Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio
The top of the South Island has some of the most beautiful, but also some of the most dangerous waters in the country, particularly French Pass, Tory Channel, and Cook Strait.
In the early 1950s, the Picton Small Marine Craft Radio Association was formed to help both recreational and commercial boaties navigate sea area Cook and the inner Queen Charlotte Sound more safely and has since merged with other marine radio services across the top off the south to become the Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio Association (MNMR). Their repeaters cover most sea areas of central New Zealand – bounded by Kahurangi Point, Cape Farewell, Cape Egmont, Cape Palliser to Cape Campbell and down the coast to Clarence.
As it was in the early days, Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio is still run by a dedicated committee and the channels monitored by radio operators, all of which are volunteers. A daily listening watch is maintained by operators on channels 01, 04, 05, 60, 63 and 65 & 66 during the hours of 0700 and 2200. Their purpose is to provide safety through communication and assistance to the boating community on their privately owned and maintained VHF channels.
Marlborough Sounds Marinas recognise the service they provide as an essential safety tool for boaties and therefore we support them by providing the association with administration premises at Waikawa Marina to operate from, although the volunteer radio operators carry out their shift from the comfort of their own home.
On average MNMR will handle around 16,000 VHF calls. These calls might include over 1,200 requests to pass on messages, over 1,100 weather reports, 1,400 navigation warnings and 1,050 radio checks for members. Their operators might also log over 3,200 formal trip reports and then monitor these vessels until their trip has been safely concluded. The Operators will also respond on average to around 140 specific calls for physical assistance, 2 May-Day calls, over 20 calls to Police and follow up on over 120 overdue vessels.
As a MNMR member you can:
- receive and request up to date weather reports broadcast daily at 0835, 1135, 1335 and 1735.
- receive navigational warnings
- log position and trip reports
- communicate with other boaties and emergency services if something goes wrong
So, whether you just want a weather update or you have an unexpected need for assistance, it is good to know that the Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio Operators are on call for members every day of the year….a great service for an annual recreational membership of only $96.00! (Multiple vessel and commercial memberships are also available).
To join Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio and gain the use of the privately owned channels complete an online application or contact their office by email marineradio@xtra.co.nz or by phoning (03) 573 8851.
