Napier City Council has seized a boat that was being used as a permanent home in the Inner Harbour, according to a report by RNZ on July 11, 2026. The boat, purchased for $500 about a year ago from a previous owner who may never have registered it, was moored at the pier and considered seaworthy by friends.
A fisherman and neighbor of the boat's occupant said the council's action has cost the man his 'sanctuary.' The man, who had been living on the vessel, is now without a home. The council has not commented on the specific reasons for the seizure, but local regulations typically require vessels to be registered and not used as permanent dwellings without proper permits.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Napier over housing affordability and the use of boats as alternative housing. The man's friends expressed concern for his welfare, noting he had invested time in making the boat habitable. The council's enforcement action appears to be part of broader efforts to manage the Inner Harbour's mooring spaces.
