Moorings Moorings

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Mooring sites are located within mooring zones throughout the Auckland region. Auckland Transport (AT) grants an annual mooring licence to boat owners, allowing occupancy of a mooring (annual fees apply). Swing moorings are privately owned but the Harbourmaster’s Office manages their placement and safety.

• Mooring zones in Auckland
• Types of moorings and annual fees
• Mooring hardware specifications
• Buying or renting a mooring
  • Selling or renting your mooring
  • Moorings for sale or rent
  • Transferring ownership of mooring
  • Applying for a new mooring site
  • Waiting list areas
• Mooring licence
• Information for mooring owners
• Mooring inspections and service providers
• Boating facilities
• Self-help guide

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Mooring zones in Auckland

Mooring zones are locations where permanent mooring is permitted in Auckland.

There are 78 Mooring Management Areas (MMA’s) in the Auckland region. View the full list of Auckland mooring zones.

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Types of moorings

Pile moorings

Auckland Transport owns and leases pile mooring berths at:

• Te Atatu (Whau River)
• Panmure (Tamaki River)
• Sandspit (Matakana River)

A waiting list may apply within some mooring areas. Check areas with a waiting list.

Swing moorings

Swing moorings and their locations in designated mooring areas are administered by the Harbourmaster’s office with the hardware privately owned.

When considering a mooring contact the Harbourmaster’s office to ensure the mooring is suitable for your vessel before purchasing or renting. See moorings for sale and rent.

Alternatively, if space is available within the area you desire, the Harbourmaster's office may allocate a site. Note: vessels cannot exceed 15 metres.

You will need to make arrangements with an approved mooring service provider to install appropriate mooring hardware (at your cost).

A waiting list may apply within some mooring areas. Check areas with a waiting list.

If you wish to establish a mooring outside a mooring area then you will need to apply for a resource consent.

Marinas

The Harbourmaster does not administer marinas. You will need to contact the marina directly.

Annual mooring fees

You need to pay an annual fee to be able to moor your vessel within MMAs in the Auckland region.

Get annual fees for moorings

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Mooring hardware specifications

Single weight moorings

The majority of moorings in the Auckland region are single weight moorings. The components are common but the size and weight varies depending on the length of the vessel the mooring is constructed for. In general there is a weight on the seafloor anchoring the mooring in position, common weights are old railway wheels or forklift counterweights. Heavy bottom chain that can wear on the seafloor as tide levels change and flow directions alternate.

Second chain is strength without excessive weight up to the top rope, this should always be suspended in the water column at all states of tide when mooring in use. Top rope is the link between second chain and the vessel moored, usually with a spliced eye for securing over the bollard. The top rope can be replaced by a top chain where a mooring hook is used from the vessel into a ring on the top chain. Buoy rope is attached to the top rope or chain and buoy that marks the mooring on the water surface, the buoy rope is never to be used to secure the vessel to the mooring.

All moorings experience wear and you should expect to replace some components every two or three yearly inspection. 

For variations to the specifications liaise with the Harbourmasters office.

Up to 6 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	12mm	Max tide
A Buoy chain	6mm	Max tide
A Buoy shackle	8mm	N/A
B Top chain	12.5mm	0.5m < L/T
B Top rope	24mm	0.5m < L/T
C Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
C Swivel	19mm	N/A
D Link or shackle	16mm	N/A
E Second chain	16mm	4.5m
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Bottom chain	32mm	4m
H Shackle to weight	32mm	N/A
I Weights	400kg	N/A

6 to 8 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	16mm	Max tide
A Buoy chain	6mm	Max tide
A Buoy shackle	10mm	N/A
B Top chain	12.5mm	0.5m < L/T
B Top rope	24mm	0.5m < L/T
C Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
C Swivel	22mm	N/A
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Second chain	16/20mm	4.5m
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Bottom chain	32mm	4.5m
H Shackle to weight	32mm	N/A
I Weights	600kg	N/A

8 to 10 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	16mm	Max tide
A Buoy chain	8mm	Max tide
A Buoy shackle	10mm	N/A
B Top chain	12.5mm	0.5m < L/T
B Top rope	28mm	0.5m < L/T
C Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
C Swivel	25mm	N/A
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Second chain	20mm	4.5m
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Bottom chain	32mm	5m
H Shackle to weight	32mm	N/A
I Weights	800kg	N/A

10 to 12 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	20mm	Max tide
A Buoy chain	10mm	Max tide
A Buoy shackle	20mm	N/A
B Top chain	16mm	0.5m < L/T
B Top rope	32mm	0.5m < L/T
C Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
C Swivel	25mm	N/A
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Second chain	20mm	4.5m
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Bottom chain	38mm	5.5m
H Shackle to weight	38mm	N/A
I Weights	1,000kg	N/A

12 to 15 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	20mm	Max tide
A Buoy chain	10mm	Max tide
A Buoy shackle	8mm	N/A
B Top chain	20mm	0.5m < L/T
B Top rope	40mm	0.5m < L/T
C Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
C Swivel	32mm	N/A
D Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
E Second chain	24mm	5.5m
F Link or shackle	32mm	N/A
G Bottom chain	38mm	10m
H Shackle to weight	38mm	N/A
I Weights	1,500kg	N/A

Bridle moorings

Bridle moorings consist of two weights spread apart on the seafloor and come together at bottom chain. These are used in depths of less than 2m DLWS.

6 to 8 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	16mm	7m
A Buoy chain	6mm	7m
B Buoy shackle	10mm	N/A
C Top chain	12.5mm	3.6m
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Swivel	22mm	N/A
F Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
G Second chain	16/20mm	3.6m
H Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
I Bottom chain	20mm	3.6m
J Ring or shackle	24mm	N/A
K Bridle chain	24mm	12m
L Shackles to weight	24mm	N/A
M Weights	355kg each	N/A

8 to 10 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	16mm	7m
A Buoy chain	8mm	7m
B Buoy shackle	10mm	N/A
C Top chain	12.5mm	3.6m
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Swivel	25mm	N/A
F Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
G Second chain	16/20mm	3.6m
H Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
I Bottom chain	24mm	3.6m
J Ring or shackle	24mm	N/A
K Bridle chain	32mm	12m
L Shackles to weight	32mm	N/A
M Weights	460kg each	N/A

10 to 12 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	20mm	7m
A Buoy chain	10mm	7m
B Buoy shackle	20mm	N/A
C Top chain	16mm	3.6m
D Link or shackle	20mm	N/A
E Swivel	25mm	N/A
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Second chain	20mm	3.6m to 4.5m
H Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
I Bottom chain	24mm	3.6m to 4.5m
J Ring or shackle	32mm	N/A
K Bridle chain	32mm	12m
L Shackles to weight	32mm	N/A
M Weights	600kg each	N/A

12 to 15 meters

Item	Size	Length
A Buoy rope	20mm	7m
A Buoy chain	10mm	7m
B Buoy shackle	20mm	N/A
C Top chain	20mm	3.6m
D Link or shackle	34mm	N/A
E Swivel	32mm	N/A
F Link or shackle	24mm	N/A
G Second chain	24mm	5.4m
H Link or shackle	32mm	N/A
I Bottom chain	32mm	5.4m
J Ring or shackle	32mm	N/A
K Bridle chain	38mm	12m
L Shackles to weight	38mm	N/A
M Weights	1,000kg each	N/A

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Buying or renting a mooring

Where to find moorings for sale or rent

• See our moorings for sale and rent page.
• Trade Me.
• The marine section of the New Zealand Herald.
• Notice boards at local boat clubs.
• Local newspapers.

When deciding to buy or rent an existing mooring

• You will need to ensure that the mooring is suitable for your vessel. Please note, vessels cannot exceed 15 metres.
• Be aware of the mooring price when purchasing, it is for the hardware only, not the site.
• There are conditions for moorings in a waiting list area.
• When purchasing, you must transfer the ownership of the mooring.
• You can only rent a mooring for a maximum of 6 months with Harbourmaster approval.

We can provide necessary information about mooring location, construction of the mooring, last inspection date, type and size vessel the mooring site is permitted for and price estimate. Contact the Harbourmaster's office with the mooring number or mooring owner's details.

Waiting list areas

Swing moorings

• Kawau Island
• Leigh
• Omaha
• Ti Point
• Sandspit
• Weiti River
• Matiatia
• Rakino Island
• Great Barrier Island.

Pile moorings

• Panmure
• Sandspit.

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Information for Mooring owners

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Boating facilities

AT and the Harbourmaster's office does not own or operate marine facilities.

If you have a query, please contact the facility owner directly. This may be a marina company or boating club.

Marinas

Location	Contact
Bayswater 21 Sir Peter Blake Parade	Bayswater Marina Phone: 09 446 1600
Gulf Harbour 895 Laurie Southwick Parade	Gulf Harbour Marina Phone: 09 424 6200
Half Moon Bay 50 Argo Drive	Half Moon Bay Marina Phone: 09 534 3139
Hobsonville 18 Clearwater Cove, West Harbour	Hobsonville Marina Phone: 09 416 7447
Outboard Boating Club 7 Tamaki Drive, Orakei	Outboard Boating Club Phone: 09 522 0774
Orakei Pier D, 12-14 Tamaki Drive, Orakei	Orakei Marina Phone: 09 524 8444
Pine Harbour 190 Jack Lacklan Drive	Pine Harbour Marina Phone: 09 536 4720
Westhaven 137 Westhaven Drive	Westhaven Marina Phone: 09 360 5870

Pile moorings

Location	Contact
Bayswater 21 Sir Peter Blake Parade	Bayswater Marina Phone: 09 446 1600
Westhaven 137 Westhaven Drive	Westhaven Marina Phone: 09 360 5870