There are no requirements imposed for captains of visiting pleasure yachts in terms of sailing experience...there are however some clearance procedures....
From Noosite
p 409-11 new text to replace old: Procedure on Arrival - You can obtain a copy of the New Zealand Border Agencies Information Pack for Yachts and Small Craft from Customs & yacht clubs around the Pacific. Every yacht arriving from overseas must inform customs and agricultural quarantine officers by
radio or telephone of one's intended ETA. This must be done at least 48 hours before arrival. Note: Text versions of the arrival notification form can be accessed through the Customs website (
www.customs.govt.nz). Facsimile to +64-9-307 6720.
Email to
Yachts@customs.govt.nz. Once you have entered New Zealand territorial waters (12 nautical miles), the International Q-flag must be clearly displayed. All craft arriving in New Zealand from overseas must first report at a Customs port of entry. Once your craft has arrived, Customs and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) quarantine officers will meet you. On arrival, every yacht must clear customs, immigration (via Customs) and undergo an inspection by an quarantine officer before clearance is complete. If a yacht is not able to contact the authorities by
radio and arrives unannounced, the captain must immediately contact customs or police by telephone (toll free numbers are available: Whangarei customs 0800 428 786). No one else must go ashore until clearance is complete.
Taupo Maritime
Radio keeps continuous
radio watch on 2182 kHz, 8291 kHz, 4125 kHz, 6215 kHz and 16420 kHz. They can also be contacted on Tel. +64 9 359 6655 or +64 25 961 375 (after hours). A telephone report may also be made to MAF in Auckland, Tel. +64 9 366 0345, +64 9 309 9093 or +64 274 975 171 (after hours).
On approaching the port of entry one should endeavour to confirm one's arrival. This can be done by
VHF via Taupo Maritime
Radio, which maintains repeaters along the coast. Alternatively, local port authority
radio stations can forward an arrival confirmation. The arrival itself must be confirmed to the port on Channel 16. Russell
Radio (see weather) will inform customs and immigration of a boat's arrival if this is requested by
radio.
Procedure on Departure
The same entry and departure formalities apply to New Zealand yachts as to foreign vessels.
All craft departing overseas from New Zealand must depart from a Customs port of entry, A Customs officer will attend at the agreed time and place of departure. You should advise the New Zealand Customs Service at least 72 hours before your intended departure to ensure that there is no delay. Once issued with a clearance certificate, yachts are required to go to sea within a reasonable time. Any delay should be reported to Customs. The controversial Clause 21 of the Maritime Safety Act, requiring each pleasure craft departing New Zealand to obtain a Safety Certificate, has been repealed.
In addition:
Here is the departure vessel clearance form:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/nr/rdonly.../0/formc2b.pdf
the passenger departure card:
http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/quest/sddquest.nsf/12df43879eb9b25e4c256809001ee0fe/9226dae2ca1cf9564c2569650002caeb/$FILE/departure%20card.PDF
and the advance notice of departure form which you must fax:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/nr/rdonly.../0/nzcs345.pdf
General Maritime rules/regs can be found here...
http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/rec_ru...s_overview.asp