VHF Marine Radio Channels: Complete NZ Frequency Guide 2025

Every New Zealand skipper will find, just below, every VHF marine channel, its exact frequency in MHz, and its permitted use for 2025 – ready to print and tape to the wheelhouse. Whether you’re pushing through Cook Strait squalls or pottering around Lake Taupō, choosing the right channel is more than polite radio craft; it’s a legal requirement that can shave minutes off a rescue, stop you blocking a mayday, and save you an on-the-spot fine from Maritime NZ.

New Zealand adopts the ITU Region 3 frequency plan yet layers on a unique web of Coastguard repeaters and harbour channels, so the booklet that came with your set rarely tells the full story. This guide fixes that. First you’ll get a laminated-friendly master table, then detailed sections on distress and DSC calls, Coastguard repeaters, port operations, recreational chat, weather broadcasts, digital data, and the licensing etiquette that keeps our spectrum clear. Keep reading, screenshot what you need, and head out knowing you’ll be heard. If you’re choosing a new radio or wondering why yours shows channels you must never use here, the explanations and compliance tips ahead will save you from confusion—and possibly confiscation.

Quick-Reference Master Table of NZ VHF Marine Channels 2025

Below is the cheat sheet most skippers tape to the companionway door. It folds every channel assignment from Maritime NZ, ITU Region 3 and the latest 2024/25 Notices to Mariners into one printable grid. Bold text flags the category of each channel so you can scan for DISTRESS & CALLING, REPEATER, PORT OPS, WEATHER, INTERSHIP or DIGITAL at a glance.
Tip: screenshot it to your phone and laminate a hard copy for the boat.

How to Read the Table

Most channels show a single frequency because they are simplex – everyone transmits and receives on the same frequency. The repeater channels (60-66, 20-23) are semi-duplex: your set transmits on the first frequency and listens on the higher “base” frequency. The coastal station rebroadcasts your call, dramatically extending range. When you see a two-frequency pair, ensure your radio is in INT mode and the channel is programmed for duplex; otherwise nobody ashore will hear you.

International vs New Zealand Numbering Differences

Your radio’s channel list may include US “A” channels (e.g., 22A) or Canadian weather channels. They are not authorised in New Zealand – leave them alone or switch the set to the INT/ITU table. Likewise, Ch 75 and 76 were re-designated worldwide as 1-watt safety guard channels; Maritime NZ enforces that power cap, so don’t use high power. Finally, note that our Coastguard repeaters occupy 60-66; internationally these numbers are general “Port Ops”, so a visiting yacht must re-check its quick guide. Keeping these subtleties straight is the difference between being heard and being hauled before a spectrum inspector.

Distress & Calling Channels: What to Use in an Emergency

Before you start chatting or checking the forecast, set your set to Channel 16 and keep one ear on it. Maritime NZ regulations require every vessel with a powered VHF to maintain a listening watch on Ch 16 whenever the radio is on. The rule is simple: rescue services and other boats can’t respond if they can’t hear you.

The “distress family” of VHF marine radio channels is small—just three numbers most skippers need to memorise—but each plays a different role. Learn the difference, and you’ll shave precious seconds off any MAYDAY, avoid clogging the distress frequency with routine traffic, and stay on the right side of the Radio Spectrum Management inspectors.

Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) – Distress, Urgency & Safety Calling

Channel 16 is the global distress and initial‐calling frequency. Use it for:

• MAYDAY (life-threatening)
• PAN PAN (urgency, no immediate danger to life)
• SECURITÉ (navigational or weather warnings)
• Initial contact with another vessel or station before moving to a working channel

Key points for Kiwi skippers:

• Maximum permitted power: 25 W (drop to 1 W if you’re close to reduce congestion).
• Mandatory listening watch: if your set is on, Ch 16 must be monitored.
• After establishing contact, shift to a non-distress working channel immediately.

The correct MAYDAY voice procedure is:

1. “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
2. “This is <vessel name> <call sign> <MMSI if fitted>” (repeat once)
3. “MAYDAY <vessel name>”
4. “My position is <lat/long or bearing & distance from a charted mark>”
5. “Nature of distress <e.g., taking water, fire>”
6. “I require immediate assistance”
7. “Persons on board: <number>”
8. “Any other information” (life-jackets donned, colour of hull, EPIRB activated)
9. “Over”

Speak slowly, hold the mic 2 cm from your mouth, and release the PTT after each block so Maritime Radio or a nearby vessel can acknowledge.

Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) – Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

Modern sets include a red “DISTRESS” button wired to Ch 70. Pressing and holding for five seconds sends a digital burst that carries:

• Your Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
• Vessel position (if GPS fed)
• Nature of distress (if manually selected)

Once acknowledged by Maritime Radio, most radios automatically switch to Ch 16 for the voice phase. To ensure it works when you need it:

• Enter your MMSI during setup—no MMSI, no DSC.
• Test the button annually during a scheduled DSC test window (consult your manual; do not send a live distress).
• Keep GPS connected so position data is included.

DSC alerts wake up radios even when the volume is down, so it’s the fastest way to raise help—use it first if fitted.

Supporting Small-Craft Safety Channel 67 (156.375 MHz)

After you’ve grabbed attention on Ch 16, shift routine safety traffic to 67. Typical uses:

• Coordinating a tow
• Reporting debris or a minor collision
• Relaying Maritime Safety Information (MSI) rebroadcasts

Because 67 isn’t a repeater channel, range is line-of-sight—keep your antenna high and consider moving to a duplex repeater (60–66) if you’re offshore.

When & How to Conduct a Radio Check

A quick radio check before casting off catches flat batteries, broken antenna cables, and dud microphones. Follow these steps:

1. Select the appropriate coastal repeater for your area (e.g., 60 Far North, 62 Hauraki Gulf) or, if out of repeater range, Ch 16.
2. Listen for at least 30 seconds to ensure the channel is clear.
3. Call: “Maritime Radio, Maritime Radio, this is <boat name>, <call sign>, requesting a radio check on Channel <number>.”
4. Wait for the reply: “<Boat name>, Maritime Radio. Read you loud and clear.”
5. Acknowledge: “Thank you Maritime Radio, <boat name> switching back to standby. Out.”

Avoid doing checks on 16 during busy periods and never use it for casual chat. If Maritime Radio is busy, switch to the nearest Coastguard repeater and try again.

Mastering these three channels—and practising the correct words—means when things go pear-shaped, the right people hear you the first time.

Coastguard & Maritime Radio Channels: Staying in Touch with Rescue Services

New Zealand’s blue-water safety net is a partnership: Maritime Radio (run by Maritime NZ, call-sign ZLM) provides the 24/7 professional backbone, while Coastguard NZ’s volunteer stations fill the local gaps. Together they monitor the duplex repeater channels in the 60-65 block plus a handful of region-specific working frequencies. Knowing which one covers your patch means your trip reports, radio checks and weather questions go straight to the operator who can actually see the radar—and dispatch help if you go overdue.

National Maritime Radio Channels 60, 62, 63 & 65

All modern sets already have these programmed; just flick to the right number for your coast. They share the same 600 kHz split: you transmit on the lower frequency, the shore station replies on the higher.

Key tips

• Start every call with “Maritime Radio” followed by your vessel name and call sign.
• If unanswered after two calls, wait 30 seconds then try the next repeater in the chain.
• A brief pause (count “one-and-two”) after pressing PTT lets the repeater key-up before you speak.

Coastguard Regional Nets & Volunteers

Coastguard units operate additional simplex channels, often publishing daily “sked” times on local noticeboards and VHF broadcasts.

• Tauranga (Ch 85) – check-in at 0735 & 1735 for harbour bar updates.
• Wellington (Ch 04) – hourly position reports during Cook Strait crossings.
• Northland (Ch 05) – Whangaroa to Hokianga volunteer watch weekends.
• Marlborough Sounds (Ch 01) – evening TR round-ups for moored yachts.

These nets are informal but monitored; if Maritime Radio is overloaded you may get quicker service here. Volunteers can relay distress traffic to ZLM, so don’t hesitate to call.

How to Log a Trip Report Correctly

A “TR” locks your ETA into Coastguard’s database—if you miss it, the rescue process starts automatically.

1. Select the regional repeater or Coastguard channel.
2. “<Station>, <Station>, this is RIB Kea, ZMX201, trip report.”
3. Provide:
   • Departure point and time
   • Destination / intended route
   • Persons on board
   • ETA at destination
   • Safety gear carried (EPIRB, life-raft, flares)

Example:
“Coastguard Tauranga, this is RIB Kea, ZMX201. Departing Sulphur Point 1100 for Mayor Island via Penguin Shoal, three POB, ETA 1500, have EPIRB and flares. Over.”

The operator will read back your details—listen carefully and correct any mistakes. On arrival, close the loop: “Coastguard Tauranga, RIB Kea arrived Mayor Island, cancel trip report. Out.”

Logging and closing every TR keeps the volunteers’ workload down and might just save your life when that ETA alarm rings.

Regional Repeaters & Wide-Area Coverage Channels

Semi-duplex repeaters are the long legs of the VHF network. Because the base station sits on a hilltop and re-transmits your signal on a second frequency, a 5-watt handheld in an open dinghy can be heard 60 NM away. If you regularly fish outside mobile range—or just like a backup when the cliffs block line-of-sight—learning which repeater covers your patch is as vital as knowing the tides. All of the repeaters below use the standard 600 kHz split shown in the master table, so any INT-mode set will select the correct transmit/receive pair automatically.

North Island Repeater Set (60–64)

The upper four vhf marine radio channels in the 60 block are chained together to blanket the busy northern coastline:

• Channel 60 – Far North
  Cape Reinga, Spirits Bay and Three Kings. Also reaches parts of Ninety-Mile Beach when surf noise swamps handhelds.

• Channel 62 – Hauraki Gulf Hub
  Linked sites on Waiheke, Moehau and Little Barrier handle Auckland’s heaviest traffic. If you get no answer, don’t assume failure—switch to 60 (Northland) or 63 (BOP) before retrying.

• Channel 63 – Bay of Plenty & East Cape
  Mount Maunganui main, Mōtū River, and Hicks Bay sites serve offshore game-boats chasing marlin on White Island ridge.

• Channel 64 – West Coast North Island
  From Taranaki’s Paritutu to the Raglan bar. Coverage inland is patchy—expect black spots behind coastal ranges.

Tip: Boats transiting the top of the Coromandel often sit midway between 62 and 63; carry out a “search and select”—if your first hail on 62 is unanswered, hop to 60, then 63.

South Island & Offshore Islands (Ch 65/66 + Local Allocations)

• Channel 64 – Cook Strait Corridor
  High-site repeaters on Belmont (Wellington) and Mt Stokes (Marlborough Sounds) create a funnel of coverage for north–south crossings.

• Channel 65 – West & Fiordland
  A chain of solar sites on Secretary Island, Resolution Island and Puysegur relays traffic where mountains kill simplex range.

• Channel 66 – Stewart & Chatham Islands
  Oban Radio guards 66 for Foveaux Strait while Chatham Islands Maritime Radio piggybacks the same number 400 NM east. Travellers bound for the Pitt or Chatham groups should keep dual-watch on 16/66.

Local quirks: Lyttelton Harbour pilots monitor Ch 14 but also dual-watch 65; Milford Sound tour boats often switch to Ch 02 (simplex) inside the fjord to avoid repeater delay.

Repeater Etiquette

• Key the mic, pause three seconds, then speak—this wakes the repeater before your first word.
• Keep overs short (under one minute) and finish with “Over” so the tail timer doesn’t cut you off.
• If you’re relaying a mayday, release PTT between sentences; other stations may need to break in with priority traffic.
• Treat the repeaters as shared lifelines, not social chat rooms—shift friendly banter to simplex intership channels once the business is done.

Use the repeaters wisely and the whole coast hears you loud and clear when it counts.

Port & Harbour Operations Channels: Communicate with Authority

VHF inside a pilotage area is less about friendly chatter and more about keeping tonnage apart. Every commercial port in Aotearoa assigns one or two working channels for Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and harbourmaster instructions. When you cross the harbour limits you’re obliged under Maritime Rule 91 to maintain a listening watch on that channel—regardless of vessel size. Fail to do so and the infringement notice can be almost as painful as colliding with a 70 000-tonne container ship.

Standard Harbour Channels (12 & 14)

International practice designates Ch 12 and Ch 14 for port operations, and most Kiwi ports stick with those. Quick reference:

Expect plain-language traffic directions: speed limits, pilot boarding positions, crossing instructions for ferries or tugs. Recreational vessels should answer promptly, then clear the frequency.

Local Variations & Special Working Channels

A few ports deviate from the textbook:

• Bluff uses Ch 11 for day-to-day traffic, leaving 14 for big-ship manoeuvres.
• Nelson monitors Ch 18 to separate fishing fleet movements from marina traffic on 12.
• Whangārei Pilot Station guards Ch 19 at Marsden Point while refinery security sits on 14.
• River bars such as Greymouth and Westport issue bar-crossing permission on Ch 65 (linked to the Coastguard repeater).

Unless you know otherwise, call the harbourmaster on 16 first; they’ll redirect you to the working channel.

Procedures for Arrival & Departure Calls

Give VTS operators the essentials, nothing more:

1. “Harbour Control, Harbour Control, this is yacht Koru, length 11 metres, inbound.”
2. Wait for the reply—don’t barge in if traffic advice is under way.
3. Provide:
   • Position (“off Channel Marker 3”)
   • Intention (“heading to Viaduct Marina”)
   • Any constraints (towed dinghy, engine trouble, no AIS)
4. Acknowledge instructions exactly: “Roger, Koru will hold at Fergusson North until cleared, standing by on one-two. Out.”

Large craft (>300 GT) must still use AIS, but VTS may insist on a voice call for confirmation or if AIS data is garbled. Keep transmissions crisp, monitor until berthed, then switch back to your normal watch channels. By respecting the port ops frequencies you keep the harbour moving—and avoid a stern call from the harbourmaster.

Recreational & Ship-to-Ship Chat Channels: Keep It Social, Keep It Clear

Once you’ve filed the trip report and cleared the shipping lane, it’s time to chew the fat with your mates or sort out the lunch anchorage. Just remember: social talk belongs on the recognised intership channels, not on 16, a repeater, or a port-ops frequency. Maritime NZ inspectors monitor for misuse, and a friendly natter in the wrong place has already cost a Northland skipper an on-the-spot $850 infringement in 2024.

Intership Simplex Channels 6, 8, 72 & 77

These four workhorses are reserved internationally for ship-to-ship working:

• 6 – 156.300 MHz: Search-and-rescue coordination but also general intership when clear.
• 8 – 156.400 MHz: Fishing fleets, cruising convoys, quick course changes.
• 72 – 156.625 MHz: Regatta management and group sail chats.
• 77 – 156.875 MHz (LOW-POWER): Close-quarters manoeuvring in marinas or rafting.

Best practice: start at 1 W, bump to 25 W only if you genuinely need distance. Say, “Panui, all stations, this is launch Koru moving astern off A Pier on seven-seven, over.”

Regatta / Club Racing Etiquette

Race committees usually allocate one working channel—often 72—during the skipper’s briefing. Keep calls short:

1. “Race Control, Yacht Tango, requesting time to start, over.”
2. Race Control replies; you acknowledge “Roger, Yacht Tango, out.”

Never give tactical info about other competitors; it breaches fair-play rules and clutters the air.

Channels to Avoid for Casual Chat

Steer clear of:

• 16, 67, 70 – distress and safety
• 60–66 – Coastguard repeaters
• 12, 14 – port operations
• 20–23 – weather broadcasts

Using these for gossip risks fines up to $30,000 and equipment seizure under the Radiocommunications Act. If the intership channels are busy, switch to a pre-arranged handheld frequency on your onboard UHF but keep one ear on 16. Talk smart, stay legal, and everyone enjoys the day.

Weather, Safety Information & Digital Data Broadcast Channels

Aotearoa’s fickle weather can turn a blue-sky cruise into a white-knuckle slog in minutes, so a working knowledge of the dedicated weather and data channels is every skipper’s safety margin. Unlike mobile apps, these broadcasts need no cell coverage and can be received by even a 5-watt handheld. They fall into three broad buckets: automated NowCasting, scheduled voice forecasts and digital data streams.

NowCasting Frequencies 20, 21, 22 & 23

MetService’s NowCasting network samples wind, barometric pressure and sea temp from coastal stations, then pushes a 60-second voice bulletin every half-hour (on the hour and half-past). Tune in, jot the numbers, and watch the trend.

Remember these are duplex repeaters—leave your set in INT mode so the base transmission is heard.

Scheduled Forecast & MSI Broadcasts

“ZLM New Zealand Maritime Radio” issues a full coastal forecast, strong-wind warnings and navigation notices four times daily on HF SSB, but VHF users still get the heads-up. At HH + 45 past each hour, Maritime Radio makes a brief announcement on Ch 16 and Ch 67, then moves long messages to Ch 68 or 69. Stay on 16 for the alert, then flip over when instructed; that keeps the distress channel clear.

Digital Data: AIS, NAVTEX & Satellite Overlays

• Automatic Identification System (AIS): Uses Ch 87B (161.975 MHz) and 88B (162.025 MHz). Transponders broadcast your MMSI, course and speed every few seconds—vital for collision avoidance in poor visibility.
• NAVTEX: Low-frequency 518 kHz text weather, but most Kiwi yachts rely on the internet; still handy offshore.
• Inmarsat SafetyNet & Iridium GO!: Satellite safety services mirror MSI bulletins worldwide. Great ocean backup, yet within 30–40 NM of the coast, VHF NowCasting and repeats on 68/69 remain the quickest, battery-friendly option for trailer boats.

By combining voice forecasts with AIS overlays you’ll dodge dirty squalls and heavy traffic long before they appear over the bow. Keep the volume up and the logbook handy.

Operator Responsibilities, Licensing & Radio Etiquette in New Zealand

Your shiny VHF set is only half the compliance story. The operator must also be certified, the station must have an issued call sign, and the on-air conduct must follow the Radiocommunications Rules. Maritime NZ treats these as core safety duties, not optional extras—fail to tick the boxes and you could be fined more than the radio cost.

Before diving into the paperwork, remember one golden rule: the skipper is legally responsible for every transmission that leaves the vessel, even if a guest is holding the mic.

Getting Your MROC (or SRF for jet-ski users)

The minimum ticket for using VHF marine radio channels on a boat is the Maritime Radio Operator Certificate (MROC). Personal water-craft riders can instead sit the shorter Short Range Certificate (SRF).

1. Enrol with an approved provider—Coastguard Boating Education, regional polytechs, or recognised yachting clubs.
2. Study modules cover distress procedure, DSC programming, batteries & antenna care, and the dreaded phonetic alphabet.
3. Sit a 30-question multiple-choice exam plus a practical distress call; pass mark is 70 %.
4. Pay the fee (about $120, often bundled with course material).
5. On success, you’ll receive a wallet card endorsed by Maritime NZ—carry it on board.

Certificates never expire, but refresher courses are wise if your call signs or DSC menus feel rusty.

Applying for & Using a Call Sign / MMSI

Every fixed or handheld set that will transmit must carry a Radio Operator’s Call Sign:

• Apply online at the Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) website.
• Pay the $60 lifetime allocation fee.
• You’ll receive a five-letter identifier starting with “Z” (e.g., ZMX201).

Install the sticker near the radio and program the number, along with the allocated nine-digit MMSI, into:

• Your DSC-equipped VHF
• Any AIS transponder
• EPIRB registration

If you sell the vessel, update the database—new owner, same call sign.

Best-Practice Radio Procedure

Good etiquette keeps channels uncluttered and intelligible:

• Use standard pro-words: Over, Out, Say Again, Standby, Roger.
• Hold the mic 2 cm from your mouth; speak across the grille, not into it.
• Pause a full second after pressing PTT so the first syllable isn’t clipped.
• Keep sentences short; think before you key-up.
• After completing business, switch back to dual-watch 16/working channel and maintain silence unless required.

Penalties for Misuse & Interference

Maritime NZ and RSM routinely monitor VHF traffic with direction-finding vans. Recent enforcement actions include:

• $1,800 infringement to a Bay of Islands skipper for social chat on Ch 16 (2024)
• $12,000 fine and radio seizure after deliberate jamming of Ch 67 during a fishing competition (2023)
• Court-ordered $31,500 penalty for operating without an MROC and causing interference to port ops (2022)

The takeaway? Get the paper, follow the etiquette, and your VHF will be the asset it’s designed to be—never the reason you’re meeting a compliance officer on the dock.

Common Questions Answered Fast

Still got niggling doubts after wading through the channel tables? The bite-sized answers below clear up the queries Coastguard instructors hear most often. Bookmark this section or copy the snippets into the notes app on your phone for a cockpit refresher when crew start asking.

What VHF channels can recreational boats freely use in NZ?

You’re welcome to chat on simplex intership channels 6, 8, 72 and 77 provided you drop to 1 W when boats are close. You may also arrange short working conversations on 67 after raising the other party on 16. All other channels are reserved for distress, repeaters, weather or port operations—use them only for their stated purpose.

Can I use Channel 9 like they do in the United States?

No. Channel 9 (156.450 MHz) is a US “A” channel that doesn’t exist in the ITU Region 3 table. If your set is in USA mode and you transmit on Ch 9 inside New Zealand waters you’ll be splattering over a licensed commercial frequency. Keep the radio in INT mode and call on 16, then shift to an intership channel.

How do I switch from USA to INT mode on my radio?

Most sets hide it in the setup menu:

• Icom M330/M423: Menu ➜ Set Mode ➜ Ch Group ➜ INT ➜ Enter.
• Standard Horizon GX1400/1850: Setup ➜ Radio Settings ➜ CH/WX Group ➜ INT.
• Lowrance Link-6: Hold Menu three seconds, rotate knob to INT, press Enter.

Cycle the power after changing so the software reloads the correct frequency table.

Do I need a licence if I only listen and never transmit?

Listening is free and unregulated. The moment you press the PTT—even for a radio check—you’re deemed an operator and must hold at least an MROC (or SRF for PWCs) and the vessel must have a Maritime call sign. Fines for unlicensed transmission start at $850 on the spot.

Are handheld VHF radios really waterproof and how far will they reach?

Most modern handhelds are rated IPX7 (submersible 1 m for 30 min); a few floaters boast IPX8. Range depends on antenna height and battery power:

Keep the antenna vertical, use fresh batteries, and remember: even a “waterproof” radio won’t transmit well with a wet mic—shake it dry first.

Stay Heard, Stay Safe on the Water

Nail the basics every trip and your VHF becomes the best life-insurance money can buy:

• Keep a dual watch on 16 plus your working channel.
• File a trip report and close it off—no one likes a false alarm.
• Know your local repeater numbers; test the set before you clear the harbour.
• Slide social chatter to 6, 8, 72 or 77 and keep it short.
• Stay legal: INT mode, MROC in your pocket, call sign on the dash.

Need a new set, longer antenna or just a waterproof speaker-mic? Pop into Action Outdoors in Auckland or browse the full marine comms range at Action Outdoors. Talk smart, get home smiling.