New Zealand's marine sector is experiencing a genuine resurgence, and the expansion of the Auckland Boat Show ahead of its 25th anniversary event makes that confidence tangible. Exhibition space has grown by 20 per cent for 2026, creating capacity for 150 exhibitors and 200 boats displayed both on land and in the water.
Market data points to a turnaround gathering pace through the final quarter of 2025, underpinned by new boat sales, commercial vessel construction, a buoyant second-hand market, and growing demand for refit, maintenance, and berthage services. Favourable exchange rates are adding further momentum, with around 40 per cent of New Zealand manufactured powerboats now finding buyers offshore as exports strengthen.
Auckland Boat Show organiser Stacey Cook says the expansion is a direct result of pressure from the exhibitor base.
"We've seen a lift in confidence across the industry, and that's flowing directly into exhibitor demand. This year's show will be bigger, more diverse, and a genuine reflection of an industry that's moving forward again."
The backdrop to all of this is a country with a deeply ingrained boating culture. Around 30,000 boats change hands in New Zealand every year, from paddleboards to superyachts, and roughly 40 per cent of the population participates in boating in some form, making it the country's most popular recreational activity. Maritime New Zealand data puts the total number of vessels at around 1.95 million, spanning windsurfers and trailer boats through to yachts, launches, and commercial craft. The marine industry itself is estimated to be worth $3 billion, with exports accounting for $800 million of that figure.
The Auckland Boat Show traces its origins to 1999, when 42 exhibitors gathered ahead of the America's Cup. That modest beginning has grown into the country's largest on-water boat show, now representing more than 500 brands and encompassing dedicated zones for careers, sustainability, fishing, high-end charters, and sea trials.
"What's stayed consistent over 25 years is industry ownership, a focus on excellence, and boats in the water," says Cook. "That's what sets this event apart and why it continues to grow."
Centred on Jellicoe Harbour and the Viaduct Events Centre, the 2026 event runs for four days from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 March, with more than 1.3 kilometres of vessels on the water. In response to renewed enthusiasm for trailer powerboats, the Sea Trial zone has been enlarged to offer on-water demonstrations across 32 different models. The range of vessels on display stretches from inflatables and trailer boats to high-end luxury motor yachts and sailing craft, with many designed and built in New Zealand alongside international brands making their local debuts.
The 25th Auckland Boat Show takes place from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 March 2026 at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour in Auckland. The event is part of Moana Auckland, New Zealand's Ocean Festival, running from 28 February to 15 March 2026. Delivered by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited on behalf of Auckland Council, the festival encompasses the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, Z Manu World Champs, and a range of other ocean-inspired events celebrating the cultural heartbeat of Tāmaki Makaurau.
NEW BOAT FEATURE: THE 13.8M ELITE KAEĀ
One of the most striking new arrivals at this year's show is Kaeā, a 13.8m custom vessel whose name means to wander or roam in te reo Māori. Designed by Bill Upfold of Elite Marine Design and built in Tauranga by Marra Marine, it is also the first new build to come out of the young yard.
Tauranga, the harbourside city on the east coast of the North Island, is developing a strong reputation as a hub for boatbuilding and superyacht refit services, with facilities capable of accommodating yachts up to 50m in length.
The brief for Kaeā was shaped by her owner's practical requirements. He wanted to travel regularly between a marina berth in Wellington, at the southern tip of the North Island, and Picton in the Marlborough Sounds, where he holds another berth and a holiday home. The Cook Strait crossing of around 20 nautical miles is deceptively demanding, subject to significant currents and the unsettled conditions typical of southern latitudes. The design response was a seaworthy and efficient commuter boat capable of comfortable passage-making while also serving as a weekend cruiser, finished in a classic-modern style.
To meet those demands, Kaeā is constructed with lightweight ply-foam-glass above the waterline and a triple-ply vacuum-bagged hull below, balancing strength with weight reduction. The drivetrain takes advantage of shallow prop tunnels and reduced shaft angles, allowing the boat to cruise at 27 to 28 knots across the strait and reach a top speed of around 32 knots, putting a Cook Strait passage within roughly an hour.
The fit-out is exceptional in both exterior and interior quality. The saloon features panoramic windows, an open-plan layout, an electric drop-down galley window, and bifold doors. Sleeping accommodation for four is spread across two cabins, and the cockpit provides generous space and storage. A sliding transom door, a signature element of Upfold's design language, disappears seamlessly into the structure, and a second helm station in the cockpit assists with berthing.
Marra Marine was founded by Tim and Maddie Marra, who began the business from a home garage in 2018. Tim had built a strong body of work constructing high-end boats for other brands and had earned a solid reputation in superyacht refits, covering warranty repairs, planned maintenance, and teak work. Securing the Kaeā project was the realisation of a long-held ambition.
"While we've established the business over the years, the driving force has always been to create quality boats under our own name," says co-director Maddie Marra.
The pair grew the business steadily, building up workshops, machinery, and their team in preparation for a new build project of this scale.
"A boat build is such a journey to go on with a client, it's special and personal. We always wanted to live by what we wanted our business to do and to be."
The sweet spot for Marra Marine's new build programme sits in the 12 to 18 metre bracket, well supported by haulout and work spaces in central Tauranga. With Kaeā complete as V001 of the Elite 13.5m model, the yard is actively seeking clients for V002 and looking forward to showing the vessel at the show.
SEA TRIAL: THE FIN CHASER 800 HARD TOP
Hamilton company Fin Chaser will bring its new Fin Chaser 800 Hard Top to the show for its public debut, with the boat available for sea trials in the expanded trial zone.
Spokesperson Tim Fairhurst says the boat deserves a fresh look from anyone considering an amphibious vessel. "With a deep-vee deadrise hull and Seakeeper Ride, it's a dry and comfortable cruise and offers the magic combination of a walk-around cabin, accessible via stairs, with internal width, bunk space, and head room."
The forepeak delivers a 6m² fishing and sunbathing platform comparable to that of a significantly larger boat, protected by a high bow rail suited to keen anglers and younger crew alike. At the stern, a clean boarding platform with twin boarding ladders provides excellent access for fishing. A 150-litre passive live bait tank sits in the cockpit, and power comes from a Mercury 425hp V10 Verado outboard. The cabin accommodates up to six in comfort, with sleeping berths for four, a well-considered galley, and a dedicated dining area.
"This boat truly does it all – we are excited to show it off at the Auckland Boat Show," says Fairhurst.
NEW RELEASES FROM ORAKEI MARINE
Orakei Marine is set for a prominent presence at the 2026 show, headlined by two New Zealand premieres. The all-new Prestige F43 is a bold next-generation flybridge model that pairs generous interior volume with elegant outdoor living, crafted by the iconic French builder whose heritage is shared with Jeanneau.
Alongside the Prestige F43, Orakei Marine will present the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350, a wider and more spacious evolution of the well-regarded JSO349. Rounding out the display are the Jeanneau SunOdyssey 410, the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Series 2, and the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095.
MARITIMO: A NEWLY APPOINTED LOCAL AGENT
The Motor Yacht Service Centre at Hobsonville Marina has been a fixture since its founding in 2008, building a track record for workmanship and customer service that has included warranty and service work for Maritimo. The appointment as sales agent for the globally recognised Australian brand is a natural progression of that relationship.
"We know Maritimos are boats we can stand by," says spokesperson Matthew Cole. "The business is busier than ever, and we are enjoying the opportunity to sell these brilliant boats that we know so well – we expect see more of them in New Zealand waters."
To underpin the New Zealand sales operation, a new facility is under development at Hobsonville Marina. Construction is due to begin shortly, with completion targeted for the 2026-27 summer. The complex will incorporate sales space, berths for boats in the water, and covered shed space for two 80-foot vessels.
The exact lineup for the Auckland Boat Show will depend on shipping logistics, but visitors can expect to see the new S55 sedan, luxury flybridge yachts, and Maritimo's premier model, the Maritimo M75.
RETURNING FAVOURITES: ZAPHIRA AND THE ELITE AT43
The 18m motor yacht Zaphira, built by Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders and launched in 2023, returns to the Auckland Boat Show after making a strong impression on its debut last year. Like Kaeā, she is a Bill Upfold and Elite Marine Design creation, representing the culmination of this particular line of motor yachts.
Also back on display is the Elite AT43 from Allan Tongs Boatbuilders on Auckland's North Shore. Ten of these production vessels have now been launched, with the eleventh currently under construction at the North Shore factory. The AT43 shares design lineage with both Zaphira and Kaeā, coming from the same Bill Upfold drawing board.
"This is a high-calibre boat that has been very successful in the market," says Upfold.
THE RIVIERA 4300 SPORTS EXPRESS
RMarine Flagship will present Riviera's all-new 4300 Sports Express, a luxury motor yacht that balances versatility with a genuine sense of occasion. A sports deck provides the setting for lounging, dining, and entertaining, a sun deck offers a relaxing space at anchor, and a sea deck at water level caters for swimming, snorkelling, paddleboarding, and fishing. Below, the accommodation deck sleeps five adults, with a private master stateroom, an aft cabin, a bathroom with separate shower, a main galley, and a TV lounge. True to its name, the 4300 Sports Express is capable of exceeding 30 knots.
TRISTRAM MARINE'S APEX EDITION
Tristram Marine will use the show to give the APEX Edition its public debut, presenting it aboard the brand new 821 Offshore, named APEX. The APEX Edition is a selectable top-end specification package available across the Tristram range, bringing together the highest level of equipment and system integration the brand offers, setting a new benchmark for the New Zealand trailer boat industry.
