Lake Rotoiti provided a spectacular backdrop for a weekend of wooden hulls, gleaming brightwork and boating nostalgia, as the 2026 New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show brought together more than 140 historic vessels in Nelson for one of the country's most cherished maritime gatherings.
An estimated 3,000 visitors passed through over the two days, drawn by the extraordinary range of craft on display. Clinker dinghies sat alongside vintage sailing boats, hydroplanes, jet boats and steam launches, each carrying its own chapter of New Zealand boating history. Warm weather and clear skies added to the occasion, giving the fleet the ideal conditions it deserved.
For many who attended, the stories woven into each hull proved every bit as compelling as the boats themselves.
The weekend's highest honour went to Thunderbird, a Ryan Craft powerboat designed and built by Jack Ryan in 1958. The Jens Hansen Cup for best vessel overall is the show's most coveted prize, and Thunderbird earned it convincingly. The sleek wooden speedboat, with its sharp lines and polished timber finish, captured the spirit of mid-century powerboating and impressed the judges across every criterion, from condition and engineering to design integrity and historical significance. The cup has been presented since the show's founding year of 1989, and it remains the ultimate mark of distinction at the event.
Among the most photographed boats across the entire weekend was Avanti II, a 16½ foot hydroplane designed by Frank McCloud and built in 1971. Restored in 2026 by Malc Russell and Nigel Shepheard, the craft drew admiring crowds with its classic racing lines and meticulous finish. That public enthusiasm translated directly into results: Avanti II claimed both the Mathieson Jeffcott Trophy for Best Motor Powered Craft and the People's Choice Award.
Brass Monkey told a different but equally absorbing story. The 14 foot timber picnic boat was originally built in Whangārei in 1955 from cold moulded mahogany and pine, and owner Vincent Revell has restored it twice, first in 1993 and again in 2022. That dedication was recognised with the Best Restoration award.
Traditional methods remain very much alive, as Bonnie Moon made clear. The 12 foot Percy clinker dinghy was constructed at a Tasmanian wooden boat school using King William Pine, Huon Pine and Celery Top Pine, and took out the Walker Family Best New Craft award. New builds shaped by old techniques continue to hold their own in distinguished company.
Several vessels at the show turned heads for reasons that went well beyond their appearance. Ding Ding, which won the Best Aluminium Boat award, began life in 1961 as a product of De Havilland Aircraft, built in Australia after the aviation company wound up its plane production. Shipped to New Zealand for assembly, the small speed topper later spent time as a hire craft on Lake Wānaka before being rediscovered in Queenstown and brought back to life by a father and son.
Guy offered another notable provenance. The 13 foot 6 inch Hamilton Jet powered boat was built in 1964 and still runs its original Ford Falcon six cylinder engine, under the ownership of John Wicken of Christchurch. Its first owner was Guy Mannering, a director of CWF Hamilton and an early figure in the development of jet boating. The boat is a tangible link to the pioneering days of Hamilton jet propulsion.
Not every highlight of the show involved speed or power. Ferryglide, a five metre Saint Lawrence skiff owned by John Hitchcock of Wellington, won the award for Best Rowed Craft. Built in 2003 from plans rooted in an 1885 American design, the elegant rowing boat is a reminder that older hull forms can still move through the water with grace and purpose.
Vessels such as Flak Too and a variety of vintage launches helped complete the picture, together representing the broad sweep of recreational craft that once populated New Zealand's lakes and harbours.
The show is as much about people as it is about boats. Nelson volunteer John Harris was presented with the Keith Walker Memorial Trophy in recognition of his long and valued service to the event. Russ Cloake of Mossburn took the Best Themed Display award for an impressive collection of restored British Seagull and Anzani outboard motors, each finished with replica period decals. For many visitors, the chance to stand beside an owner or restorer and hear a vessel's full story firsthand was among the most rewarding parts of the weekend.
More than thirty years after its first edition, the New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show continues to attract both dedicated enthusiasts and first-time visitors in impressive numbers. The next event is already locked in for 6–7 March 2027, with entries opening in November 2026. If the energy and passion on display at Lake Rotoiti this year is any guide, another outstanding gathering of classic craft is already taking shape.
