Boating Heritage
Article
Tribute evening for Kiwi yacht designer Paul Whiting
A public tribute evening honouring one of New Zealand’s most influential yacht designers, Paul Whiting, will be held at the Ponsonby Cruising Club on ...
Feature
RV Kaharoa: The end of an era for NIWA’s “Little Ship That Can”
14 April 2025 marks a memorable turning point for New Zealand’s marine science community. After more than four decades of steadfast service, the resea...
Feature
The Yates family of the far north and their Bailey & Lowe launches
The Yates family had extensive holdings in the Far North around the turn of the 20th century. Samuel Yates was born in London in 1826. His father was ...
Feature
Personal Water Craft (‘jetskis’)
Welcome to ‘A very brief history of…’ researching the history of everyday marine technology, innovation and events kiwi boaties love (or loathe).
Article
Happy anniversary: 25th NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show
Blue skies, sparkling water, big crowds and a record number of interesting boats
of every sort made the 25th anniversary of this event extra-special...
Exclusive
Dynamic duo: The John and Linda Parrish story
Race management is one of those critical jobs that has to be done just right and where accuracy is everything. With more than 43 years of experience, ...
Feature
The New Zealand Raters – Export
In December 1898 a major yachting event was held in Auckland, the first with any true international content. The North Shore Native Regatta and Carniv...
A spectacular showcase of classic boating at Lake Rotoiti
The 2025 NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes, was nothing short of spectacular. With more than 150 beautifully maintained v...
The 1895 8-raters
In an international context, perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the Auckland-built raters I have described so far in this series, and those to ...
Bumper Tugboat Fleet Race set to thrill at 185th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta launch
Auckland’s 185th birthday celebrations on Monday, 27 January, will feature a spectacular tugboat race as part of the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta....
Farr reaching success: The Farr 1020 story
One of the most successful one-design keelers in New Zealand has been the Farr 1020. Designed by Bruce Farr and his team in 1981 and built by Sea Nymp...
Article
Classic yachts (and launches) as ‘Protected New Zealand Objects’
Formed in the mid-1990s, The Classic Yacht Association was at the forefront of protecting classic yachts from unlawful export from New Zealand. New Z...
Article
Brest Maritime Festival 2024: World classics extravaganza
Every four years since the 1990s, Brittany’s largest port, Brest, has played host to a gathering of traditional craft from around the world. Over time...
Exclusive
James Bond Would Have Been Very Pleased with the NZ Retro Boats Gathering 2024 at Lake Tarawera
This past weekend, the shimmering waters of Lake Tarawera just outside of Rotorua were alive with nostalgia, as the NZ Retro Boats Lake Tarawera Gathe...
Boatshed 6054, Riverside Drive, Whangarei – A Piece of Whangarei’s Maritime History is F...
Nestled along the picturesque Hatea River, Shed 6154 at 50 Riverside Drive stands as a testament to Whangarei's rich maritime heritage and recreationa...
Lake Brunner Classic Boats Get Together: A Celebration of Maritime Heritage
Every year, boating enthusiasts gather for the Lake Brunner Classic Boats Get Together, an annual event celebrating the beauty and craftsmanship of cl...
The Raters
Over two hundred years ago, yachting was a brand-new amateur sport of the moneyed classes in England, Scotland and Ireland. It got its name from the D...
The Evolution of AC75: From Concept to Cutting-Edge Racing Yacht
The world of competitive sailing has been profoundly transformed by the introduction of the AC75 class of racing yachts. These remarkable vessels, cha...
Antifoul – The Boatie’s Friend
While today’s antifoul coatings come in a wide range of brands, types and colours, the evolution of how we got here
is quite surprising.
Way back…
Th...
The Tattersfield Brothers Part 4; The Tattersfield brothers go to war
The war years couldn’t dampen the Tattersfield family’s enthusiasm for boating, bringing new boats, new duties, and a family tragedy too.
The Tattersfield Brothers; Racing years with Altair Part 3
In December 1934 the Tattersfield brothers missed out the Tauranga race in Janet for the first time in many years, probably because of Noel Tattersfie...
Arakana and Tamariki Jnr Standing Out from the Crowd
Passionate, enthusiastic boat owners and their devotees were everywhere you looked at the inaugural Wooden Boat Festival, held in Auckland’s Jellicoe ...
The Tattersfield Brothers; Janet and the TransTasman Part 2
In December 1928 Guy and Noel Tattersfield were well pleased with their new purchase, the 32ft keel yacht Janet.
The Tattersfield Bothers; The 24ft Linear Raters Part 1
In the February issue I left Lt. Home Kidson arriving back in England in late 1935 to marry the lovely Lady Georgianna Curzon.
Lieutenant Home Kidston and his toys Part 3
I left Sub Lt R. H. (Home) A. Kidston aboard H.M.S. Diomede at Suva in June 1934 with the newspapers trumpeting that he had entered the MacRobertson L...
Lieutenant Home Kidston and his toys PART 2
When he first arrived in Auckland on August 2, 1933 to join HMS Diomede the Auckland Star called Sub-Lieutenant Home (pronounced Hume by the way) Kids...
Gybe-O; The storms and sun rays of my days
D. Ault Salt closed his eyes, tugged his grey beard, and thought: Life is good.
Lieutenant Kidston RN of HMS Diomede and his toys
Fresh from Eton and straight from the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, Lieutenant Home Reginald Arthur Kidston joined HMS Diomede on the New Zealand ...
Early Kaipara; The boats of the Bennetts of Port Albert
Small boats, under sail and later power, featured heavily in the history of Albertland.
THE SANDERSON BROTHERS; Truant and the rise of Manola
The Sanderson brothers; Frank Sanderson was the victor of the match race on the Waitematā on December 9, 1882 for a cup between his three-tonner Truan...
The Sanderson Brothers; The loss of Truant, the Logan Alert
I left the Sanderson brothers in the winter of 1885. Frank put the half-decked centre-boarder Truant on the market. Fred had moved up to Totara North ...
The Sanderson Brothers; Yachting in St. George’s Bay in the 1880s
Two brothers, Frank (Francis Joseph) and Fred (Frederick William) Sanderson, played a big part in yachting in St. George’s Bay and Judges’ Bay during ...
Tenetahi; Part 1 – The wreck of Rangatira
In the second half of the 19th century a large part of New Zealand’s coastal trade was in Maori-owned vessels.
Early West Coast Yachting: Alert
By the early years of the 20th century the coal ports, Westport and Greymouth, had developed an active yachting scene which grew out of Gold Rush rowi...
L. Francis Herreshoff’s Rozinante
The family name Herreshoff was undoubtedly the most resonant internationally in the period 1870 to 1950 as yacht designers. The Scottish Fifes were cl...
Bill Couldrey Part 7: The bright, new, post-war years
The outbreak of peace in 1945 brought fresh opportunities for New Zealanders as, bit by bit, life – and yachting – gradually returned to normal.
Bill Couldrey Part 6: World War II
Under the shadow of likely war with Germany on the other side of the globe, 1939 was a very full year for Bill Couldrey’s yard.
Bill Couldrey Part 5: The big year, 1939
1939 was a big year for New Zealand yachting. Mr. Depression was well on the run.
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NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar
Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.
FISHING
Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane
The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga
ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa
NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide
REGATTAS
Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland
PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour
PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell
Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia
HYDRO THUNDER
JET BOAT RACING
2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch
WATERSPORTS
IWWF University Nationals (waterskiing), 26 February to 2 March Orakei Basin, Auckland
MEET UPS
Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Cruising Rally, Easter 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, BOP
SHOWS
Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa
NEWS TIPS?
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