Aukatia te horapa a te kīrehe orotā
Prevent pests from spreading
Help us keep your favourite spots pest-free for future generations by following these guidelines.
Check and clean your gear
Thoroughly check and clean your vehicle, gear and any other items you transport:
Thorough checking and cleaning minimises the spread of:
- weeds on land and in water
- pests like argentine ants
- soil-borne diseases like kauri dieback disease.
Do not release pests
Do not release any pest animals or unwanted pets into the wild. This includes mice, red-eared slider turtles, goldfish or rainbow lorikeets. Find out more about responsible pet ownership.
Check the Regional Pest Management Plan to see the pest plants and pest animals we manage.
Marine pests
Marine species spread by
hull fouling and getting into
ballast water.
- Clean your hull out of the water before you leave, including the propeller and anchor.
- Clean all recreational gear including fishing and diving gear.
- Check the
Marine Pests website for marine biosecurity rules in other regions before leaving Auckland.
Guidelines for hull cleaning
Tip
Make sure your hull is 'Clean below, Good to go!'
Where and when you should clean the hull of your boat
Where and when you clean your hull depends on:
- where you have visited with your vessel recently
- how much fouling is on your hull
- the types of marine species that are growing on your hull.
A slime layer on a vessel hull, regardless of origin, may be cleaned in-water.
If your vessel has more than a slime layer, you need to follow specific guidelines.
Read the guidelines
This is a summary of the rules. If you're not sure, contact us on 09 301 0101 to avoid fines or other penalties.
Vessels from local (Auckland) waters
You can clean your hull in-water, outside our exclusion zones as long as you:
- use a gentle, non-abrasive technique to avoid hull damage when cleaning
- use the consistent cleaning method recommended by the coating manufacturers
- collect as much biofouling waste as possible to avoid contamination.
If you see any unusual or suspected harmful organism, you must stop cleaning immediately and contact the Ministry of Primary Industries on 0800 80 99 66.
Vessels from other NZ regions or international waters
Clean your hull out of the water to avoid spreading invasive marine pests.
See our list of hardstand and haul-out facilities to do this safely.
You should know
We should all do our bit to prevent the spread of marine pests. The best way to do this is to regularly clean the hull of your vessel using appropriate methods and in a place where you will minimise the risk of marine pests spreading.
You can be fined up to $750 if you do not maintain the hull of your vessel or you clean your vessel in a way or in a place that could spread invasive marine pests.
Related topics
Report a pest plant, pest animal or plant disease | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/report-pest-plant-pest-animal-plant-disease.aspx | Report a pest plant, pest animal or plant disease | Report weeds, pest animals and diseases to Auckland Council. Report marine and exotic pests to MPI. | | | | | aspx | | | |
How to control pest animals | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/how-to-control-pest-animals.aspx | How to control pest animals | There are things to consider when planning pest control. We can investigate the cause but you have to arrange for pest control on your property. | | | | | aspx | | | |
How we control pests | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/how-we-control-pests.aspx | How we control pests | We select pest control methods depending on the species and site. These may include traps, shooting, or toxins. | | | | | aspx | | | |
Identify pest animals | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/identify-pest-animals.aspx | Identify pest animals | Identify the pest before you start pest control. | | | | | aspx | | | |
Is the information on this page helpful?
To ask for help or report a problem with our services or facilities, contact us.