The Harbourmaster’s Office is responsible for managing all maritime-related activities that may affect the safety of navigation of vessels on Canterbury’s many waterways. We oversee all rivers and lakes in the region as well as coastal areas up to 12 nautical miles offshore.

Work includes the operation of cruise ships and commercial ships, plus a wide range of recreational boating activities – that’s everything from kayaking to jet boating, sailing to stand up paddleboarding. We also manage swing moorings.

Basically, if you operate any type of vessel on any waterway in the Canterbury region, we're here to make sure you do it safely. Find out more about controls and limitations specified under the Navigation Safety Bylaw 2016 and Controls.