Northland Regional Council is urging boaties across Te Tai Tokerau to slow down and be more aware of the wake they leave behind, warning that increasingly large waves created by recreational vessels are putting people, property and the environment at risk.
Deputy Harbourmaster Peter Thomas says the council has seen a growing number of incidents involving vessels travelling at speeds that generate excessive wakes, particularly larger recreational boats operating in harbours, estuaries and other busy waterways.
He says while many skippers focus on safely navigating their own vessel, they must also consider the impact their wake has on everyone else using the water.
A vessel’s wake is the series of waves created as it moves through the water. While some wake is unavoidable, excessive wake can create dangerous conditions for other people sharing Northland’s waterways.
The Regional Council says smaller craft, including kayaks, paddleboards, waka, canoes and dinghies, are particularly vulnerable to large wakes.
Strong waves can swamp or capsize smaller vessels, placing paddlers and passengers at risk of injury or forcing them into the water unexpectedly.
Passengers aboard larger vessels can also lose their footing when struck by another vessel’s wake, increasing the risk of falls or being thrown overboard.
With warmer weather approaching and more people expected to head onto the water, the council says safe boating behaviour is everyone’s responsibility.
The council says excessive wake is not only a safety issue but also an environmental one.
Repeated wave action generated by fast-moving boats contributes to shoreline erosion, damaging riverbanks, estuaries and coastal environments.
These impacts can affect fragile ecosystems, disturb wildlife habitats and accelerate the degradation of natural shorelines that protect waterways from erosion.
Northland’s extensive coastline, harbours and estuarine environments make the region particularly vulnerable to the cumulative effects of excessive wake over time.
Large wakes can also cause costly damage to vessels and marine infrastructure.
The Regional Council says moored boats are often rocked violently by passing wakes, placing strain on ropes, cleats, pontoons, jetties and marina structures.
Repeated impacts can damage vessel fittings and increase maintenance costs for boat owners, marina operators and local authorities.
Peter Thomas says preventing excessive wake is straightforward and begins with anticipating where problems could occur.
He is reminding skippers to maintain a proper lookout and reduce speed well before entering areas where their wake could affect others.
Rather than slowing abruptly, the council recommends allowing the wake to move ahead and dissipate before proceeding at a speed of five knots with no wake, particularly near marinas, boat ramps, moored vessels, swimming areas and locations where people are paddling or gathering kai.
The message is especially important in Northland, where boating, fishing and gathering kaimoana are central to the lifestyle of many communities and where waterways are often shared by commercial operators, recreational users and tangata whenua.
The Regional Council says good seamanship is about more than operating a vessel safely—it also means showing courtesy and respect for other people using the water.
With increasing numbers of recreational boats taking to Northland’s harbours and coastline, the council is encouraging all skippers to think beyond their own vessel and recognise that slowing down for a few moments can help prevent injuries, avoid damage and protect the region’s unique marine environment.
The message from harbour authorities is simple: slow down, lose your wake and help keep Northland’s waterways safe for everyone.
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