From tiny model boats, perfect in every detail through to a steam tug that helped build the Auckland Harbour Bridge, to our most famous race yachts: more than 160 boats will on display at the Jellicoe Harbour in Auckland’s Viaduct from 1-3 March for the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival.“We put out a call for owners of wooden boats to let us know if they were keen to be involved and the response was overwhelming,” says Tony Stevenson, co-director of the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival.The list includes an electrified classic launch, a full line up of A-Class gaffs, Ranger, Innismarra, Tawera,… Read More

Christchurch, 5th October 2023 – At the 2023 Nimbus Boats annual dealer conference held in Croatia, Sports Marine was honoured to receive the “Global Dealer of the Year” award, surpassing 153 other dealers across 40 countries to claim the top prize. This award recognised Sports Marine’s exceptional dedication, commitment, and success in promoting and selling Nimbus Boats, a brand renowned for its high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design in the boating world. “Sports Marine stands out as one of our premier dealers, consistently achieving top marks in every aspect of our partnership. Their commitment to customer satisfaction, robust sales performance, well-defined business… Read More

Latest statistics released at the 2023 NZ Marine Industry Association conference in TaurangaThe 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 between 3.5… Read More

A superyacht welcome function, held last month marking the start of the cruising season in New Zealand, showed the strength of the return of superyachts to the southern hemisphere cruising grounds.  Superyachts are back, and the New Zealand industry has welcomed them with open arms. At the country’s annual Superyacht Welcome Function, which marks the start of the superyacht season in New Zealand, crew from more than 30 superyachts gathered to celebrate the return to New Zealand’s iconic cruising grounds. Hundreds of crew, both newly arrived in New Zealand and from yachts that had undergone refit in the country through… Read More

Coordinated superyacht chartering procedures in the main South Pacific countries, eased border restrictions, safe cruising, diversity of sights, and new marina and refit facilities, have created irresistible cruising in the world’s most undiscovered destination; the South Pacific. Earth’s playground is open for business. New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and Australia have coordinated superyacht procedures for ease of cruising across this ultimate destination. Each country boasts widely-differing and interesting cultures, sights and cruising grounds, but with the added bonus of closely aligned charter and entry rules. This allows yachts to enjoy multiple seasons across the vast blue of the South Pacific, including… Read More

Press release Kiwi boaties and fishers from all around the country appear keener than ever as the 2022 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show approaches. Sales of online tickets, which double visitors’ chances of winning the stunning $280,000 Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize, are at record levels. With stand-space sales also well above expectations the 2022 show, at the Auckland Showgrounds on May 12-15, is looking to be one of the very best. In addition to the chance to see all the latest boats, engines, electronics, accessories, and fishing and diving gear, all visitors to this year’s show will be able to enter… Read More

After considerable hard work and dedication to create a circular story for Doyle Sails, we’re proud to introduce the limited-edition DOYLE SAILS x LIVE OCEAN | A Circular Story luggage range. The range has been designed in collaboration with the high-profile ocean conservation charity founded by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke and made from repurposed high-performance Doyle sails and other recycled sailmaking materials. Photo: Suellen Hurling – Live Sail Die As global leaders with the ocean as our playground, DOYLE SAILS and LIVE OCEAN share a passion for sustainability, striving to make the best environmental, social, and economic decisions throughout… Read More

On 30 September 2021, Ross Pratt & Oriens Capital Fund 2 LP completed the acquisition of Nautical Group Holdings Limited (NGH), a New Zealand entity that has acquired 100% of the shares of Railblaza Limited and NTD Plastics Limited.  The directors of the board of NGH are Ross Pratt, Railblaza founder and continuing shareholder of NGH, Peter Tinholt of Oriens Capital and Nigel Jeffries as co-investor with Oriens Capital and chairman. Marc Michel, a highly experienced senior executive, has been appointed as the new CEO of NGH which will see Ross Pratt transition out of his operational role over the… Read More

The latest upgrade to Raymarine’s popular LightHouse operating system provides complete access to the setup, calibration and operational features of Raymarine’s exciting new Cyclone radar range. Named Hvar, after the picturesque Croatian resort island in the Adriatic Sea, the new 3.16 upgrade is now available to owners of all Axiom, Axiom+, Axiom Pro, Axiom XL multifunction displays, as well as the RVX1000 3D Sonar Module. Hvar also introduces support for Cyclops Marine’s wide range of marine-specific load cell sensors. These are popular on numerous types of sailing vessels and, using Havr, owners will now be able to display their rig… Read More

Lusty & Blundell Ltd, New Zealand’s leading distributor of high-quality marine products and services, has become the New Zealand agent for the popular range of Zodiac Cadet inflatables. L&B will initially be offering four Zodiac Cadet models: Roll Ups, Aero Inflatable Floor, Aluminium Floor and Aluminium RIB Light. All will be available in a range of sizes. Zodiac Cadet “Zodiacs are widely considered the gold standard for inflatables,” says L&B managing director Mark Milburn. “With their 120 years of history, prestige and heritage, Zodiac inflatables are famous for their exceptional loading capacity, reassuring stability, space-saving portability and incomparable quality finishes. “Zodiac… Read More