After consulting with the marine industry, Auckland Council has decided to drop a proposed daily anchoring fee for superyachts and other foreign-flagged vessels greater than 40m/131ft in length for each time they drop anchor in the New Zealand city’s surrounding waters.

Delamore Lodge, Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand

Peter Busfield, Executive Director of NZ Marine said: “Working with Auckland Council, experts from within… NZ Marine, as well as from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Emirates Team New Zealand, were able to help Council appreciate just how much of a deterrent a daily anchoring fee would have been to foreign vessels planning to visit our shores, particularly for the Prada and America’s Cup in 2020/21.”

More international visitors are becoming interested in New Zealand‘s incredible coastline, particularly world-class dive sites such as the Poor Knight’s Islands, the clear blue waters and stunning beaches of the Hauraki Gulf and the thriving marine and bird life on display in the area.

Silvertip – Great Barrier Island NZ

As such, the Auckland Council has worked in conjunction with the marine industry to create a new visitor-friendly 12-month navigation and safety fee for vessels above 40m/131ft. The fee would cost $20 NZD plus GST per metre of the vessel, and the price would cover the Harbourmaster maintaining navigation aids and maritime safety systems, such as assisting shipmasters of visiting yachts in finding suitable sheltered anchorages amongst the 50 Hauraki Gulf islands.

Vessels using the shipping lane and transiting to and from a marina berth in Auckland will forego the navigation and safety fee, and those anchoring for less than 24 hours while awaiting a berth. The Auckland Harbourmaster’s website will soon have details of the fee as well as useful information for luxury yachts wishing to visit during the 2020 and 2021 regattas.