New Zealand Tidal Stream Atlas NZ 206 – Tidal Current Charts

The New Zealand Tidal Stream Atlas NZ 206 is an essential nautical reference for sailors, powerboaters, commercial mariners and anyone planning passages where tidal currents can significantly affect a vessel's speed and course.

Published as an official New Zealand hydrographic publication, the atlas uses a series of charts to show the direction and approximate strength of tidal streams around New Zealand at hourly intervals.

The publication contains three sets of 13 tidal-stream charts, based on the times of high water at Auckland, Wellington and Bluff.

By comparing the appropriate chart with the time of high water, mariners can estimate the direction and strength of tidal flow around the New Zealand coast – particularly useful when planning passages through areas where strong tidal streams can significantly affect a vessel.

Key Features

• Official New Zealand tidal-stream reference

• Publication number NZ 206

• Covers tidal streams around New Zealand

• Shows tidal-current direction using arrows

• Indicates approximate tidal-stream strength

• Provides mean spring and neap rates

• Three sets of 13 tidal-stream charts

• Charts referenced to high water at Auckland, Wellington and Bluff

• Hour-by-hour tidal stream information

• Useful for passage and route planning

• Helps identify favourable and adverse tidal streams

• Valuable for yachts, launches and cruising boats

• Useful supplementary reference for coastal navigation

• Compact paperback format

• Approximately 40 pages

• Designed to be used alongside current tide information

Specifications

Title: New Zealand Tidal Stream Atlas
Publication Number: NZ 206
Author/Publisher: New Zealand Hydrographic publication / LINZ
Format: Paperback Atlas
Pages: Approximately 40
Size: Approximately 210 x 295mm
Coverage: New Zealand waters
Charts: Three sets of 13 tidal-stream charts
Reference Locations: Auckland, Wellington and Bluff
Information Shown: Tidal-stream direction and approximate strength
Primary Use: Coastal navigation and passage planning

What Is the New Zealand Tidal Stream Atlas?

The New Zealand Tidal Stream Atlas is a specialist navigation publication showing how tidal currents change around the New Zealand coast during different stages of the tide.

Rather than simply telling you the height of the tide, the atlas helps answer two important navigation questions:

Which direction is the tidal stream flowing?

and

Approximately how strong is the tidal stream?

This can be particularly valuable when planning passages where the tidal stream may either assist the vessel or significantly reduce progress.

Three Sets of 13 Tidal Stream Charts

The atlas contains three sets of 13 charts showing tidal streams at hourly intervals.

The chart sets are based on the time of high water at:

• Auckland

• Wellington

• Bluff

This provides reference points for interpreting tidal streams around different parts of New Zealand.

To use the atlas effectively, obtain the relevant high-water time from current tidal information such as the New Zealand Nautical Almanac NZ 204, then select the appropriate tidal-stream chart for the required time relative to high water.

Shows Tidal Stream Direction

The charts use arrows to show the direction in which the tidal stream is flowing.

This provides a quick visual indication of how tidal movement may influence a boat travelling through a particular area.

Understanding the direction of the stream can help a skipper decide:

• When to depart

• Which route to take

• Whether the tide will assist the passage

• Whether the vessel will be travelling against the stream

• How the current may affect the vessel's course over the ground

For slower displacement boats and sailing yachts, even a relatively modest tidal stream can make a substantial difference to passage time.