40 superyachts represented as the 2025 NZ superyacht season gets underway
by Isla McKechnie/NZ Marine Industry Association 5 Dec 2024 02:15 PST
Events like the NZ Millennium Cup regatta have aided in drawing superyachts to New Zealand shores © Jeff Brown
New Zealand’s Superyacht Welcome Function was held Thursday evening, with huge crew turn out for the event, which hosted more than 250 owners, captains and crew.
“We’re thrilled to see such a robust turnout with the largest gathering of superyacht attendees in the Southern Hemisphere,” says NZ Marine executive director, Peter Busfield.
“We know that New Zealand’s popularity as a refit and cruising destination is going from strength to strength, and we couldn’t be more pleased to host greater numbers than ever at our annual superyacht welcoming event, which marks the start of our summer cruising season.”
The event saw owners, captains, crew and more than 100 of New Zealand’s industry gather on Auckland’s waterfront to enjoy award winning local wines, catch up with old friends, and share cruising and work tips with those new to the country. Out of the 50 visiting superyachts in New Zealand, organisers were delighted to have close to 40 represented at the welcome function.
“It’s great to be back. We’re demanding of shipyards and, having been in shipyards in the US and Eu rope, we’re very happy with the quality of work here, and the structuring and transparency of the work and invoicing is fantastic,” says Captain Gerhard, S/Y Aquijo.
The event, which is hosted in Auckland by NZ Marine and Superyacht New Zealand, and supported by 54 companies, is a reflection of the work the New Zealand marine industry has put into attracting superyachts to its cruising grounds and facilities.
Initiatives like the recent release of Destination & Cruising New Zealand in Barcelona, during New Zealand’s recent defence of the America’s Cup, the New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, and rapidly increasing capacity and facilities in shipyards around the country, with capability to refit the largest world cruising superyacht, have all contributed to New Zealand’s growth as a destination.
The initiatives are paying off for the nation. A recent report detailed a whopping $212 million economic boost from superyacht visitors to New Zealand. That’s in addition to the economic injection provided by new builds, with five vessels under construction by New Zealand’s superyacht builders this year alone, adding approximately $250 million to the total.
Commissioned by NZ Marine and conducted by Market Economics Limited, the report highlights the vital role superyachts play in contributing to New Zealand’s marine and tourism industries, in the nation of just 5 million people.
“The superyacht refit business is a big part of New Zealand’s $3 billion marine industry with huge growth potential. At the moment, New Zealand is attracting just a fraction of the world’s superyacht fleet to enjoy its 15,000 kilometres of widely untouched coastline and world leading marine innovation,” says Busfield.
Rapid development over the last five years means infrastructure is now in place to handle a 50 per cent increase on the existing number of superyacht arrivals, with the subsequent ability to expand the eco nomic impact of visiting superyachts. This growth has been designed to meet the needs of world cruising superyachts; many of which are now moving out of the Mediterranean and Caribbean in order to explore throughout the South Pacific
A wide range of sponsors from throughout the industry, including superyacht agents, builders, engineering, provisioning, electrical, crew recruitment, clothing providers, refit shipyards and plenty more, supported the event, demonstrating the far reaching impact of the superyacht industry to New Zealand companies.
The country’s superyacht industry is committed to making New Zealand cruising information more accessible to the global industry. That approach has seen a close working relationship develop between domestic companies and international superyachts and crew, as the local industry develops innovative products, and world class refit facilities both at home, and travelling to meet yachts during their cruising programmes throughout the world.
The sun sinking into the Hauraki Gulf marked the end to a successful evening. However the New Zealand summer cruising season is just getting underway, and with it, a host of new adventures to be had, stories to be told, and exceptional technology for the ocean, by the world’s experts on water.