Niue - Restrictions
In April 2022, Niue designated all of its 317,000 square kilometre territorial waters as a maritime conservation area, leading most other nations in protecting the ocean environment. The Miue Nukutuluea Multiple-Use Marine Park sets aside 100% of Niue’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ and Territorial seas)
Only sustainable local fishing will be permitted within the island’s EEZ.
No spearfishing for any visitors, unless they are accompanied by a commercial operator. Certain shell species are protected and the taking of shells using scuba gear is prohibited. During the year certain areas are closed to spearfishing and swimming, to protect breeding or migratory fish. The tourist office will have up-to-date information.
No diving, boating, fishing or swimming off the back of boat on Sundays out of respect for the islands religious observance, the only exception is tender runs between the yachts and the wharf – but please, don’t use the engine close to the wharf.
Do not swim or bathe off the boat when Vaka (canoe) fisherman are fishing nearby out of respect, and do not sunbathe naked or topless.
Small goat fish, Kaloama, visit Niue annually at any time depending on sea conditions. Kaloama fishing is a tradition for locals. During this time some spots may be closed for swimming.
Please check with the Information Centre about the best places to swim.
Niue is a marine sanctuary for the protection of whales and there are strict regulations covering any interaction with them. Often they will be found in the mooring field. Under no circumstances approach them in your tenders. During the peak of the season when humpback whales are visiting (August/September) visitors are requested to observe a 30 metre exclusion zone around the whales with their tenders and yachts so that the humpbacks can rest, and feed their young undisturbed.
No anchoring of yacht tenders on the reef. Niue Dive is happy to provide free use of its dive moorings on the proviso that yachts consult with them first. They are available on VHF Ch 14 only when they are diving in the bay otherwise phone them from shore for dive mooring bookings.
Do not leave tenders tied alongside the wharf or steps (even in calm conditions). This can hamper local vessel operations. Also conditions can change in a short time. Always lift tenders out onto the wharf. Also do not leave tenders in the crane vicinity, or, adjacent on the seaward side of the crane.
Use a holding tank at all times, and leave the moorings to at least half a mile offshore before emptying tanks.
See the full list of “Do’s and Dont’s for Yachties” on the Niue Tourism website.
Last updated: February 2024
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FAD positions on approaching Niue
Alofi Nth.
Long. 169°55.229296 W
Lat. 19°02.326004 S
Alofi Sth.
Long 169°55.592968 W
Lat. 19°03.244836 S
Allow for a 500 metre swing radius
Keith
Niue Yacht Club
Niue Yacht Club
“The Biggest Little Yacht Club in the World”
An incredible group of volunteers – all non-sailors – have been helping out cruisers for over 40 years on the delightful, small Pacific atoll of Niue – lying on the direct route from French Polynesia to Vava’u in Tonga. The “Biggest Little Yacht Club in the World” (or Niue Yacht Club) has provided safe moorings, shoreside assistance, a club house and the warmest welcome anywhere to visiting yachts since 1975.
Just in time for the start of Cyclone season, Niue’s Maritime Borders have re-opened after three seasons with no entry to transiting yachts. While this is great news for cruisers planning a 2023 Pacific crossing, the length of border closure now means that the Niue Yacht Club is in trouble and may well be facing closure.
Fighting to find some solution to rising Government fees, lack of volunteers due to a very small adult population on Niue and no headquarters for the Club, long-time member Keith Vial has launched a search for a Commodore at Large for the 2023 cruising season.
For Niue to remain a destination for yachts crossing the Pacific, the legendary NYC must survive and get back on its feet, so now it’s the cruising communities’ turn to support the Club that has helped them so much over the years.
If you have been to Niue and enjoyed the NYCs hospitality, please e-mail [email protected] with your support and let’s try and keep this cruisers’ paradise on the Pacific crossing map.
Update from Keith Vial – Christmas 2022:
For a month or two earlier in the year, it looked as though the NYC might founder as we are down to only two of us left. Despite the statistics for the last 14 years that showed 6 600 crew had visited Niue, it seemed the government was oblivious of the economic impact cruisers had here. Initially, even the Tourism office was slow to respond.
However, since “Noonsite” published this article we have been overwhelmed by messages from cruisers. Many of the emails have been from crews who have visited here, appreciated the hospitality of the NYC and all offered assistance in some form.
The good news is help has come over the horizon in the form of NZ Aid to Tourism, with some good ideas and use of technology to expedite the whole arrival process. The NYC’s website is also going to be incorporated into aspects of Niue’s tourism website to make use of social media to ensure an up to date flow of information.
So from our darkest hour, a revamped and streamlined NYC should be ready with 20 safe moorings for the start of the 2023 cruising season. As a note of interest World ARC has tentatively scheduled two fleets of 56 yacht in total to visit, in early June and July 2023.
See the Alofi page for the latest moorings/yacht club info. https://www.noonsite.com/place/niue/alofi/
Update from Niue Yacht Club:
Our cyclone season was somewhat more damaging than previous years.
Cyclone Tino, in mid January, did significant damage to the wharf – so much so it has been out of action since then. Winch motor and cabling swept away, but derrick still standing and as far as I know will be back in action once cable to winch is installed. It is ironic that Cyclone Tino never came any closer than 450 nm and was only a Category 3, but the massive seas that this generated, did the damage.
We don’t know whether there has been any loss of concrete mooring blocks on the sea bed as we have been unable to get a dive boat launched for a survey.
Normally we would plan on starting to put moorings down by mid-April. This is likely to be delayed. Government restrictions means that it is unlikely that there will be any moorings allowed north of the wharf.
Request from the Niue Yacht Club to all yacht captains planning to include Niue on their cruising itineraries in May 2018.
Because of restrictions by the Niuean Port authorities and the loss of some mooring locations, the Niue Yacht Club has a reduced number of moorings available this season.
World Arc yachts are scheduled to visit Niue on their annual visit from 18th to 30th May and there will be no moorings available for other vessels during these 12 days.
We apologise for this restriction as it is the first time in 27 years of our operation that we ask for your help and co-operation during this short time.
Please pass this request on through any radio nets you use.
However we hope you will visit Niue from June on.
Fair winds
Keith
Commodore
Niue Yacht Club
Important Note: The end of May is a busy time here as World ARC stops over and normally moorings are restricted due to cyclone damage. Visiting here from June 1st is recommended in order to ensure mooring availability.