Boating NZ

Boating NZ inspires boating enthusiasts with reviews of new boats, coverage of technical innovations, maintenance advice, columns and cruising stories.

Fishing, fast boats, and factories

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BOAT WORLD

FRESH ENERGY FOR THE OLDEST REGATTAN

MOANA AUCKLAND RETURNS IN 2026

CENTURY BATTERIES BACKS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

FISHING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

THE AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL RETURNS

ARTEMIS RACING JOINS SAILGP

KIWI WINDFOILERS CLAIM ONE-TWO

KIWI GIRL WORLD CHAMPION WATER SKI RACER

LOW LEVELS OF RUBBISH ON WEST COAST BEACHES

YOUNG SAILORS TAME HEAVY WEATHER IN CHAMPS

VOLVO DEALERS CELEBRATED

AT LEAST 12 ENTRIES FOR SOLO TRANS-TASMAN CHALLENGE 2026

FEISTY WESTLAND PETREL DEFIES THE ODDS

WHAT’S HOT ON BOATING NZ’S WEBSITE

Freedom found • Building large, multimillion-dollar bluewater motoryachts for a global market is a serious business, not to be taken lightly. But with the new 4300 Sports Express, it feels like Riviera Australia has momentarily let its hair down to play in the sandpit.

REINSTATING THE RIVALRY • The Paper Tiger catamaran class held its first international regatta at Torbay, Auckland, 50 years ago. Recently, after a covid-initiated hiatus, a team from New Zealand crossed the ditch to mount the 34th such challenge – proving that this iconic little piece of Kiwiana is still alive and kicking.

FAMILY FAVOURITE • Now headed to our shores, is this clever new family cruiser the ultimate all-rounder?

ON TRACK • In early December, local and overseas jet sprint boats will converge on the Wairarapa’s Kiwispan Jet Sprint Track for round one of the six-round New Zealand Jet Sprint Championships.

BOAT BUSINESS

BENETEAU GRAN TURISMO 50

ASSAULT AMPHIBIOUS MILESTONE

MARITIMO RETURNS TO SYDNEY

BUSFIELD RETIRES FROM NZ MARINE

HCB FOR NEW ZEALAND

THREE PREMIERES IN A 12-YACHT SHOWCASE FOR RIVIERA

NZ COMPOSITES GRX ARMA PET

NEW SALES MANAGER FOR OWNASHIP

FPT NETWORK EXPANDS

TECH ADVICE FOR NORTHLAND CUSTOMERS

ZEROJET ELECTRIFIES THE AB INFLATABLES LAMMINA AL

NEW BUCCANEER DEALER

SMART MOVER • New Zealand has led the world in the development of small amphibious recreational boats, and hundreds of Kiwis have taken to the concept of a boat which is essentially its own trailer, with the ease of launching, retrieving and storage that allows.

BOAT BLING

Secure your haul-out now for a ‘clean summer getaway’ • Marine biosecurity experts call on New Zealand boat owners to ensure they book their haul-outs and any services they need ahead of the summer cruising period.

What’s my line? • In some ways we live in a golden age of fishing, where using all sorts of diverse techniques, a wide variety of popular fish species can be caught in our waters on relatively light, fun-to-use, and very effective fishing tackle.

RETRO BOATS

GETTING SAUCY • Saucy Jane is the name of Bill Hamilton’s first successful jetboat, now lost to history, and of Jim Lapsley’s homebuilt working replica, which is very much alive.

The Rudder Cup; a survey of Auckland’s top launches of 1908 • Last month I promised that this issue would be devoted to a rattling good yarn about the match race between the launches Eliza and Seabird from Auckland around a buoy off Russell and back in January 1909. But first, let me set the scene.

Industry trailblazer THE RUSS BOWLER STORY PT2 • For many of those involved in the 1987 New Zealand Challenge, not least Michael Fay (later Sir Michael), the 1987 America’s Cup (AC) result left a bitter taste. Despite KZ7 being arguably the fastest all-round 12m yacht, Fay had lost,...