$28.6M Boost to Maritime Navigation to Support Safer, Greener Shipping

The New Zealand Government is charting a bold new course for the country’s maritime sector with a $28.6 million investment into modern navigation services — the first significant upgrade in more than 30 years. Announced as part of Budget 2025, the funding aims to improve safety, boost economic growth, and position New Zealand as a regional leader in digital maritime innovation.

Land Information Minister Chris Penk said the investment is a strategic move to futureproof the maritime economy and enhance trade efficiency.

"This is a major commitment to modernising our maritime infrastructure," Penk stated. "It enables safer and faster access to New Zealand's ports, ensures our trade flows smoothly and reliably, and gives international shipping lines confidence in our capabilities. More than 99 percent of our imports and exports move by sea — this investment secures their future."

Modernising Navigation: The S-100 Standard

The project will see Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and Maritime New Zealand collaborate to develop cutting-edge digital navigation tools based on the international S-100 standard — a framework for next-generation maritime data products endorsed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

These tools will enhance maritime navigation by integrating:

• Electronic nautical charts

• Real-time ocean surface currents and water levels

• Navigation warnings and environmental alerts

• Digital overlays for improved route planning

By making maritime data more precise, accessible, and actionable, the system will enable ships to navigate more safely, use fuel more efficiently, and reduce operating costs — delivering environmental and economic benefits simultaneously.

A Boon for Shipping, Tourism, and the Wider Pacific

Associate Transport Minister James Meager said the initiative is not only about economic growth, but also about ensuring maritime safety and sustainability.

“This investment will enable freight-efficient, environmentally responsible shipping routes that boost trade and investment across the Pacific,” Meager said. “It also ensures our ports and tourism sector are equipped to meet the demands of a modern, digital-first maritime economy.”

Crucially, the initiative has an international dimension. The upgraded navigation services will benefit New Zealand’s extended maritime region, including Antarctica and South-West Pacific nations such as:

• Cook Islands

• Samoa

• Tonga

• Niue

• Tokelau

“Improved digital navigation will support safer voyages, better environmental monitoring, and more responsive emergency operations across these waters,” Meager added.

Innovation Rooted in Heritage: Navigating Toward the Future

Announced during Matariki, New Zealand’s Māori New Year, the initiative also carries deep symbolic resonance. As Meager noted, “As we reflect on New Zealand’s rich cultural history of navigating by the stars, now is the perfect time to look ahead and invest in a resilient maritime economy for future generations.”

Matariki, which celebrates renewal, navigation, and environmental guardianship, provides a fitting context for the Government’s pledge to combine ancestral wisdom with cutting-edge technology.

Looking Ahead: Digital Transformation for a Resilient Economy

By embracing digital maritime infrastructure, New Zealand joins a global shift toward more connected, automated, and environmentally conscious maritime systems. The investment marks a significant milestone in the Government’s commitment to sustainable economic development, innovation, and regional cooperation.

Over the coming months, LINZ and Maritime New Zealand will engage with industry stakeholders, regional partners, and international shipping operators to roll out this transformation — ensuring the benefits reach all corners of the sector and beyond.

“This initiative is a powerful example of how infrastructure investment can deliver for the economy, the environment, and future generations,” said Penk.