The Kaiapoi Marine Precinct is a vibrant, boutique marina situated in the heart of the Kaiapoi township.
This boutique marina incorporates a 112m floating river pontoon and a new wharf area that supports a range of casual through to longer-term publicly available lease berths.
Additional facilities include a fishing platform, the Coastguard’s boat ramp (available for public use), caravan and boat wastewater pump in/out facilities, power services and fresh water taps.
The Kaiapoi Marine Precinct is located within the town centre of Kaiapoi and sits in the section of the Kaiapoi River between the Williams Street Bridge and the Coastguard boat ramp (adjacent to the Coastguard headquarters). The precinct is bordered at the north end by the Port & Eagle Brewpub, where riverside terrace bleachers and a timber boardwalk connect to the river’s edge, and at the south end, by the Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre and Library.
You can view a map of the Kaiapoi Marine Precinct and its facilities.
A range of casual through to longer-term berths are available for lease from the Council within the Kaiapoi Marine Precinct area.
- Casual Berths (less than a day) are not subject to advance bookings, and can be accessed at will, when available.
- Short-term or Flexible Berth bookings in excess of a day must be booked through the Waimakariri District Council in advance of the berthing period.
To enquire about a berth, please contact us, or to book a short/longer term berth please complete the Berth Licence and Live-Aboard Application form pdf, 687.1 KB.
View the full list of berth rental fees and charges.
A variety of vessel sizes can fit within the overall designated total use ranges. You can view the layout of the berth ranges on the Marine Precinct Map (pdf, 18.8 MB).
| Location | Use | Total Berth Range |
| Wharf | Casual / Short-term | 28 total metres (or more) |
| Riverview Pontoon | Flexible (Longer-term) | 60 metres |
| Riverview Pontoon | Casual / Short-term | 27 metres |
| Pile Moorings (vessel size) | Pile Berth #1 | 14 metres LOA |
| Pile Moorings (vessel size) | Pile Berth #2 | 14 metres LOA |
| Pile Moorings (vessel size) | Pile Berth #3 | 10 metres LOA |
| Location | Depth (Varies) |
| Boat Ramp Pontoon | 1.3 metres |
| Wharf | 1.2 metres |
| Riverview Pontoon – Casual to Short-term Range | 0.5 metres to 1.9 metres |
| Riverview Pontoon – Flexible Lease Range | 1.9 metres |
| Pile Berths | 1.25 metres |
River depth relative to chart datum and subject to sediment build up over time.
Living Aboard
Live-aboard activity is permitted at some berths within the Kaiapoi Marine Precinct. However, it’s subject to a range of conditions and approvals:
- Live-aboard activity at short-term berths is automatically permitted up to a maximum of 14 concurrent days/nights. There is no need to apply for permission if your live-aboard activity meets these temporary time-frames and your vessel can accommodate the live-aboard standards listed within the Terms and Conditions.
- Live-aboard activity in excess of 14 concurrent days is subject to approval by the Waimakariri District Council and conditional upon the applicant securing a flexible rental berth. View the live-aboard application.
- A maximum of two people may live-aboard a vessel at any one time. The Council may consider more applicants per vessel on application.
- Live-aboard activity is subject to berth rental fees in addition to a live-aboard levy of $150 per person per month.
- Any charging by the vessel owner (or Licensee) of any person for living aboard is prohibited, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Waimakariri District Council.
See the Marine Berth Licence Terms & Conditions (pdf, 634.3 KB) for the full range of live-aboard conditions under clauses 9 - 9.10.
Riverview Pontoon
A floating pontoon of approximately 112 metres in length (2.4 metres wide) on the north side of the Kaiapoi River accommodating a range of casual through to longer-term berthing opportunities.
Wharf
A timber wharf including a new paved area, rock embankment and grassed seating and leisure areas. The timber wharf is approximately 28 metres in length and accommodates a range of casual through to short-term berthing opportunities. It’s also the approved location for all permitted vessel maintenance activities.
Coastguard Boat Ramp
A publicly accessible boat ramp and slipway owned and managed by the Coastguard. Donations for the use of the slipway are accepted in the onsite donation box.
Parking
Four time restricted parks (P120) are located adjacent to the wharf in the public carpark area and vehicle access way. Unrestricted parking is available on Charles Street, Jones Street and Sewell Streets, in close proximity to the marine precinct area.
Fresh Water Taps
12 fresh water taps are located on the amenity pedestals along the Riverview pontoon and 4 taps are located at the wharf.
Power Outlets
12 power outlets are located on the amenity pedestals along the Riverview pontoon and 4 outlets are located at the wharf.
Pump/Dump-Out Stations
Vessel Pump Out Station: A passive (non-vacuum) waste-water receptacle station and hose are available at the wharf.
Caravan Dump Out Station: A caravan dump-out station for black and grey water is located in the reserves land behind the Coastguard boat ramp/slip way.
Fishing Platform
A fishing platform is provided on the southern side of the Kaiapoi River for the cleaning, gutting and filleting of fish. It must be kept free of any organic and/or other material when not in use.
Public Toilets
Public bathrooms are located at 1 Tom Ayers Drive in the Tom Ayers Reserve. Additional public toilets are available (during opening hours) in the Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre located at 176 Williams Street, Kaiapoi.
The Waimakariri District Council owns and manages the berths currently available at the wharf and riverview pontoon in addition to a range of facilities within the marine precinct area.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or feedback about the marine precinct.
Safety & Security
We operate and monitor surveillance cameras within the marine precinct area, in addition to completing regular staff inspections of the site.
While we aim to provide a measure of security, vessel owners are responsible for the security of their own vessels and any valuables that may be contained within them. Please keep your personal items locked away and your vessel secure at all times.
Emergencies & Spills
For all emergencies within the marine precinct area, in the first instance please call 111 to access the applicable emergency services.
Then contact the Waimakariri District Council on 0800 965 468 for urgent calls outside of or during office hours.
If any spills occur on land or in the river, contact Environment Canterbury immediately on 0800 765 588 (24/7).
Maintenance
Some vessel maintenance activity is permitted with the Kaiapoi Marine Precinct area at the wharf only.
Download a copy of our Vessel Owner Maintenance Guidelines (pdf, 1.7 MB).
For maintenance activity that requires our permission or to book/register your maintenance activity at the wharf, please contact us.
Environment
The Kaiapoi River traverses across the township of Kaiapoi and drains to the Waimakariri River. The River is subject to tidal flows/currents, the occasional flood and increasing river salinity.
Check out the latest tide forecast for the Kaiapoi River.
Environment Canterbury regulates water quality within the River, more information about water and discharge standards can be found on the ECan website.
Development Opportunities
Commercial development opportunities are currently available on regeneration land adjacent to the Kaiapoi River and in immediate proximity to the marine precinct.
To enquire about development opportunities, please contact:
Business and Centres Unit
Waimakariri District Council
0800 965 468 (0800 WMK GOV)
office@wmk.govt.nz