A classic on the calendar
The NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow is locked in for the 7th and 8th of March 2026, bringing its trademark mix of classic craft, relaxed lake racing, and boating nostalgia back to Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. For two days the alpine village of St Arnaud becomes a showcase of Kiwi boatbuilding history, craftsmanship, and the restorers who keep these boats alive.
The lake is the perfect setting for this event. Surrounded by steep, forested hills and clear deep water, Rotoiti gives every boat — from elegant sailing dinghies to old-school jet boats — the backdrop they deserve.
Organisers say this year’s show will feature everything from clinker dinghies and veteran sailing craft to 1960s jet boats, cedar kayaks, wooden runabouts, and well-loved home-built curiosities. It’s a gathering that blends generations of Kiwi boating together in one place.
A weekend on land and water
Mornings at Kerr Bay are devoted to land displays, where owners line their boats along the foreshore and share the stories behind them. Visitors wander through what feels like an open-air museum, getting close to the details that make each restoration unique — from hand-shaped ribs to the varnish that’s been laid down and sanded back more times than anyone cares to count.
Afternoons shift the show onto the lake, where “not-so-serious” racing brings a lively mix of rowing craft, sailing dinghies, wooden powerboats, and jet classics into friendly competition. It’s a spectacle as much as a race, and one of the best chances to see these boats working the way they were designed to.
For many owners it’s simply a chance to show what they’ve worked on all year, while others set their sights firmly on the trophies awarded in multiple categories.
Boating NZ is proud to continue its support
Boating New Zealand remains a strong supporter of the show’s heritage focus. Our team will again be on site across the weekend, covering the people, the craftsmanship, and the stories that make the Rotoiti show so special.
We’re also pleased to continue sponsoring one of the event’s most popular categories: the Boating NZ Retro Boat of the Year – Entries open December 2025.
Calling for Entries: Boating NZ Retro Boat of the Year
Boating NZ is once again sponsoring the Boating New Zealand Retro Boat of the Year, celebrating New Zealand’s best mint-condition survivor runabout or trailer sailer. This award recognises boats that remain remarkably original and carry the character of their era without losing the integrity of their design.
Entries open December 2025, with full details to be released on boatingnz.co.nz.
Owners who believe their boat stands out as a true survivor are encouraged to start preparing photos, paperwork, and the stories that bring their classic to life.
Looking ahead to March
The NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow remains one of the most enjoyable weekends on the boating calendar. With the scenery, the stories, and the sheer range of boats on display, it offers a unique look at the boats that shaped New Zealand’s maritime culture.
Boating NZ looks forward to seeing the fleet — and their owners — back on the water at Lake Rotoiti in 2026.
