Mast Academy NZ, the training centre for trades in the marine, composites and textiles industries, has released its first VR showcase for the marine industry. To be used in schools, conferences and on career days, it has been carefully designed to offer a broad overview of the marine and composite sectors in a way that is engaging, realistic and authentic. “The aim of MAST’s VR showcase is to connect with young people in a fun, entertaining and informative way,” says Chris van der Hor, Chief Executive Officer of the Marine and Specialised Technologies Academy of New Zealand. “It allows us… Read More

  Senator Boats Wins Export Award For Immediate Release 7 September 2023 Napier’s Senator Boats has been named the Best Emerging Exporter at the recent Hawke’s Bay Export Awards. Senator claimed the award given their recent growth in the Australian market which identified by the judges was the result of strong partnerships and brand recognition.   With 12 dealers in New Zealand, Senator has established a growing network of three dealers in Australia (W.A, S.A, VIC) with a fourth shortly to be appointed in NSW. Add to that there is also a dealer in New Caledonia. 35 boats, mostly larger… Read More

Latest statistics released at the 2023 NZ Marine Industry Association conference in Tauranga The marine industry is now worth $3 billion annually to the New Zealand economy, achieving around $2.2 billion in local sales, and $800 million in exports. This was among new statistics that showed the size and growth of the industry released at the recent NZ Marine industry conference by Executive Director Peter Busfield. Other new statistics showed the number of apprentices in boatbuilding and related trades has reached 650, and more than 5500 boats are expected to be built this year — the vast majority trailer boats… Read More

The Shape of Boating in the 2030s? The NZ Marine Industry Association is holding its 2023 Conference at the stunning Trinity Wharf Hotel in Tauranga, from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th August and has a great line-up of speakers to inform and inspire delegates. The NZ Marine Industry Association is holding its 2023 Conference at the stunning Trinity Wharf Hotel in Tauranga, from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th August. The conference is one of the best executive-level up-skilling events for marine company CEOs, owners and senior managers to: Gain a competitive edge. Learn new skills and ideas from a line-up… Read More

The South Pacific’s superyacht regatta will move from the Bay of Islands to Auckland next year, running from 23-26 February.The New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta, known for promoting superyacht cruising in the region, will move to Auckland next year, it has been announced. “As our sister regatta the Superyacht Cup Palma gets underway this week, we’re very pleased to share the New Zealand Millennium Cup will add its name to the superyacht regattas raced in the heart of port cities,” says organiser Stacey Cook.“When the New Zealand Millennium Cup is raced from 23rd – 26th February 2024, it will be… Read More

The 2023 Pacific Rally is the biggest in the event’s 40-year history . Rally director and Island Cruising New Zealand owner Viki Moore said this year’s fleet is made up of 72 boats, with 35 of those on board being children. “It is our biggest ever fleet,” she said. “Most departed New Zealand early in May with some heading for Tonga as their first stop while others sailed directly for Fiji. They’ll explore the islands with some also heading to Vanuatu and New Caledonia before sailing home to New Zealand at the end of October. We also collect up international… Read More

H New Zealand-based HamiltonJet, the recognised global leader in waterjet technology, unveils a new range of high efficiency waterjets, starting with the LTX36 model. Optimised for medium and low speed operation, they’ve produced the first waterjet to rival the energy efficiency and bollard pull of the best propeller-based systems between zero and 30 knots.  Waterjets have always been the most efficient choice for going fast. The absence of hull-appendages and their highly optimised pump geometry have allowed HamiltonJet customers to save fuel for over a generation, but as HamiltonJet CEO Ben Reed explains not everyone wants to go fast. “Our… Read More

Coppercoat Pacific is now HullWell. Led by Richard Cleave and utilising technical expertise from offshore and New Zealand, HullWell has perfected a unique and simplified three-product coating system. The removal of old antifoul paint with DeFOUL, with 10+ years of hull substrate protection and biofouling prevention with CK 426 and Coppercoat. The HullWell system is engineered to excel on all hull and substrate types, from leisure and racing, sailing and power, superyachts, commercial and military applications, foiling vessels and ocean infrastructure. Toxic components in ablative (eroding) antifouling paints have been progressively prohibited from use internationally and in New Zealand due… Read More

At a prizegiving held on Saturday 20 May, winners of the show’s best stands and the best boats in numerous categories were announced.  Huge congratulations to all award winners, particularly to Neil Surtees for being inducted to the NZ Boat Show Hall of Fame and to Offshore Boats for winning Altus Industrial Aluminium Boat of the Show: Supreme Winner: Offshore 850HT, as well as other category wins. Neil Surtees is founder of Surtees Boats and remains one of three shareholders in the company that now turns out between 300 and 400 boats a year and employs over 60 people, including… Read More

Raymarine’s stunning new Axiom 2 XL is the premium range of chartplotters for owners and skippers who demand only the very best. Thanks to Raymarine’s exclusive, nano-coating technology, Axiom 2 XL models not only do everything faster, they also do everything better and in all weather conditions. Their ruggedly beautiful screens are as at home in an exposed cockpit as they are in an enclosed glass bridge station. Effortlessly able to repel water, they enable their skippers to confidently use their touchscreen controls in even the most adverse of weather. Axiom 2 XL’s new super-bright, wide-angle displays also ensure all… Read More