Offshore powerboat racing is set to roar back into New Zealand's summer sporting calendar, with NZOPA's proposed 2025/2026 schedule spanning five venues and promising some of the most varied and competitive racing the country has seen in years. City harbours, open coastline, and a famous lake all feature on a schedule built for both spectacle and serious competition.
The confirmed dates for the 2025/26 NZOPA season are:
- Auckland – 11 October 2025 - Taupo – 15 November 2025 - Napier – 24–25 January 2026 - Gisborne – 14 February 2026 - Whitianga – 21 March 2026
The headline story of the new season is Auckland's return to the race calendar, the first official NZOPA round held in the city in more than 12 years. Racers and fans have pushed for this for a long time, and the expectation is that the Auckland round will attract strong local interest and a competitive fleet. NZOPA has made clear it wants teams to bring their best for the occasion.
Mackay Boats will continue as Season Sponsor for another year, a commitment the organisation regards as central to the sport's financial sustainability and its ability to grow across the country. The backing provides a platform that underpins the entire season's operation.
A split-season format is one of the structural changes for 2025/2026, with rounds scheduled on either side of Christmas. Spreading the events gives crews more time between races to recover, regroup, and prepare properly. NZOPA expects the added breathing room to produce sharper racing when boats do take to the water.
The 140HP class is generating real excitement heading into summer, with five boats already confirmed and a further three understood to be in the pipeline. Should all eight make it to the start line, the class will be among the most closely watched of the season.
NZOPA is also continuing the Nominated Speed challenge, a format that has been steadily building a following among spectators. The entry requirements are deliberately minimal: any boat capable of reaching 40 km/h, two lifejackets, and two helmets in any colour. The reward is a winner-takes-all cash prize. The initiative is aimed squarely at lowering the barrier to entry, giving local boat owners and newcomers a genuine taste of competition without the commitment of a full offshore racing campaign. It sits somewhere between a fun day out and a serious contest, and it has become a firm favourite with race-day crowds.
The variety built into the calendar is itself a test of versatility. Crews who race on the calm lake surface at Taupo in November will face open-sea conditions at Whitianga by March. Each venue demands something different from both boat and driver, and that range of conditions is part of what gives every round its own character.
NZOPA is also hoping the season draws fresh faces to the circuit. With efforts under way to simplify how new teams enter the sport, the Nominated Speed challenge in particular is seen as a natural stepping stone, a way for competitors to sample racing before committing to one of the main classes.
Auckland's long-awaited return, continued support from Mackay Boats, and a calendar that mixes lake, harbour, and coastal racing all point toward a season that is both more accessible and more competitive than those in recent memory. Offshore powerboating in New Zealand looks to be heading into a confident new chapter.
