One of New Zealand's oldest boating clubs is gearing up for another chapter in its long racing story. The Wanganui Motor Boat Club will host its annual King of the River Regatta across 10–11 January 2026, bringing top-tier powerboat competition back to the Whanganui River for two days of flat-out racing.
The club's roots stretch back to 1922, with formal incorporation following in 1925, making it one of the most enduring boating organisations in the country. In those early years, monthly club races built toward a single major regatta each season. That tradition has grown and evolved over the decades into the King of the River weekend, now firmly established as a summer highlight on the national powerboat calendar.
The centrepiece of the regatta is the King of the River title itself, a race that carries genuine prestige and a history worth competing for. Brendon Cornes has been the name to beat in recent years, retaining his crown in 2024 in a result that underlined just how fiercely contested the top honour has become.
The programme extends well beyond the feature race. The Series 3000 and Pro Cam championships are both included in the regatta schedule, giving spectators a chance to see the full range of powerboat racing, from raw, high-speed machinery to classes that reward precision and technical skill in equal measure.
The Whanganui River provides a challenging and atmospheric venue, drawing competitors and supporters from well beyond the local region. The event has earned a reputation not only for the quality of racing but for the sense of community that builds around it each January. For many in the powerboat world, the King of the River weekend is as much a celebration of the river and its heritage as it is a serious sporting contest.
The club's own announcement captured the mood well: "Lock it in! We are thrilled to announce that the Wanganui Motor Boat Club will be holding our annual regatta on the 10th/11th January 2026! The countdown has officially started."
With more than a century of history accumulated since those first monthly races, the King of the River Regatta has become a cornerstone of Kiwi powerboat racing. The 2026 edition shapes up as another memorable contest, with speed, skill, and riverside atmosphere guaranteed across the 10–11 January weekend.
