When a beacon is triggered, emergency services are alerted.
"To avoid triggering a full scale emergency call, that could result in costly fines, people need to make sure all the appropriate agencies are advised quickly."
Only two weeks ago, a Nelson man activated his emergency beacon because he was running late.
The experienced mountaineer was tramping in the backcountry of Paringa, in South Westland, when he decided to catch a ride with the Solid Energy Rescue helicopter after underestimating the time it was going to take to get back to his car.
Maritime New Zealand was angered by his antics, saying he had wasted about $10,000 of taxpayers' money.
The penalties for misuse of beacons vary from a formal warning, to an infringement notice penalty of $250. In extreme case people could face prosecution and be fined a maximum of $30,000.
Maritime New Zealand is expected to make a decision later this week on whether to prosecute the Nelson man.