Under section 200A(3)(d) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (“Act”), I give notice of my intention to declare a major maritime event under section 200A(1) of the Act.

The draft terms and conditions and other key information are set out in this notice.

The period within which interested persons or organisations may make written representations about the proposal is 19 days.

1. The proposal

To declare the Auckland SailGP to be an event to which section 200B of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (“Act”) applies from Thursday 16 January 2025 to Sunday 19 January 2025 inclusive (the event period).

2. Proposed area affected by the application

2.1 The area in respect of which the application is made (the general designated area) is all navigable waters within the extent of the coordinates and mean low water springs as set out in the schedule to this notice.

2.2 The Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area (located within the general designated area) is defined as those waters inside a straight line between the outermost breakwaters of the Jellicoe Harbour Marina and as marked by navigational aids at the entrance in position Starboard 36°50.36' S 174°45.53' E and Port 36°50.34' S 174°45.58' E.

3. Proposed conditions and requirements

3.1 The following conditions and requirements apply in the general designated area—

3.1.1 The exclusion zone within the general designated area, inside which the racecourse will be established, will be publicly announced in advance by public broadcasting, on the event website and by marine communication channels.

3.1.2 A ferry transit lane will operate throughout the event period for ferries registered with Auckland Transport.

3.1.3 Charts showing the location of the exclusion zone and transit lane will be widely promulgated prior to the event period as part of the event’s overall public education programme.

3.1.4 The exclusion zone will be conspicuously marked with buoys and stake boats, as appropriate, by F50 League NZ Ltd (the event organiser).

3.1.5 Once the exclusion zone is designated and marked, only competing yachts, vessels used by the race committee, umpires, marshals, emergency vessels and vessels accredited by the event organiser and Auckland Harbourmaster (“Harbourmaster”) may navigate within the marked perimeter until the Harbourmaster, or their delegate, has announced on VHF Ch16 that the day’s event has been concluded. This condition applies at all times to the Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area.

3.1.6 The Harbourmaster may vary conditions for the day-to-day management and conduct of activities within the general designated area (as per section 200A(2)(e) of the Act) as required for the proper management and conduct of vessels and activities within the designated areas or for the purposes of maritime safety. This includes the ability to set speed limits, reduced wake zones and restricted access areas.

3.1.7 All vessels must be navigated in accordance with Maritime Rules Part 22: Collision Prevention.

3.1.8 All vessels are to remain in compliance with the Auckland Council Navigation Bylaw 2021 and Controls as well as the Harbourmaster's Directions.

3.1.9 No vessel over 40m length overall (“LOA”) may navigate within the general designated area during the event period without prior written approval of the Harbourmaster.

3.1.10 No vessel over 40m LOA may anchor or hold position within the general designated area during the event period without prior written approval of the Harbourmaster.

3.1.11 The Harbourmaster may introduce restrictions on vessels or classes of vessels including those operating without motorised propulsion during the event period. If this power is exercised, notification of these restrictions will be promulgated on the day of the race by public broadcasting, on the event website and by marine communication channels.

3.1.12 Throughout the event period, no vessel may enter the Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area without obtaining permission from the Jellicoe Harbour Marina On Water Manager, Aimee Famularo (afamularo@sailgp.com). The Harbourmaster may restrict access to the Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area or introduce restrictions on vessels or classes of vessels, including those operating without motorised propulsion, within the area.

3.1.13 The Harbourmaster may order the suspension or abandonment of racing operations if, in the opinion of the Harbourmaster or their Delegate, or having received advice from Police, adequate levels of public safety on the water cannot be guaranteed or an on-water safety situation is worsening or for any other Harbour emergency or on-water safety situation that may occur. This power will be exercised in consultation between the New Zealand Police, Harbourmaster’s Office and the event organiser.

3.1.14 Every commercial ship, as defined in the Act, operating within the event area must be operated under the authority of an appropriate maritime document as required under the Act, or an exemption from the applicable requirement.

4. Proposed hours of operation

4.1 The proposed declaration will apply to the general designated area from 11.00am to 8.00pm (subject to changes determined on a daily basis by the Harbourmaster). The specific hours of operation will be announced by public broadcasting, on the event website and by marine communication channels.

4.2 The proposed declaration will apply to the Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area for the entire event period.

5. Means of enforcement

5.1 Compliance with the above conditions and requirements will be enforced by appointed enforcement officers, as defined in section 200B(6) of the Act:

1. all constables; and all police employees who are not constables authorised for the purpose by the Commissioner of Police,
2. all members of the New Zealand Defence Force authorised for the purpose by the Chief of Defence Force,
3. Harbourmasters employed or engaged by any harbour controlling authority, and
4. such other persons as may for the time being authorised for the purpose by Auckland Council.

5.2 The event organiser is responsible for:

1. management of the exclusion zone, transit lane and on-water spectator areas within the general designated area, and
2. all movement of team boats, media, spectators (ticketed and non-ticketed) and other event related vessels within the general designated area and the Jellicoe Harbour Marina designated area.

5.3 The event marshals will be Honorary Enforcement Officers warranted with the powers prescribed in section 200B of the Act. They will be employed or engaged by the event organiser and appointed by Auckland Council.

5.4 Under section 200B(5) of the Act, any person in charge of a ship, craft or seaplane who contravenes this notice commits an infringement offence and is liable to the relevant penalty prescribed in the Maritime Transport (Infringement Fees for Offences Relating to Major Maritime Events) Regulations 1999.

6. Comments on this notice

Any person may forward written comments on this proposal to: Roger Brown, Ministry of Transport, PO Box 3175, Wellington 6140 or email: sailgp2025@transport.govt.nz, provided such comments are received not later than the close of 18 November 2024. Comments are submitted on the presumption that they will be made public. If submitters do not wish this to occur, a statement to the effect should be made.

Schedule – General Designated Area

Signed at Wellington this 24th day of October 2024.

Hon MATT DOOCEY, Associate Minister of Transport.