standard Class A or Class B mooring.
If you intend to have a mooring that isn’t constructed to standard Class A or Class B specifications, and for all Class C moorings, include certified specifications and drawings from an appropriately experienced Chartered Professional Engineer.
Calculated swing radius to the stern of the longest vessel proposed, for the proposed mooring specifications and location at Mean Low Water Springs.
Site photograph(s) or plan showing any adjacent existing moorings.
Purpose of the application (ie is the mooring required for a commercial vessel, recreational vessel for the mooring owner’s use or the use of visitors to the owner’s coastal property, use for lease or hire to the public, or other purpose)

Guides and mooring application forms

Download the Swing Mooring Inspection Form (pdf 143 KB)

Mooring inspection reports should be emailed to Harbourmaster@tasman.govt.nz or posted to:

The Harbourmaster, Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond, 7050 within 14 days of the inspection.

Remember to quote your Coastal Permit or Mooring ID number.

The Harbourmaster can provide details of standard council-approved mooring blocks and systems upon request. Non-standard installations should be certified as fit for purpose by an appropriately qualified and experienced engineer.

What happens if I don't send an inspection report?

Failure to undertake and report regular inspections and servicing of your mooring may adversely affect any claims on your insurance, or may be construed as negligence by any third party suffering loss as a result of a failure of your mooring.

For moorings that do not have the minimum inspection frequency specified in the conditions of the Coastal Permit, then inspections should be performed at least every two years, by a competent person.

These specifications apply throughout Tasman District, and form the benchmark against which the Council assesses mooring applications and compliance.

Please note that standard gravity block swing moorings are now standardised into three classes:

Class A for vessels up to 6m in length, with a one-tonne block.
Class B for vessels up to 12m in length, with a two-tonne block.
Class C for vessels over 12m in length, subject to case-by-case certification by a suitably experienced Chartered Professional Engineer.

Other systems (such as screw anchors, ground-chain arrays etc) are also acceptable, but again subject to individual certification by a suitably experienced Chartered Professional Engineer.

Use these specifications to determine swing radius for the depth at proposed site, and also to determine block size and embedding needs based on the composition of the seabed at the proposed site.

Resource consent forms and fees