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Marine Weather

53% of fatal boating accidents occur in bad weather. If in doubt don't go out.
Make sure you always use a marine weather forecast. Land and general forecasts do not take in to account wind speed over water, which is double that over land, or the size of waves. Coastal and local marine weather forecasts consist of the following parts:

Warnings
These are issued for gales or storms anywhere on the New Zealand Coast. A wind warning may be included in local area forecasts if wind gusts are expected to reach 33 knots (about 60 km/hr).

Situation
A description of the position and movements of highs, lows and frontal systems to affect the New Zealand Coast within the next 36 hours and a long range five day prediction. It also names those areas affected by warnings.

Forecast Details
A description, covering the next 24 hours of expected average conditions over open water.
wind - direction, such as northwest, is the direction the wind is expected to come from. Speed is given in knots, and one knot is approximately 2 km/hour. This is an average speed so always expect that gusts may be 50% higher. Also allow for funneling between headlands causing the wind speed to double.
sea - a description of the waves formed by the local wind. Always remember when the wind opposes the tide a far worse state will occur.
swell - caused by longer waves that come from the ocean. Swells increase in height when they reach shallow water.
visibility - given when visibilty is expected to be less than 10 kilometres.
outlook - a statement of the expected wind for the 12 hours after the forecast.

Wind and Tide
it's a simple equation:
When the wind is opposing the tide, expect a rougher sea.
When the wind is with the tide, expect a calmer sea.

Sources of Marine Weather Forecasts

The two most convenient sources of marine forecasts are VHF radio and telephones.
VHF Radio - MSA Maritime Radio provides forecasts which are announced on Channel 16
then Ch.71 for the Hauraki Gulf at - 0533, 0733, 1033, 1333, 1733 and 2133 hours.
Metphone - dial 0900 999 + map area number.
Also
Metfax - dial 0900 77 99 then for Auckland area dial 22 999.

Other sources of marine forecasts include

local Coastguard stations on VHF. Coastguard Radio Ch.16 then Ch.82 and 86 at 0805,1205,1605,2005 ( Note change of channel 88 to 82 due to changes to international VHF marine frequencies & re-allocations. "Auckland Coastguard" becomes "Coastguard Radio"). This services the Hauraki Gulf and Hokianga area.
Other changes to international VHF marine frequencies are channel 85 to 62 servicing the Waiheke area and channel 87 to 85 servicing the Tutukaka and Whangaruru areas.
Coastguard provide a "Nowcasting" service which is continuous on VHF channel 20 giving current wind speed and directions, tides, forecasts and warnings.
Teletext on television.
local newspapers, but remember they can be published many hours earlier.
local radio stations, especially in summer. News Talk ZB - FM89.4MHz after the news on the hour and AM 1080KHz when time available.
on the internet, www.metservice.co.nz
on National Radio at 0500 hours.
in the Auckland area, Channel 20 or 21 have a continuous broadcast of weather, tides and safety information.
in Whitianga, Channel 23 has a continuous broadcast of weather and safety information.
private coastal radio stations.

Metphone Coastal - dial 0900 999+ map area number