New Zealand's Boating Website

Lights for small craft

At night all boats are identified by the pattern of lights they display. This pattern of lights also helps you to know which way a boat is heading.

All boats must comply with the regulations concerning lighting. Check that the lights fitted to your boat are showing through the correct arc.

LIGHTS MUST BE SWITCHED ON FROM SUNSET TO SUNRISE AND IN RAIN AND FOG.

Failure to display the correct lights may result in fines or prosecution.

These are the lighting requirements for all vessels underway:

This includes a sailing boat if it is operating its engine. Display red and green side lights, a white sternlight and a white masthead light.

Powerboats less than 12 metres in length
May combine their stern and masthead lights to one all round white light.

Powerboats less than 7 metres in length and not capabale of speeds over 7 knots
Need only display an all round white light.

Sailing boats
Must show red and green sidelights and a white sternlight. These three lights may be combined into a single tri-colour light mountd at the top of a mast on yachts less than 20 metres in length.

Dinghies
All non-powered boats under 7 metres in length, such as a rowing dinghy, canoe, kayak or sailboat must show a white light or torch to indicate its presence.

Sailing boats motoring or motor-sailing
Considered to be powerboats and must display sidelights, a sternlight and a masthead light.

MASTHEAD LIGHT

Masthead lights shine forward in a 255 degree arc and must be at least 1 metre above the sidelights.

ANCHOR LIGHT

Every boat at anchor must show only a white light visible from all directions between sunset and sunrise.

RANGE OF LIGHTS

On boats up to 12 metres in length, white lights must have a range of 2 miles and sidelights a range of 1 mile.