A harbour city celebration
The 2025 Whangarei Maritime Festival will take place on 11–12 October at the Town Basin and waterfront. This free, family-focused event has quickly become a highlight on Northland’s calendar, bringing together locals and visitors to celebrate the harbour city’s strong maritime heritage. Across two packed days, festival-goers can enjoy displays, live performances, competitions, and stories that connect the community to the sea.
From humble beginnings to a signature event
The festival’s story began in 2018 with the Black Ball Yacht Club, a group of international cruisers who launched the Black Ball Scholarship Fund to encourage Northland youth into marine trades. In 2022, classic boats were first displayed along the Hatea River Walk, sparking the idea for something larger.
From those early days, the event has grown well beyond expectations. Organisers now see it joining the ranks of world-renowned maritime festivals such as Port Townsend in the United States and Hobart in Tasmania. For Whangārei, with its long history as a centre of boatbuilding and seamanship, the festival has become the right idea at the right time.
Maritime stars take centre stage
One of the biggest drawcards at the 2025 Whangarei Maritime Festival will be the return of the Kelly Maree steam boat. After missing last year’s edition, she’s back at the Town Basin with her polished brass, chuffing steam engine, and classic charm that always turns heads.
Another highlight is the story of The Daring, a 100-foot schooner built in 1853 and one of the oldest surviving New Zealand-built trading vessels. Visitors can view artefacts recovered from the ship, explore a scale replica windlass, and even try their hand at a chip log, the centuries-old tool once used to measure speed at sea.
Music and atmosphere on the waterfront
The Town Basin will ring with sound as live music carries across the waterfront. From the rhythm of sea shanties to the energy of Northland’s local bands, the atmosphere promises to keep spirits high throughout the weekend.
The Great Boatyard Challenge
For those who prefer action to observation, the Great Boatyard Challenge is back. Teams of mates or work colleagues will hammer, saw, and improvise their way through building a boat from scratch over the weekend. With glory, bragging rights, and plenty of laughs on the line, it’s one of the festival’s liveliest attractions.
Hands-on exhibits across the site ensure families can also take part in the fun, whether learning about traditional tools, exploring classic boats, or getting involved with maritime demonstrations.
Tales of the sea
The festival is not only about entertainment but also about preserving and sharing stories. This year’s Tales of the Sea series features Kevin Judkins, a retired Master Mariner with extraordinary experience.
We’re privileged to have Kevin Judkins, retired Master Mariner and author of 120 Days at Astrolabe: The Rena, the Reef & the Go Canopus, share his first-hand experiences. Kevin spent four months aboard the GO Canopus, a vital vessel in the primary salvage phase, and will take audiences behind the scenes of the massive rescue, oil spill response, and salvage operation. This is a rare opportunity to hear from someone who lived through one of the most challenging maritime salvage efforts of our time.
The festival also invites locals to contribute their own treasures. Previous years have seen unique displays such as Keith Bradley’s miniature clinker dinghy, a crowd favourite that underlined the region’s deep connection to boating heritage.
A community legacy
At its heart, the 2025 Whangarei Maritime Festival is about people. It brings families together, connects generations, and celebrates the city’s maritime past, present, and future. By linking entertainment with education, and tradition with innovation, it provides a platform for youth to discover marine trades and for the community to share its seafaring pride.
As organisers note, Whangārei is well on its way to hosting a festival recognised internationally. For now, the focus is on October, when the waterfront once again comes alive with stories, music, and the timeless draw of boats.
