High temperatures, a steady breeze for the yachts and clear skies for the aircraft flyover made a perfect weekend for the Antique and Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti, drawing vintage boats, their owners and fans from right around New Zealand.
The Jens Hansen Cup for best vessel overall was presented for the 27th time since the show began in 1989. The winner was Thunderbird, a Ryan Craft power boat built and designed by Jack Ryan in 1958, owned by Scot Cort of Christchurch. Judge Ashley Johnson said the wooden craft ran true to the boat show ethos of winners with a story to tell.
"There are always boats with a great history and Thunderbird was a standout example of 1950's power and speed," Johnson said. "Another boat that caught our eye was Ding Ding – we created a new award for best aluminium boat for this runabout built by De Havilland Aircraft after they stopped making planes. It was made in Australia, shipped to New Zealand for assembly and worked as a hire boat on Lake Wanaka for many years."
The new best aluminium boat category went to Ding Ding, owned by Isaac Green of Oamaru. Its origins in the De Havilland Aircraft workshops, after the company wound down aircraft production, gave it the kind of layered backstory that judges prize.
John Harris of Nelson received the Keith Walker Memorial Trophy for his long-running dedication to the event. Co-organiser Glenn Common said John had helped to shape the show from "day one". "He's much more than a volunteer – he's an integral part of show," Common said.
The People's Choice Award, decided by public votes, went to Malc and Trina Russell of Blenheim for their boat Avanti II, which also claimed the Mathieson/Jeffcott Trophy for best motor-powered craft.
Over 140 boats entered this year's show, and an estimated crowd of three thousand attended over the two days. Co-organiser Pete Rainey said it was great to see the continued interest in the history of on-the-water recreation in New Zealand.
"Highlights for me included the big turnout of sea scouts and their impressive rowing in vintage clinker dinghies, the passion of entrants such as Russ Cloake from Southland who won best display with his 14 British Seagull and Anzani out-boards, seeing New Zealand's oldest racing boat Pit-a-Pat on the water and of course the fly-past of the RNZAF Beechcraft T-6 Texans against a perfect blue sky," Rainey said.
The full list of awards at the 2026 NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show:
- Walker Family Best New Craft: Bonnie Moon owned by Neil Moon, Richmond - Best Restoration: Brass Monkey owned by Vincent Revell, Mapua - Port Nelson House Parts Best Rowed Craft: Ferryglide owned by John Hitchcock, Wellington - CWF Hamilton Trophy Best Jet-propelled Craft: Guy owned by John Wicken, Christchurch - Johnson Family Trophy Best Sail Powered Craft: Wind Song owned by Matt & Rosie Michel, Picton - Mathieson/Jeffcott Trophy Best Motor-powered Craft and People's Choice Award: Avanti ll, owned by Malc & Trina Russell, Blenheim - Ron Cully Steamboat Trophy: Kelly Maree owned by Stuart Lee, New Plymouth - Best American Type Craft: Glastron Jet owned by Janvier & Sue Marchand, Christchurch - Best Clinker Craft: Ripples owned by Richard Winn, Wakefield - Keith Walker Memorial Trophy for long serving volunteer: John Harris, Nelson - Best Aluminium Boat: Ding Ding owned by Isaac Green, Oamaru - Eventiac Best Themed Display: Best of British, Russ Cloake, Mossburn, Southland - Boating NZ Retro Boat Trophy: Solitaire owned by Joel Porter, Blenheim - Best Outboard Motor Craft Trophy: Dash owned by Alan Doak, Wellington - Jens Hansen Cup Best Vessel Overall: Thunderbird owned by Scot Cort, Christchurch
