Whitianga Marina has taken both major titles at the 2026 New Zealand Marina Operators Association Awards, named Marina of the Year and Boatyard of the Year.
The Coromandel facility beat three other finalists in each category: Gulf Harbour Marina, Marsden Cove Marina and Silo Marina for the marina award, with Titan Marine Engineering replacing Silo in the boatyard competition. Marsden Cove was Highly Commended in both categories.
Guest judge Callum Gillespie, executive director of NZ Marine, said the diversity of finalists made judging difficult. "We had to compare very different facilities, from a purpose-built superyacht marina in central Auckland to destination marinas serving regional communities," he said.
Gillespie said Whitianga won because it is "carefully managed, community-minded and operates consistently at a high standard." The marina recently completed a new fuel dock and seawall, and judges noted its strong team culture.
The 231-berth facility, a certified Clean Marina, accommodates vessels from 10 to 24 metres. Its boatyard features 18 cradle stands, two enclosed work sheds and a 35-tonne travel lift handling beams up to 5.1 metres.
Silo Marina, New Zealand's premier superyacht marina, received a Specialist Distinction Award for its unique role in the city's economy. The eight-berth facility serves superyachts up to 145 metres.
Commercial Dive Specialists won the Outstanding Initiative Award for Rehabitat, a containment chamber system treating invasive exotic caulerpa. Developed by Brook McRae's team, the technology neutralises the pest while minimising environmental disturbance and can be scaled for different outbreak sizes.
Seaview Marina's in-house staff app, integrating safety, compliance and operations, was recognised for demonstrating that practical solutions need not be expensive. Westhaven Marina, the largest recreational marina in the Southern Hemisphere, received a high commendation for its cadet programme developing future marina professionals.
Brett Colby of Half Moon Bay Marina received the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award for more than 30 years of industry service. Since 1994, Colby has helped build Marine Travelifts across New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific, professionalised travel lift operation through training programmes, and established the New Zealand Clean Marina Programme before environmental accreditation became an industry priority.
