New Zealand VHF Marine Channels and Regional Coverage

New Zealand VHF Marine Channels & Regional Coverage

Channel	Tx / Rx (MHz)	Purpose	NZ Regions / Users
1	156.050 / 160.650	Coastguard	Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, Southern Region
2	156.100 / 160.700	Sea Rescue / Coastguard	Far North, Northern Region, Rotorua Lakes, Central Region
3	156.150 / 160.750	Coastguard / Networks	Gisborne Coastguard, Mount Campbell
4	156.200 / 160.800	Coastguard	Northern Region, Whangamata, Mount Campbell
5	156.250 / 156.850	Coastguard / Netcom	Northern Region, Gisborne, Southern Region
6	156.300	Safety & Inter-ship	Nationwide
7	156.350 / 160.950	Commercial (duplex)	National
8	156.400	Coastguard	Northern Region, Waihi Beach
9–14, 19–28	156.450–157.400 / paired	Port operations, ship movements, navigation safety	Nationwide ports and harbors
13	156.650	Bridge‑to‑bridge (navigation safety)	Nationwide
15	156.750	Environmental monitoring	Nationwide
16	156.800	Distress, Safety & Calling	Nationwide & international
17	156.850	Special‑purpose	Nationwide
18	156.900 / 161.500	Public correspondence + Coastguard etc.	Northern, Whakatāne, Marlborough, Southland
20–23	157.000–157.150 / paired	Safety services	Nationwide
24, 26–28	157.200–157.400 / paired	Public correspondence (duplex)	Nationwide
25	157.250 / 161.850	Maritime radio	Nationwide
60–66	156.025–156.325 / paired	Public correspondence (duplex)	Northern Region, Manawatū, Cape Egmont, Whitianga
67–69, 71–73	156.375–156.675 / simplex	Maritime radio, intership, safety	Nationwide
70	156.525	DSC (Digital Selective Calling)	Nationwide, distress/safety
72	156.625	Inter-ship	Nationwide

Channels 1–5, 8 are primarily used by Coastguard units in specific regions, such as Tauranga (Ch 1), Far North (Ch 2), Gisborne (Ch 3), etc.
Channel 6 is globally the dedicated simplex safety and inter-ship channel.
Channel 7 is the sole commercial duplex channel in NZ.
Most 9–14, 19–28, 60–66 are for port/harbor ops, public correspondence, safety, often region-specific.
The critical safety channels—16 (distress) and 70 (DSC distress commands)—are monitored nationwide.

Always monitor Channels 16 and 70 (DSC) wherever you go.
Know your local Coastguard channel (e.g. Ch 1 in Tauranga) for direct contact.
Use a working channel from the port/harbor range after calling on Ch 16.
Channel 6 is your go-to inter-ship safety channel.