Twenty-five years in, the Auckland Boat Show arrives in 2026 with a clear sense of purpose, and New Zealand's own builders are leading the way.
Held at the Viaduct Events Centre from 5 to 8 March 2026, the show brings together roughly 150 exhibitors and more than 200 vessels across land and water displays. The numbers speak for themselves, but the more telling story this year is the confidence sitting behind the local contingent. Kiwi design and construction is not filling a gap in the programme; it is anchoring it.
A Cook Strait brief, built in Tauranga
Few launches will draw as much attention as the 13.8 metre Elite Kaeā, the debut build from Tauranga-based Marra Marine. Bill Upfold of Elite Marine Design drew the lines, working to a brief that sounds simple on paper: a Cook Strait commuter capable of handling serious conditions while still delivering the refinement an owner expects aboard a purpose-built vessel. That combination, offshore toughness matched with genuine comfort and efficiency, reflects where the custom build market is heading. Seaworthiness alone no longer closes the deal. Buyers now treat efficient hull forms, practical range and well-considered interiors as minimum requirements rather than optional extras.
Offshore Boats New Zealand will pull the covers off its 1100 HTC foil assisted power catamaran, a vessel aimed at offshore fishing, diving and extended time away from the marina. Stability and fuel economy have shifted from marketing language to genuine purchase criteria, and this design responds to both. Hamilton's Fin Chaser brings its 800 Hard Top amphibious vessel to the floor, with sea trials on offer, targeting owners who value self-sufficient launching and shallow water versatility, a segment that has carved out a firm identity of its own.
Tristram Marine will present its APEX Edition fitted out in the latest 821 Offshore, with systems integration and finish taking centre stage. Allan Tongs Boatbuilders returns with the Elite AT43 production model, and at the opposite end of the weight spectrum, Takacat will show the 14 kilogram T220UL inflatable catamaran.
Global brands, serious cruising
The international line-up holds its own alongside the local builds. The Grand Banks 54 makes its Auckland appearance, carrying a well-established reputation for range and economy. Finland's SARGO 45 brings a purposeful adventure aesthetic, while the multihull options include the Excess 11 and the Seawind 1170 for those weighing up life on two hulls. XO's Defender continues to find its audience in the adventure boating space, and new models from Jeanneau, Prestige, Riviera and Maritimo will feature across the programme, among them the M55 and M75 flybridge motor yachts.
The ability to step from a Kiwi custom build to an internationally produced cruiser within a short walk of the dock is part of what keeps this show genuinely useful rather than merely impressive in scale.
Systems, control and quieter running
Equipment development runs through the show alongside the hulls. Yamaha Marine New Zealand will demonstrate its Helm Master EX wireless control system, letting skippers manoeuvre at low speed from anywhere onboard rather than being anchored to the helm. Honda will have new outboards available for sea trials, giving buyers a chance to form an opinion based on feel rather than a specification sheet.
Italian manufacturer Frigomar, represented in New Zealand by Boatgear, will display marine air conditioning and refrigeration systems built around variable speed inverter technology. The pitch is straightforward: reduced power draw and less cabin noise, both concerns that matter more as time aboard gets longer.
With more than 1.3 kilometres of vessels afloat and around 30 boats available for sea trials, the Auckland Boat Show remains one of very few places in the country where a buyer can assess hull designs, propulsion systems and onboard equipment side by side in a single afternoon.
The 25th edition does not arrive with fanfare. It arrives with substance, reflecting an industry that keeps lifting its capability without losing sight of what makes a boat worth owning in the first place.
The 25th Auckland Boat Show runs from Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March 2026 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.
