Riviera has built a reputation as one of Australia's foremost luxury yacht manufacturers, and the Gold Coast company is now actively seeking its next generation of craftspeople, including applicants from across the Tasman. With a 2026 apprenticeship intake of between 30 and 50 positions, Riviera is opening the door to New Zealanders who want to build a serious career in the marine industry.
The breadth of trades on offer reflects just how much goes into a finished motor yacht. Apprentices can enter through marine craft construction, composite technology, upholstery, CNC machining, or electrotechnology, among others. As a Riviera representative explained to 9 News, "It takes ten trades to build one of our motor yachts. We don't just train workers, we help shape long careers."
That complexity is visible in the boats themselves. A completed Riviera, often worth several million dollars, brings together AC boards, underwater transducers, advanced fishfinder systems, and handcrafted cabinetry under one hull. New apprentices are not expected to arrive knowing any of it. What Riviera looks for, above all else, is the right attitude.
Two entry points exist within the programme. Senior secondary students can take on a school-based, part-time apprenticeship while completing their studies, with many participants beginning in Year 11. Those who have already finished school can step straight into a full-time pathway. Both routes lead to the same destination: a trade qualification and a foothold in a thriving industry.
For nineteen-year-old Nicholas Kean, the spark came at a boat show. "I was at the boat show a few years ago and spoke to some young apprentices," he told 9 News. "The passion they had really stuck with me." Now two years into an electrical apprenticeship, Kean spends his days wiring lighting rigs, barbecues, AC boards, and fishfinder systems aboard vessels that will eventually be delivered to owners around the world.
The numbers behind the programme are hard to argue with. Riviera's apprenticeship scheme carries a 95 per cent retention rate, a figure that points to something more than a well-structured syllabus. Tradespeople feel valued, properly mentored, and able to see a future for themselves well beyond those first few years.
Over its 45-year history, Riviera has put hundreds of craftspeople through its training system. Many of those graduates now lead departments or mentor the next intake of apprentices, creating a self-reinforcing culture of expertise. The company's training reputation extends well beyond Australia, and the skills gained are considered transferable across the global marine industry.
Information sessions have already concluded, but applications for 2026 positions remain open. The careers page puts it plainly: "Riviera is the best place to start your career in the marine industry." With more than 6,000 yachts launched worldwide, that claim carries considerable weight.
For any New Zealander who has watched a Riviera sit at anchor and wondered what went into building her, 2026 may be the year to find out firsthand. The skills are internationally recognised, the programme is well-supported, and the Gold Coast, as it turns out, is not a bad place to learn a trade.
