13 December 2023
Superyacht crew and industry gathered in Auckland to celebrate New Zealand’s annual Superyacht Welcome Function, which took place on 7 December 2023.
The event, hosted by the industry association NZ Marine, is the largest superyacht networking event in the southern hemisphere and sees local industry companies host captains, crew and guests.
Crew from more than 35 yachts were invited to the event, held on Auckland’s waterfront, with those celebrating their first season in New Zealand mingling with crew glad to be back.
NZ Marine’s Peter Busfield welcomed superyacht captains and crew and thanked them for choosing to come to New Zealand, as well as acknowledging the 47 sponsor companies that made the event possible.
The event is also a chance for crew to meet with representatives from New Zealand’s extensive superyacht refit, maintenance, parts and supplies and support industry, to gain information on the industry’s capabilities, and allow crew to share cruising information.
The Superyacht Welcome Function profiles New Zealand’s superyacht-friendly regulations and easy clearance procedures, which include a two-year temporary import period and tax concessions.
Those regulations are supported by the expansion of marina and shipyard infrastructure in Auckland, Northland and Tauranga, making New Zealand an efficient place for superyacht cruising and refit work, starting from clearance into the country.
NZ Marine, the organisation that administers Superyacht New Zealand, also invites crew to pick up a copy of the Destination & Cruising New Zealand book, which is available for download. Detailing the best of New Zealand cruising, it acts as a companion for crew both planning their New Zealand journey and those already in the country.
The guide has just been re-released with updated information and is available to download online courtesy of NZ Marine and Superyacht New Zealand.