Gear up and go

This Week's Deals Expire In:

00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds
Your Currency
  • Home >
  • NZ Marine VHF Radio Channels

NZ Marine VHF Radio Channels

There is one main National channel in New Zealand which is channel 16. This channel is monitored and used by all marine authorities. For anyone in an emergency situation, this is the best option for the mariners to use as it has the widest coverage.

There are also a number of community based channels used for specific regions around New Zealand put together by clubs, groups and volunteers. Some of these are permanently monitored while others are monitored part time and rely on funding from their local communities.

There are also spare channels that aren't monitored at all. People generally use these channels for less important and more private communication between friends and groups.

Channel 21 is the main weather channel in New Zealand providing 24 hour marine weather forecasts updates.

Note: Most VHF Radios come with International , USA and Canadian channel Settings. In New Zealand we use International. It's important that when using a VHF radio in New Zealand, that the radio is set on the International setting.

Check out the following table to see the role of each channel in New Zealand.

NZ Marine VHF Channels and Purpose

Channel PurposeChannel
The international distress, safety and calling frequency for the maritime mobile VHF radio-telephone service. All ship's stations licensed for operation in the authorised bands between 156MHz and 174MHz must be able to transmit and receive on this channel. 16
Inter-ship navigation safety. 13
For inter-ship working. 6, 8
Working channel for harbour authority radio stations on port operation and ship movements. 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19
Continuous weather transmission channel. 20, 21, 22, 23
Two frequency talk-through repeater channels, some allocated to Coastguard and to other private coast stations. 1, 3, 4, 5, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
Working channel for Great Barrier Maritime Radio. 25
Working channel for Whangarei, Tologa, Wairarapa, Taranaki, D'Urville, Fox, Puysegur, Kaikoura, and Waitaki Marine Radios, and anti-pollution operations. 67
Working channel for Cape Reinga, Plenty, Napier, Farewell, Picton, Akaroa, Greymouth and Bluff Maritime Radios. 68
Working channel for Wanganui Maritime Radio. 69
DSC distress alert and messaging. 70
Working channels between coast and ship stations after initial contact has been made on channel 16. Also working channel for Kaitaia, Auckland, Runaway, Wellington, Westport, Fiordland, Chalmers, Cape Egmont and Stewart Island Marintime Radios. 71
Channel for use in association with maritime developments. 73
Working channels between coast and ship stations after initial contact has been made on channel 16. 74
Channels available for aquatic events. 17, 77
Working channels for Chatham Islands Maritime Radio. 60, 62

 

Read about VHF Radio Coverage and Range...

Recently Viewed