Waikato, 11 November 2025 - As summer approaches and more boaties chase prime fishing spots, Coastguard is urging caution after a string of serious bar crossing incidents along the west coast of the North Island, including at Port Waikato, Raglan, and Kawhia.
In the past month, three major incidents have highlighted the risks:
17 October – Port Waikato: One man tragically died, and two others were hospitalised after their vessel overturned. All were wearing lifejackets.
1 November – Raglan: Four boaties were rescued after issuing a Mayday call from a sinking vessel. Thanks to their logged bar crossing report, lifejackets, and activated personal locator beacon (PLB), a swift rescue was possible.
8 November – Kawhia Bar: A vessel with two people on board capsized around 6am. Several vessels of opportunity responded and retrieved both individuals. No bar crossing report had been made, and it was unclear whether lifejackets were worn.
“These recent incidents are a sobering reminder that bar crossings are among the most dangerous activities on the water,” says Simon Marshall, Coastguard Bar Awareness Programme Lead and volunteer.
“Even experienced skippers can be caught out by fast-changing conditions, unpredictable swells, and narrow, shifting channels.”
To help boaties do just that, Coastguard is running a series of free Bar Awareness seminars in communities where recent incidents have occurred. Whether crossing Raglan, Kawhia, Manukau, or Port Waikato, understanding the local bar and how to read the conditions can be the difference between a great day on the water and a life-threatening emergency.
These sessions are designed to give boaties the practical knowledge and confidence they need to make good decisions when crossing bars this summer.
Upcoming events:
Raglan (On-water with Coastguard Raglan)
📍 Raglan Bowling Club
📅 Sunday, 23 November
🕘 9am – 4pm
Online Bar Crossing Seminar – Webinar
📍 Online via Microsoft Teams
📅 Monday, 17 November
🕘 7pm – 9pm
Hamilton (covering Raglan, Manukau & Kawhia Bars)
📍 Waikato Sport Fishing Club INC
📅 Wednesday, 10 December
🕖 7pm – 9pm
Online Bar Crossing Seminar – Webinar
📍 Online via Microsoft Teams
📅 Monday, 22 December
🕘 7pm – 9pm
Seminar topics include:
Understanding the local features of a bar
Reading and interpreting conditions
Preparing vessel and crew
Handling a vessel during a crossing
How (and why) to file a bar crossing report
What to do if things go wrong
“Lifejackets and PLBs save lives, but preparation, local knowledge, and knowing how to read the conditions are just as critical,” Simon explained.
Other available resources:
Last month, we published a survivor story from a bar incident in July from North Canterbury - Survivor Story from the Motunau Bar
Press Release: Coastguard | Coastguard Bar Awareness Roadshow Returns to Help Save…
Full schedule: Bar Awareness Roadshow | Humanitix
More information about bar crossings: https://www.coastguard.nz/barawareness
