Standard port tidal levels

Find the standard tidal levels for ports around New Zealand.

The following table shows the standard tidal levels for ports around New Zealand. For help understanding column headings used in this table see the Definitions of tidal terms.

Standard  portMHWSMHWNMLWNMLWSSpring rangeNeap rangeMSLHATLAT
Auckland3.342.791.060.512.831.731.923.720.08
Bluff2.82.391.110.632.171.281.763.10.32
Dunedin2.181.760.470.092.091.291.122.44-0.13
Gisborne2.11.710.80.431.670.911.262.220.29
Lyttelton2.582.090.780.362.221.311.442.750.14
Marsden Point2.722.280.960.52.221.321.613.020.15
Napier1.881.480.470.121.761.010.992.01-0.01
Nelson4.323.271.620.663.661.652.444.760.17
Onehunga4.173.321.460.573.61.862.434.540.12
Picton1.591.050.590.121.470.460.841.720
Port Chalmers2.151.730.550.191.961.181.142.4-0.05
Port Taranaki3.542.71.20.383.161.51.973.91-0.03
Tauranga1.921.640.550.211.741.091.112.17-0.05
Timaru2.462.060.870.541.921.191.492.720.28
Wellington1.791.480.80.531.260.681.141.90.43
Westport3.472.761.280.562.911.482.033.860.12

Notes

  1. The levels, in metres, are referred to chart datum, which is the same as the zero of the tidal predictions in all cases.
  2. The values for the MHWS, MHWN, MLWN and MLWS tidal levels are the averages of the levels of all spring and neap tides predicted for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. These predictions used the harmonic constituents derived from the analysis of the observations made at that port during the period given on the 'Standard port periods of observation' page. The average annual value of tidal levels vary from year to year in a cycle of approximately 19 years. This variation is in the order of up to 0.15 metres.
  3. The values for the spring and neap ranges have been deduced from the spring and neap tidal level values. There is annual variation of the tidal levels, so the variation in the ranges of the spring and neap tides over the 19-year cycle is twice that of the levels.
  4. The value of MSL has been derived from the analysis of tidal observations made at the port during the period given in the table on the 'Standard port periods of observation' page.
  5. The values for HAT and LAT are the highest and lowest tidal levels predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions during the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018. These predictions used the harmonic constituents derived from the analysis of the observations made at that port during the period given in the table on the 'Standard port periods of observation' page.
  6. This table is not intended to be used for the determination of cadastral or administrative boundaries. A table of standard port values for cadastral purposes is available on this website - see 'Related content' below.
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