Maritime Levies
Maritime Levies are paid by all commercial maritime operators to fund the regulatory system. Separate fees are charged for direct activities. Maritime Levies apply to all New Zealand commercial vessels and foreign commercial vessels visiting New Zealand. They must be paid even if an operator does not use the functions and activities, it funds.
Funding from Maritime Levies allows Maritime NZ to maintain important activities and functions critical to maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment.
In addition, it can be used to fund regulatory activities undertaken by the Authority, the Director or the Crown in the performance or exercise of functions, duties, or powers under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
The activities and functions Maritime Levies pay for includes:
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Participating in technical work to develop, maintain, implement and update international maritime conventions and agreements. This ensures New Zealand’s obligations under conventions are incorporated into New Zealand legislation.
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First port state control inspections of foreign vessels.
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The provision of information and education to help commercial operators improve maritime safety and protect the marine environment.
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Investigations and compliance functions, including prosecutions.
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Aids to navigation and distress and safety communication (radio) services.
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Assisted regulatory functions, including research, intelligence, guidance and information.
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Systemic risk activities, such as targeted safety awareness and other campaigns and industry engagement.
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Routine maritime safety audits and inspections of domestic operators.
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Some seafarer welfare services.
Other Maritime NZ activities continue to be funded outside Maritime Levies such as Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre NZ, our Health and Safety at Work regulator role, recreational boating safety activities, our oil pollution incident response activities, and direct regulatory activities to individuals and organisations (that are paid by fees).
Maritime Levy review outcome
Maritime NZ held the scheduled three-year review of the Maritime Levy and Oil Pollution Levy in late 2025. These levies fund nearly half of Maritime NZ’s operations and are critical to maintaining a safe, clean, and sustainable maritime system. For this review, Maritime NZ sought no change to the Oil Pollution Levy, and provided three options for the Maritime Levy.
Following public consultation in late 2025, Cabinet recognised that efficiencies have been made by Maritime NZ, and that many in the sector supported a higher increase to retain activities Maritime NZ is currently performing. However, Cabinet also acknowledged the impacts of rising fuel costs and the cumulative effect of recent price increases on the shipping and wider maritime sector, particularly international shipping and cruise.
Cabinet agreed to implement a small levy increase to cover some inflationary costs, of 6.35% from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028, and by 2.5% from 1 July 2028 to 30 June 2030. However, as this increase does not address the levy shortfall, Maritime NZ is now going through a considered process to determine necessary changes to the organisation and work programme to address funding pressures and remain solvent.
Changes to the maritime levy rates will take effect from 1 July 2027, subject to any required legislative steps. Providing early notice of levy changes has been a priority to provide certainty of costs for operators and particularly the cruise sector, where itineraries and ticket prices are set well in advance. The intended start date of 1 July 2027 provides lead-in time to plan and incorporate changes into pricing and schedules.
Oil Pollution Levy rates will not change for the period 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030.
The vessel categories that pay levies are:
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New Zealand non-SOLAS under 24 metres
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New Zealand non-SOLAS 24 metres and over
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New Zealand SOLAS
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Foreign non-Passenger
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Foreign Passenger.
Notes:
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‘SOLAS’ is Safety of Life at Sea convention.
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A ‘New Zealand’ vessel is:
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New Zealand registered
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Not New Zealand registered but required or entitled to be New Zealand registered.
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A foreign vessel is a vessel that is not a New Zealand vessel.
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Foreign vessels pay per port.
The three factors used to calculate the levy payment for a vessel category are:
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deadweight tonnage (DWT) – if the vessel is New Zealand SOLAS or a Foreign vessel
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passenger capacity (Pax Cap) - Pax Cap is the maximum passengers a vessel can carry and does not include crew or staff on board. If a vessel has more than one Pax Cap the highest one must be used. A vessel operating part-time/seasonally and not being full has already been assumed in the Pax Cap rate
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overall length in metres (Length) for New Zealand non-SOLAS under 24 metres and gross tonnage (GT) for all other vessel categories.
Each of these factors has a different rate for each vessel category.
Maritime Levies rates
These rates exclude goods and services tax (GST)
For 2024/25 to 2026/27
|
Paymentfrequency |
Vessel category |
Factor Rates |
||
|
GT or Length rate |
PAX Cap rate |
DWTrate |
||
|
Annual |
New Zealand non-SOLAS under 24 metres |
$19.5347 (Length) |
$22.3834 |
$0.00 |
|
Annual |
New Zealand non-SOLAS 24 metres and over |
$10.4870 (GT) |
$22.3834 |
$0.00 |
|
Annual |
New Zealand SOLAS |
$9.9449 (GT) |
$59.6072 |
$0.5879 |
|
Per Port |
Foreign Non-Passenger |
$0.1504 (GT) |
$0.0000 |
$0.0121 |
|
Per Port |
Foreign Passenger |
$0.1282 (GT) |
$2.5839 |
$0.0105 |
For 2022/23 to 2024/25
|
Paymentfrequency |
Vessel category |
Factor Rates |
||
|
GT or Length rate |
PAX Cap rate |
DWT rate |
||
|
Annual |
New Zealand non-SOLAS under 24 metres |
$15.1746 (Length) |
$17.5403 |
$0.00 |
|
New Zealand non-SOLAS 24 metres and over |
$8.2179 (GT) |
$17.5403 |
$0.00 |
|
|
New Zealand SOLAS |
$7.7931 (GT) |
$46.71 |
$0.4607 |
|
|
Per Port |
Foreign Non-Passenger |
$0.1178 (GT) |
$0.00 |
$0.0095 |
|
Foreign Passenger |
$0.1004 (GT) |
$2.0248 |
||