Maritime NZ
Maritime NZ is New Zealand's maritime safety regulator, administering maritime and marine protection rules, seafarer certification, ship registration, port state control, and search and rescue coordination through the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ for commercial operators, seafarers, recreational boaters, and port operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Maritime NZ does
Maritime NZ is the New Zealand Crown entity charged with ensuring the country's oceans and waterways are safe, secure, and clean. It administers maritime and marine protection rules under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 and gives effect to international conventions including SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the ISPS Code. From July 2024 it also became the principal health and safety regulator for all 13 major ports under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Its core service portfolio includes the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) and its variants (Safe Operational Plans, Safety Cases, Specified Limits Permits) for commercial vessels under 500GT; seafarer certification and licensing under SeaCert; ship registration for the NZ Register; Port State Control inspections as a Tokyo MOU member; the Maritime Incident Readiness and Response (MIRR) framework including the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ); and Tier 3 oil pollution response. The agency also launched a Device Location Information (DLI) service in August 2025 and is rolling out an NZD $28.6 million S-100 digital navigation upgrade.
Maritime NZ operates 330 staff distributed across New Zealand from its Wellington headquarters (Level 11, 1 Grey Street) and regional offices, serving commercial operators, seafarers, recreational boaters, recognised surveyors, port operators, and foreign-flagged vessels calling at NZ waters. Its technology stack is built around digital licensing platforms (digital seafarer licensing form launched April-May 2026), the S-100 standard navigation infrastructure upgrade, navigational aids and beacons, and the DLI emergency location service.
Revenue comes primarily from the legislated Maritime Levy and Oil Pollution Levy (reviewed every three years by Cabinet), supplemented by transactional fees for seafarer certification, ship registration, and exemptions. Following Cabinet's decision to increase the Maritime Levy only at the rate of inflation in the most recent review, Maritime NZ has proposed disestablishing 34 roles across harm prevention, investigations, legal, policy, finance and administration to address the resulting funding shortfall, while continuing to invest in digital transformation and expanded regulatory scope.
Maritime NZ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maritime NZ
- Legal name
- Maritime NZ
- Website
- https://maritimenz.govt.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Maritime NZ is New Zealand's maritime safety regulator, administering maritime and marine protection rules, seafarer certification, ship registration, port state control, and search and rescue coordination through the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ for commercial operators, seafarers, recreational boaters, and port operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maritime NZ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Safety Regulation
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transportation Regulators (Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Road) (BPAIAOAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD), Environmental Compliance & Pollution Response Coordination (TLAHAFAG), Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)
Keywords
Where Maritime NZ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Maritime NZ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Maritime Levy: Maritime NZ is primarily funded through the Maritime Levy, which is reviewed every three years. Cabinet decisions on levy increases affect the organization's ability to fund operations.
- Oil Pollution Levy: Combined with Maritime Levy in three-year reviews to fund regulatory operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Seafarer certification fees and charges |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Maritime NZ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maritime NZ administers maritime safety, security and environmental protection regulations across New Zealand waters. It issues seafarer certificates of competency, registers ships on the New Zealand Register, conducts Port State Control inspections on foreign-flagged vessels, operates the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) for commercial vessel safety management, and runs the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) for search and rescue and oil pollution response.
Product overview
Maritime NZ is New Zealand's water safety regulator operating as a government agency, not a commercial product company. The organization provides a portfolio of regulatory services and safety management systems rather than a unified commercial product. The core offerings include the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) and its variants (Safe Operational Plans, Safety Cases, Specified Limits Permits) for commercial vessel safety compliance; Seafarer Certification and Licensing services (now digitized as of April 2026); Ship Registration for the New Zealand Register; Port State Control inspections for foreign vessels; and Maritime Incident Readiness and Response (MIRR) including the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ. The organization also provides sector-specific services for commercial fishing, passenger vessels, aquaculture, offshore oil and gas, port operations, SOLAS ships, and foreign-flagged vessels. Recently launched digital services include a NZD $28.6 million S-100 digital navigation upgrade and Device Location Information (DLI) emergency response service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) New Zealand's regulatory safety management system for commercial maritime operations under 500GT, covering most NZ-owned and operated domestic vessels. Operators must develop and maintain approved safety plans through MOSS or one of its alternative documentation pathways (Safe Operational Plans, Safety Cases, Specified Limits Permits).
- Seafarer Certification and Licensing Certification services for seafarers including certificates of competency, STCW and STCW-F standards, renewals, replacement certificates, and recognition of foreign certificates. Includes ancillary certificates of proficiency, evidence of sea service, and pilot licensing/qualifications.
- Ship Registration Registration services for the New Zealand Register of Ships, including Part A (domestic) and Part B (international voyages) registration, covering commercial and recreational vessels.
- Port State Control (PSC) Inspection system for foreign-flagged vessels arriving in New Zealand, verifying compliance with international conventions regarding crew welfare, environmental protection, safety, and security. New Zealand is a Tokyo MOU member.
- Maritime Incident Readiness and Response (MIRR) National-level incident response framework including the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ), maritime incident response, and Tier 3 oil pollution response. Maritime NZ is the lead agency for major search and rescue incidents in NZ waters.
- Recognised Surveyor Framework Recognition and oversight of surveyors, design approvers, radio inspectors, compass adjustors, approved inspection agencies, and medical practitioners authorised to conduct vessel surveys, design approvals, radio inspections, and compass adjustments on Maritime NZ's behalf.
- Navigational Safety Services Aids to navigation, hazards to navigation, maritime radio services, beacon registration, and management of safety zones and precautionary areas including Three Kings Islands, Poor Knights Islands, and Taranaki offshore areas.
- Device Location Information (DLI) Service Mobile phone location information service provided to New Zealand emergency services to enable rapid location tracking of devices during emergencies, supporting faster and more efficient emergency response.
Quantifiable outcome
- 19 fatal recreational boating accidents recorded in 2024-2025 financial year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Maritime NZ
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Maritime NZ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Maritime NZ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Fishers Health and Safety Leadership GroupcoreQuarterly meetings chaired by Maritime NZ CEO with senior leaders from deep-water operators, inshore sector, Seafood New Zealand, FishFed, and the New Zealand Fishing Health and Safety Forum. Focus areas include enabling better engagement, supporting health and safety outcomes, and aligning critical risks for the sector.
- New Zealand Fishing Health and Safety ForumcoreQuarterly meetings with health and safety managers and fleet managers from across the fishing sector. Focus on improving health and safety, sharing information, and supporting collaboration.
- FishFed (New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen)coreRegular engagement with national organisation representing independent owner-operator fishers and their crew. President is member of Fishers Health and Safety Leadership Group.
- Seafood New ZealandcoreMember of Fishers Health and Safety Leadership Group contributing to commercial fishing sector health and safety initiatives.
- Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) - Fisheries New ZealandcoreFisheries New Zealand manages sustainable use of fisheries. Maritime NZ works alongside MPI where safety and sustainability intersect in commercial fishing operations.
- New Zealand's 13 Major PortscorePort Health and Safety Leadership Group, Port Sector Insights Picture and Action Plan collaboration with major ports including Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton, and others for health and safety improvement initiatives.
- WorkSafe New ZealandcoreJoint health and safety regulatory initiatives. Maritime NZ became main health and safety regulator for NZ's 13 major ports from July 2024, with WorkSafe on extended designation.
- Te Ohu KaimoanaminorMāori aquaculture interests representation in regulatory framework for aquaculture sector.
- WorkSafeminorHealth and safety regulation for workers where not related to vessels or vessels as a workplace.
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreNew Zealand as signatory to IMO conventions. Maritime NZ gives effect to international maritime conventions including SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and ISPS Code through national regulations.
- Tokyo MOUcoreAsia Pacific Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. New Zealand undertakes PSC inspections as a member, verifying foreign ships meet international standards.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Maritime NZ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maritime NZ social profiles
Digital presenceMaritime NZ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maritime NZ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Maritime NZ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maritime NZ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maritime NZ
What does Maritime NZ do?
Maritime NZ administers maritime safety, security and environmental protection regulations across New Zealand waters. It issues seafarer certificates of competency, registers ships on the New Zealand Register, conducts Port State Control inspections on foreign-flagged vessels, operates the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) for commercial vessel safety management, and runs the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) for search and rescue and oil pollution response.
Is Maritime NZ a public or private company?
Maritime NZ is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Maritime NZ founded?
Maritime NZ was founded in 1993. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Maritime NZ based?
Maritime NZ is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Maritime NZ make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Maritime Levy is the primary driver. The others are oil Pollution Levy.
Does Maritime NZ have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maritime NZ.
What industry is Maritime NZ in?
Maritime NZ's product category is Maritime Safety Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAOAL, Transportation Regulators (Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Road), with a secondary code of TLAHANAD, Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 4400.