ORC Harbourmaster
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The purpose of the ORC Harbourmaster team is to keep people safe on the water.
We want to encourage and support our community with recreational water safety resources and be available for any queries you might have. The ORC Harbourmaster team is responsible for managing all maritime-related activities that may affect the safe navigation of vessels on Otago’s many waterways — including coastal waters out to 12 nautical miles offshore. We make sure that ORC meets the statutory obligations under the Maritime Transport Act (1994) to maintain safe and navigable waterways within our region. One of many functions of the Otago Regional Council (ORC), our maritime-related work covers the safe operations of both commercial and recreation vessels, from some of the biggest commercial vessels to a vast diversity of recreational water users, such as boaties and kayakers. The ORC Harbourmaster does not cover the Queenstown Lakes District, as its Council has delegated authority from the ORC to manage the waterways within their area. We are committed to ensuring positive relationships between the environment, people and place, now and for our future. We appreciate that in participating with this platform, you share these same values — like the environment, please ‘keep it clean.’
Do not post or share: threatening or defamatory comments towards ORC staff or ORC, or any individual or group; any images or video not owned by you that could breach copyright law; or any personal details. The ORC reserves the right to hide or remove abusive, offensive, defamatory, disrespectful or harmful material. If you believe a comment breaches these house rules, or you feel targeted or harassed, please send a direct message to us via our social media platform. Remember, it’s a criminal offence for anyone to threaten to kill or seriously injure a person or use communication showing malicious intent. All comments made on this page are original commenter’s responsibility and are not endorsed by ORC.
08/10/2026
🌊 That’s a wrap on our annual Bar Crossing Evenings! 🌊
A big thank you to everyone who came along to our Brighton and Balclutha evenings. It was great to see such a strong turnout, and we had some really good kōrero around staying safe when crossing the bar.
🎉 Congratulations to all our prize winners! We hope you enjoy your prizes.🦺
If you missed out on both evenings but would like to know more about crossing a bar safely, please get in touch with the Harbourmaster Team - we’re happy to share the relevant information and help you get prepared for the summer boating season.😊
Thanks again to everyone who came along, got involved and helped make the evenings a success. 🚤
01/10/2026
Catlins River bar:
01/10/26, low tide.
29/09/2026
Taieri Mouth Bar:
Low tide, 30/9/26.
⚠️Please note: The channel has changed, please take extra precaution.
29/09/2026
Karitane bar:
29/9/26, low tide.
17/09/2026
Lifejacket rules are about to change and become consistent across New Zealand.
From 9 October the law will require all people on recreational craft, 6m or less, to wear a lifejacket.
Learn more at https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational-craft/maritime-transport-lifejackets-on-recreational-craft-amendment-bill/
30/07/2026
Heads up boaties and anyone planning to be out on the water over the next few days — it's looking like things are about to get a bit breezy. 🌧️🌬️
Strong winds are on the way with a fresh southerly set to hit coastal Otago. If you're thinking about heading out, check the latest marine forecast, make sure your gear is ready, and don't be afraid to change your plans if conditions look questionable.
Stay safe out there! ⚓🌊
🍃 Severe weather update, its going to get a bit blustery 🌧️
🍃 Yellow Strong Wind Watches have been issued for Wellington, the Canterbury High Country, and coastal parts of Otago and Southland. Note the wind direction difference, with North to Northwesterlies the issue for Wellington and the Canterbury High Country, but southerlies for Otago and Southland.
🌧️ A Yellow Heavy Rain Watch has also been issued for the Tararua Ranges.
🌨️ With this next cold snap, snow will lower to fairly low levels, so keep an eye out for any Road Snow Warnings likely to be issued in the coming days.
Find all the details at https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
13/06/2026
Taieri Mouth Bar:
Mid tide, 12/6/26.
18/05/2026
Do you know what a distress beacon is?
A distress beacon is one of the most reliable ways to call for help in an emergency — especially in New Zealand’s rugged outdoors and unpredictable weather. 🌦️🏔️
When activated, your beacon sends a signal to satellites, helping search and rescue teams find you.
There are 2 main types:
🛥️ EPIRB — for boats and ships
🎒 PLB — for personal use in remote areas
If you’ve bought a beacon, even second-hand, make sure:
✔️ it’s registered to you
✔️ the battery hasn’t expired
✔️ it’s NZ coded
Registering your beacon is free, quick, and could save your life. It also makes the rescue process much faster!
To learn more about rescue beacons and how to register them, check out: https://beacons.org.nz/
31/03/2026
Karitane bar 1/4/26, during low tide.
31/03/2026
Taieri Mouth bar 31/03/26, during low tide.
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180 High Street, Central
Dunedin
9016
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8:30am - 5pm |
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