New Zealand arrived at Metstrade 2025 not as a collection of individual exhibitors, but as something closer to a unified marine ecosystem. Spread across Hall 2 and the Superyacht Pavilion, Kiwi companies are demonstrating that the country's marine industry now spans the full range of modern boating disciplines, from composite engineering and propulsion to coatings, navigation and onboard intelligence. By any measure, it is the country's strongest showing yet at the world's largest marine equipment trade show.
The themes defining this year's event, including sustainable composites, electrification, hybrid systems and smarter navigation, map almost exactly onto the areas where New Zealand companies have been building expertise for years. Visitors moving through the Construction Materials Zone, the Foiling Technology Zone and the Superyacht Pavilion find Kiwi thinking woven through nearly every part of the show.
Electrification is one of the most compelling threads running through the New Zealand presence. ZeroJet has positioned itself at the leading edge of this shift, offering lightweight electric jet systems that deliver instant torque and performance capable of rivalling small petrol engines. Their technology feeds naturally into the hybrid space, where HikoTerra's modular electrical racks are making the installation of clean-power systems far more straightforward for boatbuilders and refit yards, reducing dependence on generators in the process.
Electric drive also turns up in amphibious applications. Tectrax brings systems that make moving between land and water safer and more responsive, with significantly less noise and maintenance than older mechanical platforms. Taken together, these contributions make a clear point: electrification at Metstrade 2025 is no longer a speculative technology. It is modular, practical and ready for broad adoption.
New Zealand's reputation in composite engineering remains one of its most distinctive calling cards. C-Tech's precision carbon structures speak directly to the Construction Materials Zone's emphasis on high-performance, sustainable materials, and that philosophy carries through to Pure Design & Engineering, where advanced structural modelling underpins projects ranging from high-speed foilers to large custom superyachts. Carbon mast and spar packages at the show continue to set the benchmark for strength, stiffness and weight, connecting component-level engineering to complete rig systems. At the other end of the scale, TruDesign grounds composite thinking in everyday reliability. Their corrosion-free fittings and valves are a reminder that material intelligence matters just as much in small components as it does in complex structural assemblies.
Coatings and hull protection represent another area of consistent Kiwi strength. Propspeed remains one of the most trusted names in foul-release technology for running gear, with long-term performance that continues to set it apart from many alternatives still common in international markets. HullWell extends that protection focus across composite, alloy and timber hulls, while Resene brings finishes shaped by years of development in America's Cup campaigns. The three companies approach the problem from different angles, but share a common commitment to longevity and predictable results.
Practical hardware is equally well represented. With nearly 50 years of anchoring expertise behind them, Manson's range serves everyone from pleasure craft owners to superyacht captains, and their reputation for holding fast in difficult conditions fits naturally alongside the broader Kiwi emphasis on safety and reliability. Hydraulic steering systems engineered for high-horsepower outboard setups, individually tuned antennas designed for dependable offshore communication, and locally built deck hatches that stand up comfortably against major international brands all speak to the same philosophy: well-engineered solutions built to perform where it counts.
Automatic launch and retrieval systems are also on display, making life considerably easier for trailer-boat owners and floating dock operators alike. The amphibious space is particularly well served, with modular systems offering manufacturers a production-friendly pathway to wheels-down mobility across a range of craft. Placed alongside the electric amphibious drive from Tectrax, these mechanical platforms give boatbuilders multiple routes into amphibious design, broadening what Kiwi companies can offer in this fast-developing segment.
The Superyacht Pavilion draws together the higher end of the New Zealand offering. Refit and yard expertise anchors the conversation, connecting naturally to suppliers of precision composite and alloy deck gear for boarding, tender handling and deck operations, and to crew wear designed for sustained use during long days on the water. Sailmaking features strongly, with established Kiwi-linked expertise in engineering, shape control and large-yacht sail handling drawing the attention of designers and captains focused on performance superyachts. Advanced cloth technologies and high-performance sail materials extend that conversation further, giving project managers and sail designers two distinct but complementary New Zealand-informed perspectives on where large-yacht sail construction is heading.
Navigation and data systems deepen the Superyacht Pavilion's story. Multibeam sonar technology on show offers real-time seabed and structure mapping at a level of detail that traditional single-beam units cannot match. AI-driven vessel intelligence systems and integrated electrical control platforms build on that capability, reinforcing New Zealand's standing as a serious contributor to high-end marine technology. Across the pavilion, Kiwi participants demonstrate that the country's superyacht capability now runs from rigs, sails and spars through to refit, deck hardware, navigation and smart data.
What makes the New Zealand presence at Metstrade 2025 genuinely impressive is not just the number of companies involved, but the way their work connects. Electrification links to hybrid power. Composite structures link to precision hardware and complete rig systems. Coatings link to refit expertise and long-term vessel care. Navigation feeds into AI-driven intelligence that gives crews a clearer picture of what is happening beneath the hull. With anchors, amphibious systems, sails and spars now part of the picture as well, the overall offering has become more complete than at any previous show.
Kiwi marine specialists have arrived at Amsterdam with products and services that complement one another in ways that benefit the whole. At the world's largest marine equipment event, that kind of cohesion carries real weight. New Zealand may be a long way from Amsterdam, but at Metstrade 2025 it sits comfortably close to the centre of the global marine conversation.
Further information: NZ Marine Industry Association.
