New Zealand’s strongest showing yet
Metstrade 2025 returns as the world’s largest marine equipment trade show, and the New Zealand presence feels sharper and more connected than ever. Spread across Hall 2 and the Superyacht Pavilion, Kiwi companies are demonstrating how New Zealand’s marine industry has grown into a full ecosystem of design, engineering, coatings, propulsion and onboard technology.
Visitors moving through the Construction Materials Zone, the Foiling Technology Zone or the Superyacht Pavilion keep crossing paths with products shaped by New Zealand thinking. The topics that define Metstrade this year, such as sustainable composites, electrification, hybrid systems and smarter navigation, are the same areas where Kiwi companies already excel.
Electrification finds real traction
Electrification is one of the clearest threads running through the New Zealand story. ZeroJet sits at the front of this shift with its lightweight electric jet systems that offer instant torque and enough punch to challenge small petrol engines. Their approach feeds neatly into the hybrid space, where HikoTerra’s modular electrical racks reduce the need for generators and make installation far easier for boatbuilders and refit yards.
This move toward cleaner power also carries into amphibious craft. https://www.boatingnz.co.nz/2025/08/driving-into-the-blue-how-tectrax-is-redefining-amphibious-boating-and-now-amphibious-trailers/ shows how electric drive can offer safer and more responsive movement between land and water. In comparison to older mechanical systems, these electric platforms bring far less noise and maintenance, and they react immediately when the operator needs control.
Driving into the blue: how Tectrax is redefining amphibious boating and now amphibious trailers
The combined message is hard to ignore. Electrification is no longer experimental. It is now practical, modular and ready for wider use.
Composite expertise shaping new directions
New Zealand’s long relationship with advanced composites is on full display. C-Tech’s precision-built carbon structures reflect decades of work across dinghies, foilers and offshore campaigns, and their approach lines up with the Construction Materials Zone’s focus on lighter, cleaner and more responsible manufacturing. That level of refinement carries into Pure Design and Engineering, where detailed structural analysis and composite modelling support everything from high-speed raceboats to large custom projects.
Alongside this high-end design work, TruDesign shows how composite thinking works at the component level. Their corrosion-free fittings and valves sit comfortably alongside the more complex structures on display, and they remind visitors how much reliability can be gained from the right material choices.
Durable coatings and hull protection
Coatings and hull protection continue to be a core part of New Zealand’s contribution. Propspeed remains one of the most trusted names in foul-release technology for running gear. Its real strength lies in consistent long-term performance, which sets it apart from many alternatives still common in international markets.
Propspeed® enters expanded markets with debut of new Foulfree™ Multi-Surface System
That focus on durability feeds through to HullWell, which works across composite, alloy and timber hulls, and into Resene, whose finishes draw from years of America’s Cup development. Each of these companies offers a slightly different solution, yet all of them focus on longevity and predictable performance.
Hardware and systems that make life easier
New Zealand has always built gear that solves everyday boating problems, and that practical streak is visible throughout Metstrade. maXtek Marine brings hydraulic steering systems built for high-horsepower outboard setups, which flows naturally into the Kiwi market where big outboards are the norm. That same focus on dependable performance appears in Pacific Aerials, where every antenna is manufactured and individually tuned in Auckland for reliable offshore communication.
Deck hardware plays its part as well. Cule Marine produces locally made hatches that compete with major global brands, and Balex Marine’s automatic launch and retrieval system is a good companion for trailer boats or floating docks. Each of these companies reflects a mindset that values simplicity, durability and ease of use.
Superyacht capability strengthened by smart technology
The Superyacht Pavilion is another area where New Zealand shines. Orams Marine represents the scale of our refit and marine trades sector, and that capability connects cleanly with the equipment suppliers around them. C-Quip’s composite and alloy deck gear supports everything from boarding to tender handling, and VMG Clothing brings tailored, hard-wearing crew wear that suits long days at sea.
Navigation and data systems add another layer. WASSP’s multibeam sonar gives yachts a detailed picture of seabed and structure in real time, which stands in contrast to traditional single-beam systems. That push toward smarter decision-making carries into the digital realm through Fenton Innovation, which applies artificial intelligence to vessel operations, and ATTEST, which develops integrated electrical control and automation systems.
Together, these companies show that New Zealand’s superyacht capability now extends well beyond yard work. It includes equipment, crew gear, navigation, software and the digital tools that support life onboard.
A cohesive Kiwi presence woven through the show
What stands out at Metstrade 2025 is how the New Zealand presence connects across sectors. Electrification links to hybrid power. Composite structures link to precision hardware. Coatings link to refit capability and long-term vessel care. Navigation ties into AI-driven systems that help crews understand what is happening beneath the hull.
This is not a scattered collection of exporters. It is a coordinated group of marine specialists whose work complements one another. At the world’s largest marine equipment show, that cohesion sends a clear message.
New Zealand may sit far from Europe, but at Metstrade 2025 it feels close to the centre of the global conversation.
Further information contact: NZ Marine Industry Association
