Queenstown 2009 12 - NZ Marine Industry...

Marine Industry Association, New Zealand

Christchurch Boat Show 5 – 6 September 2009, Westpac CentreWaikato Boat, Fishing and Leisure show 16-18 October 2009, Mystery Creek

BUCKETS

New Zealandproviding speed by the

HamiltonJet creates itsbiggest jets ever. Full story p8

Dr Ian Brooks, p18

Also inside:Boat Show feature: maximise your opportunities

Hobsonville development: update on progress

Plan your year: Calendar of events

12 tips for businesssuccess

p10 p14 p34

MIA N S P R I N G 2 0 0 9ews

New Zealand Marine Industry

CONFERENCEQueenstown 2009

NEW DATES:

03. President’s report

04. Your MIA Executive

06. Bob Tait: MIA’s first honorary life member

07. Discover Boating

08. HamiltonJet delivers buckets of power

10. Boat Show feature

14. Marine precincts

17. Lionel Sands: We’ve been through worse

18. NZ Marine Industry Conference 2009

20. Boating Industry Training Organisation

24. Marine Trades Challenge

26. MIA Boating After 5

27. NZ Marine Export Group

28. New MIA Members

28. Sector group reports

33. Tony Hembrow: After the fire

34. Calendar of events

Editor: Rebecca Hayter Writing Works [email protected]

Marine Industry Association of New Zealand85 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, AucklandPO Box 90 448, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142Phone: 09 360 0056Free phone: 0800 600 242E-mail: [email protected]: www.nzmarine.com

Design: Dima Ivanov Liquid Scope [email protected]

2 MIA News – Spring 2009

ContentsSpring 2009

Given the present economic cli-mate, it feels particularly impor-

tant to write a stimulating report, so I will start with the 55m Korean Coast-guard patrol vessel on the cover of this MIA News. Its two outer waterjets represent the largest ever built in this country. In preparing for this project, which involves up to 12 similar craft, HamiltonJet expanded and developed its casting technology: a strong, stra-tegic step.

However, on the other side of the coin, Line7 has fallen to the economy’s guillotine. The team at Line7 has given tremendous support to the industry over the years – including its enthusi-astic sponsorship of yachting regat-tas and the America’s Cup. Sadly, the weekend paper of 4 July seemed determined to say this iconic brand had lost its way. It neglected to say that Line7 successfully took its brand to the world stage and held the floor

for a long time. It did so by offering a range of products of equal or better quality than that offered by its competi-tors. Sadly, the financial climate was against it.

At the MIA conference in Queen-stown, we avoided using the word ‘recession’ when talking about sustain-ing our businesses in tough economic times. To be realistic, now we are really talking about a depression – in all re-ported media, it is hard to find a posi-tive story. As members, we are going to have casualties, and it will be easy to be swayed into reducing margins to get sales. We all need to be careful we don’t undermine each other’s busi-ness viability. We need to continue marketing our services and products. It is a proven fact of business that companies who slash marketing in a recession will spend a lot more money getting back to their market position in years to come.

We at the MIA are exploring new promotional activities which will expose you, the members, to more customers. We have focused on exposure opportunities around the America’s Cup and superyachts over recent years, but we need to promote boating as an affordable lifestyle for the average New Zealander and attract new people into boating, including new immigrants to New Zealand. To achieve this, we need regional govern-ments to invest in local structure, such as launching facilities.

The industry has spent many years and a large amount of members’ funds lobbying to maintain a sustain-able marine presence in the Wynyard Quarter. It is important that the industry now works with the developers to preserve this presence, guaranteed to our industry icons when they were moved from St Mary’s Bay in the late 1950s. We are finally seeing progress at Hobsonville and this, too, will be an exciting prospect for members.

My representation on the Inter-national Council of Marine Industry Association (ICOMIA) has given me an insight into how other countries are managing the present economic issues. There has been strong move-ment globally on the refit sector and ICOMIA has created a strong team to deal with contractual pricing and capabilities which our refit members need to consider.

I wish to make a special thanks to all those members who take time out from their own businesses to make this industry operate. We have 22 sector groups, with more than 170 people on their committees. These people collec-tively put in an estimated 16,000 hours of voluntary time, per year, into making sure this industry represents you in the best possible way. Thank you to every-one who contributed to this newsletter. Please forward your ideas for future stories to Executive Director Peter Busfield on [email protected]

Ian CookNew Zealand Yachting Developments Ltd

[email protected]

Ian Cook:President of the Marine Industry Association of New Zealand,

Managing Director of NZ Yachting Developments

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 3

President’s report

Ian Cook, president, MIA; NZ Yacht-ing Developments: “We need to pro-mote boating as an affordable lifestyle for the average New Zealander, and attract new people into boating, includ-ing new immigrants to New Zealand.”

Philip Wardale, vice president, MIA; Bayswater Marina: “With government support, we are putting a lot of effort into ensuring we will be a world leader in environmental management in our marinas.”

Griff Simpson, vice president, MIA; Fi-Glass Boats: “New Zealand has one of the most diverse and mature marine industries of anywhere in the world. We build the finest craft in the world whether they are aluminium boats, composite racing yachts or fibreglass trailer boats. We need to ab-solutely focus on our core market, the New Zealand boatie, but also promote on an international scale.”

Main picture, from left:

Roger Pollard, chairman, Trailer Manufacturers Group; Trailcom: “We may be competing against lower-priced imports, but, increasingly, the buying public are becoming much more aware of the superior quality of New Zealand-made products.”

Wayne Patten, chairman, Big Engine Group; Volpower NZ: “As a group, we would like to be able to monitor the size of our diesel market, the ranges of engines we are selling, whether they are staying in NZ or being exported, and in the future monitor engine imports.”

Tony Whiting, chairman, Ship & Workboat Group; Whiting Power: “[In the marine industry] we all work well together and know each other well.”

Peter Busfield

Welcome to the new look of the MIA News. In providing a profile of MIA activities, this magazine captures the diversity and skills of the New Zealand marine industry and is designed to increase business opportunities for our 500 member companies.

This issue is the creation of our new MIA News editor, Rebecca Hayter, 2006 Editor of the Year, and Dima Ivanov, who contributed design and photography. It will be distributed to all members of Parliament, 400 city and district counsellors nationwide, NZTE offices, and through overseas boat shows. I hope you enjoy this informa-tive update, of which more copies are available from the MIA office.


Your MIA Executive

Inset, from top:

Garry Hassall, NZ Marine; Hallspars: “The market is certainly slow now but it will pick up again, and it’s important that, when it does, the New Zealand marine industry as a whole is well posi-tioned to take advantage of it.”

Lloyd Stevenson, chairman Boat-builders Group, Chairman BITO; Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders: “[Through the recession], the industry has got a lot more talkative. We’re better at sharing information now, and that’s good for all employers and apprentices.”

Graeme Finch, RINA (NZ); Finch & Associates: “We need to ensure that New Zealand is recognised not only as a good place to build one-off boats, but for its highly creative design and engineering abilities and its Kiwi can-do attitude.”

Warren Tait, chairman, Refit Group; Electrics Afloat: “You can’t solve today’s problems with yesterday’s answers.”

Bob Tait, immediate past president; Diversified Products: “The New Zealand marine industry has matured over decades through foresight and strength developed by those individu-als who have a passion and respect for boats and the sea.”

Peter Busfield, executive director, MIA: “We aim to increase individual marine companies’ opportunities and profitability through collaboration and inspiration of the industry as a whole.”

Gary Dutton, chairman, Boat Deal-ers Committee; Rollo’s Marine: “My father set up Rollo’s Marine in 1958. Probably the most important thing he taught me was to give good service.”

Frank Simpson: South Island regional chairman, MIA; Fi-Glass Boats: “If you build the right boat for the right time, and market it well, it will be a success.”

Peter Walker, chairman, Precinct Committee; Walker Projects: “The [Wynyard Quarter] package will give Auckland a strong edge in its competition with Australia for superyacht business.”

Peter BusfieldExecutive Director, MIA

[email protected]

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 5

Bob Tait has been awarded honor-ary life membership of the MIA,

following a nomination at the AGM at the Marine Industry Conference in Queenstown and subsequent approval by the MIA executive.

It reflects his nearly 20 years of ac-tive involvement with the MIA, formerly the BIA, including two years of vice president and seven years as presi-dent (2001-2007), and several years as chairman of BITO, during which time it introduced modern apprenticeships.

“There are people in our commu-nity that put their hands up and there are people who don’t,” he says. “I’ve had a fairly good life so if I put some energy back in and make life easier for people, I will assist and lead and do it – whether it’s a community club or rugby club or the marine industry.”

As president, he oversaw the ICOMIA conference coming to New Zealand, the MIA moving to offices in Westhaven, the purchase of the Auckland International Boat Show and

the Christchurch Boat Show, the joint venture of MIA with Mystery Creek and the lobbying to have visiting yachts excluded from paying GST.

As MIA president, he says, an appointee needs to be a good com-municator, be visible to the industry and the members, have a fundamental understanding of business and the industry, and have excellent support from his or her spouse. Also essential is a strong team of people within the executive, the sector group commit-tees and staff.

“All of this is about strategic plan-ning: what you do today has to reflect the long term, so the decisions you make today are good for three to four years. Then you just review them so that, strategically, you are not making decisions from the hip. You can see what benefits arrive from those deci-sions or whether there is too much risk element – because you’re dealing with the members’ funds. So the decisions made on behalf of 500 members are

quite important to ma and pa busi-nesses and to the larger industry com-panies that contribute to the industry.

“You also need the support of the infrastructure of industry – the boating media, for example. Without their sup-port, things don’t gel. The links with the Australian BIA, American NMMA, ICOMIA, government departments, local bodies and similar associations – they all make us even stronger.”

He remembers urging the MIA executive to join ICOMIA when the fees were around 3000 euro. “Look what we’ve achieved,” he says. “[MIA presi-dent] Ian Cook is on the ICOMIA board and part of its superyacht committee. We got ICOMIA to select Auckland as a venue for its annual conference – that was basically because Peter [Bus-field] and I and our wives, Rachael and Jill, visited ICOMIA conferences overseas, promoting our industry and flying the flag. The benefits of that will continue for a long time, especially as New Zealand companies continue to do work for customers and companies that are strategically based around the globe.”

“All of this is about strategic

planning: what you do today

has to reflect the long term,

so the decisions you make

today are good for three to

four years.”

Bob and Jill Tait: MIA’s first honorary life member

with his wife Jill at the ICOMIA Congress 2007, Auckland


Bob Tait: MIA’s firsthonorary life member

Summer boating: Ohope Harbour, 2009

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 7

A new marketing campaign is set to launch prospective boaties onto

something the rest of us already know – boating is the ultimate leisure activity.

Kicking off in spring 2009 and set to run over a three-year period, the aim of Discover Boating is to convince New Zealanders to get immersed in the wonderful world of boating.

The MIA has identified a significant opportunity in encouraging more Kiwis into all forms of boating in order to grow the market. A Discover Boating committee has been formed headed by key industry stalwart Bob Tait of Diversified Products NZ Ltd.

Over the past six months, the committee has been working along-side marketing professional Vikki Lee Goode of Goode PR to create a Dis-cover Boating campaign and a three year funding model.

The MIA board voted to approve Goode PR’s proposal and provide funding to kick start the first year of the campaign.

Vikki Lee says although most New Zealanders share a collective love of the outdoors and aquatic environment, many people are unaware of what the world of boating has to offer and are reluctant to get involved.

“Boating has so many great ben-efits. Not only is it the key to some of New Zealand’s best kept secrets, it’s great fun, challenging and something that can be thoroughly enjoyed at a range of different ages and stages,” she says.

“While the campaign will accentu-ate these positives, it will also work to tackle some of the tougher issues that put people off discovering boating like time, cost and lack of knowledge.”

Currently there is no single point that provides detailed information on ‘all things boating’ for beginners, something Vikki Lee believes is crucial to the success of the campaign.

The Discover Boating campaign will consist of many facets, however in its first year the focus will be on PR and the establishment of a Discover Boating website.

Whilst the website will be based on Discover Boating USA’s framework, it will be a web domain that is uniquely Kiwi and relevant to the audiences we’re aiming to connect with.

“This is about growing the mar-ket,” says Vikki Lee. “Websites have become the first port of call for people interested in learning more about something, someone or somewhere. The Discover Boating website will cre-ate valuable advertising and public-ity opportunities for Marine Industry Association members by placing their products, services and brand names at the forefront of this one-stop-shop.”

The appointment of a team of Discover Boating ambassadors will function as another key campaign element.

“I’m a genuine believer in the motto, ‘advertising is what you say about yourself; PR is what others say about you’. Kiwi media personalities will inspire people to experience boat-ing by sharing their personal boating stories, tips and tricks.”

Bob Tait says despite the current economic climate, the timing of the campaign’s launch is well-suited. “In tough times it’s important to look beyond current clients and custom-ers. This campaign is the exact kind of impetus we need right now.”

Bob says securing the support of industry members will be instrumental in Discover Boating’s success.

“As an industry we have an obliga-tion to create opportunity and lead from the front. While the MIA should be applauded for its considerable invest-ment in this project, it requires the participation of all industry members to have maximum impact.”

Over the next three months, Bob will carry out an informal Discover Boating road show to keep MIA mem-bers advised on how they can benefit from the new market of opportunities it will generate.

Discover Boating

HamiltonJet has supplied thou-sands of waterjet units around

the world but when its first HT1000 models were assembled on the factory floor, even the diehards were blown over by its sheer size. With an impeller diameter of 1.2m and at more than 8m long, the HT1000 is the largest jet unit built in New Zealand.

The waterjet units are part of an order to power a fleet of 55m, Korean Coastguard (KCG), 300-tonne class patrol vessels. Each vessel is fitted with a pair of fully controllable HT1000 waterjets and a pair of slightly smaller HM811 boost jets. All four waterjets are driven by 3700hp MTU engines.

Mike Shearer, HamiltonJet’s global sales and marketing manager, says the company has fitted waterjets to more than 120 KCG vessels but it designed the HT1000 specifically for this project to achieve speeds of more than 20 knots, using only the outer, HT1000 jet units. They pump 11m3 water per second at full speed. Combined with the central booster jets, they push the KCG vessels to 36 knots (66kph).

HamiltonJet has just delivered its sixth ship-set of HT1000 waterjets to the shipyard in Busan, Korea and expects to deliver several more over the next two years. HamiltonJet’s distributor in Korea was instrumental in securing the order.

Mike Shearer says efficiency is

a major factor in choosing waterjets over shaft drives, particularly in large, high-speed vessels. “Rudders, struts and propellers add considerable drag at high speeds, decreasing efficiency and working engines harder,” he says. “And, if one engine goes down, you’ve got even more drag – if a jet goes down, the added drag is marginal.”

The KCG vessels are configured for rescue and combat work. The waterjets are safer than propellers when the boat is manoeuvring around other vessels or people in the water, and there is less risk of damage from shallows and floating debris.

The vessel exceeded all target speeds during trials. HamiltonJet technical manager Phil Rae says the HT1000 is a different hydro-dynamic design from its smaller sisters. Hamil-tonJet developed the pump design for the HT1000 using in-house computa-tional fluid dynamics (CFD) software, and tested a scaled prototype unit in the company’s high-speed boat and hydrodynamic facility.

“For the full scale unit, the design, structural analysis, simulation and production tooling development was almost exclusively computer-based,” Rae says. “This allowed for virtual trial assembly and seamless manufactur-ing integration.”

In manufacturing the HT1000, HamiltonJet has expanded its alu-minium and stainless steel casting

facilities, and developed new casting technology to reduce manufacturing time. Some work for the early HT1000 builds was outsourced, as the factory was at full capacity but now the bulk of the manufacturing is completed in-house.

The waterjets are the biggest ever built in New Zealand but larger water-jets exist worldwide, including some up to 2.5m in diameter.


Hamiltonjet

Delivers

bucketsof power

Cover story

Cover page: Sea trials of the first of the KCG 300 tonne vesselsAbove: HamiltonJet fitter Neil Harrison tightens the astern deflector bracket on the HT1000 waterjetLeft: Twin HamiltonJet HM811 boost water-jets are flanked by HT1000 waterjets on the transom of the KCG 300T vessel

C.W.F Hamilton & [email protected]

www.hamiltonjet.co.nz03-962-0530

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 9

Hamiltonjet

Delivers

bucketsof power

Cover story

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BOAT SHOW FEATURE

Barry QuayleMystery Creek Events [email protected]

07-843-4497

A major strength of the marine in-dustry is its ability to work together

– an example is a cordial agreement between the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show and Classic Events to host just one boat show in the Waikato region, at Mystery Creek Events Cen-tre, 10km south of Hamilton.

This means that all boat show-related resources in the area, includ-ing full promotional budget, will be focused solely on one boat show.

Barry Quayle, general manager, Mystery Creek Events Centre, and a member of the joint venture board of Waikato Boat Show and MIA, says he is “exceptionally pleased” with the level of commitment already made by exhibitors at the show.

“It’s a much stronger level of commitment compared with the same period last year,” he says. “We already have 60 exhibitors committed to most of the 6200m2 available in the Mystery Creek Pavillion.”

He attributes this to the show’s tighter focus on boating and fishing,

without peripheral activities such as caravans. It will bring together an extensive range of boats and ma-rine equipment, from kayaks and inflatables to trailer boats and luxury launches, plus fishing accessories and water sports equipment. “I think we’ll see a greater quality of visitors who come to the show for the marine products and services. They’ll also enjoy the interactive activities we have planned for the lake here, to do with skills for safe boating and fishing.”

Acting on feedback from the 2008 shows, the organisers have revised the layout, added sites, channelled foot traffic for optimum exposure and brought back popular components from previous years – including fishing gurus Bill Hohepa and Bruce Duncan.

Organisers are expecting a good turnout from the public, following the examples of the Auckland International Boat Show and the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show earlier this year.

In understanding the challenges in today’s market the organisers have

negotiated good deals for the 2009 show’s expenses and passed savings, including reduced site fees, onto ex-hibiting companies. MIA members and qualifying Fieldays exhibitors are also offered an additional 20% loyalty dis-count over the reduced site fee rates.

The Waikato Boat, Fishing & Lei-sure Show is MIA membership-based, with the emphasis on running the show for member and industry benefit rather than for profit. See the website to download a copy of the prospectus.

Friday 16 October 10am – 5pmSaturday 17 October 10am – 5pmSunday 18 October10am – 5pm


Waikato Boat, Fishing and Leisure ShowNext show: 16-18 October 2009, at Mystery Creek

5th & 6th SEPtEMBER 2009

For further inquiries Phone 0800 600 242 or email [email protected]

presented by

NEW DATES

September 5 – 6

Westpac Centre

At the Christchurch Boat Show in July last year, it was particularly

important to remember where you had parked your car because, a few hours later, it was difficult to know exactly which mound of snow and ice was disguising your transport.

This year at the show, the cars will be parked on the bright-green spring growth, lambs will be gambolling on the outskirts of the city and there will be a general sense of: Hey, summer’s just around the corner – which is an excellent time for boaties to plan their summer season.

All leading manufacturers have confirmed they will be exhibiting at the Christchurch Boat Show, back in its former time slot in September. The venue is the same: the Westpac Centre, Addington. It will again bring together one of the South Island’s larg-est displays of boats, chandlery and marine equipment in one location. The spring timing has attracted a higher

number of retailers involved in kayaks, chandlery, diving and fishing equip-ment, and marine clothing.

Peter Busfield, executive director of the MIA, says the show traditionally attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the South Island. “This year’s early spring dates coincide with the start of the boating season.”

A hot topic of interest among the exhibitors will be the boat show awards, with two prizes: Best Innova-tive Product within the last 12 months, and Best New Boat Release within the last 12 months. The judging criteria includes a strong emphasis on how the boat is presented: spotless and, where appropriate, with fishing rods, nets and tackle ready.

Judging will take place from 11.00am Saturday, and awards will be presented at the Exhibitors’ Function the same evening.

Grass roots sailing will enjoy a strong presence at the show, thanks to

the MIA providing free space to local sailing clubs and associations. The Canterbury Sports Fishing Club will present regular fishing and cooking demonstrations.

For the 2009 show, the MIA has negotiated a special discount for the bigger sites, to assist larger exhibitors in maintaining their participation at this premier South Island boat show. Paid-up MIA members will receive a special discount on top of this.

Tony Smoor, manager, Christch-urch Boat Show, says there is an extensive PR campaign to promote the show, including TV, radio, press, magazine coverage, and a direct mail campaign to target patrons from the 2007 and 2008 shows. Discount cards for show entry will be distributed to retailers and businesses throughout the region. He says there has been a “fantastic” response to the new dates for the show.

On entry, all visitors will go in the draw to win a week’s sailing holiday in Tonga with The Moorings, and receive a free, colour programme, listing ex-hibitors and their show locations.

Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children and under 5s are free.

Friday 4 September show set-up 10.00am – 8.00pmSaturday 5 September public hours 10.00am – 8.30pmexhibitor function from 8.30pmSunday 6 September public hours 10.00am – 4.30pmshow breakdown 4.45pm – 8pm

Tony SmoorBoat Show Manager, MIA, 09-360-0056

[email protected]

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 11

Christchurch Boat ShowNext show: 5-6 September 2009

BOAT SHOW FEATURE

Boat shows are a barometer for sales in the marine industry and

in the build-up to both shows already held this year – the Auckland Interna-tional Boat Show and the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show – there were doubts about how the numbers would stack up in the recession.

But, as both shows demonstrated, Kiwis’ love of boating keeps them coming in good numbers.

In the case of the Auckland on-the-water show in the Viaduct Harbour from Thursday, 5 March to Sunday, 9 March, even winds of up to 60 knots on open-ing day couldn’t turn away all punters. The fine weather returned for the weekend and Saturday’s numbers through the gate set a new boat show record for the same day on previous years. When the show closed at 6pm on Sunday, it had welcomed 19,900 people through the gates, just 100 down on last year.

This reflected the success of a strong marketing campaign by the MIA, in conjunction with PR companies and Peter Montgomery as the Voice of the Show. As well as monthly press releases targeting the boating public and the general public, a boat show supplement was distributed in the Feb-ruary issue of Boating New Zealand, and the MIA hosted a seminar day on 28 January to help exhibitors maxim-ise their investment in the boat show. This included encouraging them to announce their new releases early, to take advantage of the publicity.

Auckland International Boat Show 2009 was part of an event week, organised by Tourism Auckland, which jointly promoted the boat show with Auckland Cup Week. It gave Auckland-

ers and out-of-towners a fun bonus: visiting the boat show and trying their luck on the horses in the same week. The Auckland International Boat Show 2010 will be part of a similar event week, organised with Tourism Auck-land and Ellerslie Racecourse.

Following an extensive de-brief process, the MIA will extend its public-ity strategy for Auckland International Boat Show 2010 to major Australian states. It is pleased to have accepted commitments from all its 2009 spon-sors, including the Auckland City Council which proved an enthusiastic

supporter this year. The 2010 show will also celebrate 12 years of

sponsorship by Boating New Zealand. Peter Busfield, executive director of

the MIA, encourages marine compa-nies to take advantage of the MIA’s extensive PR and marketing campaign in the build-up to the show.

“The PR team is keen to run good stories of innovative products and new boats that will be exhibiting at the show,” he says, “but the onus is on the companies to get maximum benefit from our marketing campaign. We urge them to contact us with material to promote their products.” MIA’s Fast-Mail will notify members of editorial deadlines every month and a media day in January will provide another opportunity for exhibitors to promote their business.

To book your usual stand or a new site, please contact the MIA.

The high attendance numbers reflected the success of a strong

marketing campaign, with PR companies and Peter Montgomery

as Voice of the Show.

Tony SmoorBoat Show Manager, MIA, 09-360-0056

[email protected]


Auckland International Boat ShowNext show: 11-14 March 2010 (Trade Day 10 March)

Sales of boats and marine equip-ment at this year’s Hutchwilco

New Zealand Boat Show in May were unexpectedly high for many manufac-turers, including South Island alumin-ium boat manufacturer, McLay Boats, Whakatane-based Extreme Boats who reported at least 20 sales of boats, and equipment distributor Lusty and Blundell who exceeded sales in Ray-marine electronics for previous years.

Even non-profit organisations had a good show. Coastguard sold a record 70 memberships at the show and Rowing for Prostate raised more than $3000.

More than 30,000 people attended the four-day show, an increase on at-tendance figures in 2008, reflecting the

show’s intense marketing campaign and a renewed interest in boating.

At the show’s Boat of the Show Awards, the Rayglass Cruisemaster 850 won Boat of the Show: Overall Winner for the second year in a row. The boat also won the All Purpose Open category with stablemate Leg-end 2500 taking out GRP Fishing Boat Open.

Haines Hunter won the All Purpose Under 6m with its new 485 Sports Fisherman and the All Purpose 6-7 Metres with the new SE 700.

The new Profile 750HW won the Aluminium Fishing Boat Open; the Ex-treme 610 Game King won Aluminium Fishing Boat 6-7m and the Extreme 570 Game King won the Aluminium

Fishing Boat Under 6m.In the other GRP Fishing Boat

categories, the Smuggler Stealth 695 Sport won the 6-7m category and the Seaforce 530 Ute won the Under 6m.

Long time marine journalist, editor and photographer Barry Thompson was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Next year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show will run from 13-16 May, featuring new floor plans through-out. The prospectus will be available later this year.

Dave GibbsHutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show

[email protected]

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 13

Next show: 13-16 May 2010Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show

Marine industry precinct at Hobsonville

Plans for the development of the former Hobsonville airbase are

progressing well. The Hobsonville Land Company is the master develop-er of the Hobsonville site, which covers approximately 167ha and is planned to

include more than 3,000 homes, retail and office development, a secondary and primary school, and community facilities. Within the Hobsonville site, Waitakere Properties Limited controls approximately 20ha which it is devel-

oping as a marine precinct.The marine industry precinct will

provide a world-class superyacht facil-ity, which can accommodate long term growth and meet the world’s best de-sign and environmental standards. The proposed 20ha precinct will include about 100,000m2 of marine industry and associated buildings.

With the necessary zoning in place, a formal development plan is before the Waitakere City Council. Resource consents will be lodged in August and, on receipt of these, civil works and development will commence.

Waitakere Properties Ltd and the MIA exclusively invite members of the New Zealand marine industry to a formal overview of the marine precinct at Hobsonville.

Time: 10am, 26 August 2009Location: Sunderland Lounge, Marine Parade, Hobsonville

To register, please email your de-tails to [email protected] with “Marine Industry Launch” in the subject line.

Hobsonville Point: Government green light for stage one

The Government has given Hob-sonville Land Company (HLC) the

go-ahead on the first stage of develop-ment at Hobsonville Point.

The Buckley Precinct, in the mid-western section of the site, will comprise more than 600 dwellings. The first stage, to build about 80 traditional stand-alone and terrace houses, is expected to begin mid-2010 with people moving in early 2011. The Ministry of Education has secured land for secondary and primary schools at Hobsonville Point.

Independent hearing commis-

sioners approved the Comprehensive Development Plan Consent for the first area of development in February. There were a few appeals; these have been successfully resolved.

Coastal consent applications for The Landing at Hobsonville Point are due to be lodged in August, subject to further approvals by Government. The Landing will be the coastal gateway for

the site, providing for public recrea-tional facilities, a ferry service to down-town Auckland, launching facilities and berthing of large boats associated with the marine precinct.

HLC is working on a marine-related education facility, including the Auckland Traditional Boatbuilding School, currently situated in tempo-rary premises on the site. www.hobsonvilleland.co.nz


MIA Marine PrecinctsChaired by Peter Walker

Harbour Central Marine Precinct - Tauranga

Tauranga’s economic development agency, Priority One, has consult-

ed with the MIA in a plan to develop space known as Harbour Central: five hectares of harbour-side property owned by Tauranga City Council. The proposed development includes haul-out and marine refit options, offices and retail, and the potential to host marine research activities.

Development is proposed over three stages: installation of a 200-tonne travel lift, covered work ar-eas and commercial / retail and office development; installation of 600-tonne platform lift and 80-tonne travel lift (to replace the 200-tonne travel lift), paint hall and refit shed; and development of engineering sheds. Development is expected to commence during 2010.

The venture, expected to create 520 jobs and more than $100m or revenue, has strong support from Tauranga City Council.

Harbour Central Marine Precinct, Richard Kinzett from Priority One: 07 571 1401 or [email protected]

Whangarei Marina

The Northland Marine Develop-ment Group surveyed visiting yachties in May 2008 to clarify their needs in Whangarei and Bay of Islands. This information was included in a report commissioned by NZTE: A Review of New Zealand’s Capability, Capacity and Potential to Provide Yacht Refit Services. The Refit Committee is now working on some of the issues raised in the report.

Green port at Nelson

Nelson firm Challenge New Zea-land is planning a Green Port for Black Boats: an environmentally-certified centre for marine and general engi-neering, with later upgrade to ship capability, in Nelson. Stage one of the three-stage plan will include a marine precinct, a 350-tonne travelift, and service facilities for ships up to 40m.

Lane Finley of Challenge New Zealand said a consortium of Port Nelson, Challenge Marine, Fluid Power Solutions, Nelson Reliance Engineer-ing, McBride Design, Unimar Offshore Support Services and Kernohan Engi-neering was involved.

Harbour Central: Proposed marine precinct development in Tauranga

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 15

The Wynyard Quarter

The MIA put extensive efforts into its submissions for the Wynyard

Quarter Plan Changes in Auckland, most of which have been recognised in the Commissioner’s Report. The MIA is working with principal devel-oper, Sea+City, on how the marine and fishing industries will use the western edge sites, especially for refit and commissioning of superyachts. However, the commissioner’s rulings are subject to appeals through the Environment Court. These are under negotiation with ACC and ARC.

The MIA also supported Auckland City in fast-tracking the Marine Events Centre on the Halsey Street Wharf – formerly occupied by Prada and Oracle syndicates, ready for the Rugby World Cup. Subject to resource con-sent, completion is scheduled for July/

Concept

Concept

Concept

August 2011. MIA participated in the Te Wero Bridge peer review workshops and welcomes the council’s funds for a temporary bridge until a final design is developed.

Also planned is a waterfront promenade from Jellicoe St down to Silo Park. More than 8ha of land has been cleared of tanks and buildings, opening up the harbour view. The whole package will give Auckland an edge in its competition with Australia for superyacht business.

The $10m upgrade of North Wharf for fishing boats will be finished this year, and spaces will be offered to retail and entertainment businesses. The seafood industry will have a home in Jellicoe St.

Peter WalkerWalker Projects Ltd

[email protected]


MIA Marine Precincts(cont.)

repairs and maintenance on boats and lived off the fat we’d accumulated. Let-ting people go was one of the hardest decisions I had to make.

“We moved away from fibreglass powerboats and into trailer yachts which were taxed differently. It mini-mised the loss situation, but we had a three-year period of losing money.”

However, Sands says, out of something bad comes something good. The boat tax forced him and his father to re-think the way they ran their business. “We’d been manufacturing retailers; we had no dealer network – we only sold off the yard. But the world was changing: the corner grocery shop had been replaced by the big supermarkets. We couldn’t handle finance and trade-ins. We were pretty good boatbuilders, but not flash on the retail stuff.”

Enter Don St Clair Brown, an Auck-land businessman and sailor. “Having him as a mentor was absolutely vital for the business,” Sands says, “even when he drove me crazy.”

St Clair Brown’s advice for hard times? “Get out of the clutches of the banks, don’t borrow. Keep small and compact and keep your overheads low,” Sands remembers.

St Clair Brown also introduced

At this year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, Lionel Sands

of Seacraft Ltd accepted two awards: All Purpose Under 6m and All Purpose 6-7 metres. In his acceptance speech, he had a chin-up message for the industry: “We’ve been through worse and we will get through this.”

The manufacturer of Haines Hunter powerboats was referring to the recession; having spent 46 of his 63 years in business, Sands reckons the bad times come in 30-year cycles. His father, Sandy Sands, founded the company in 1945 with a £500 reha-bilitation loan after returning from a German POW camp. “He had to sell a row of tiles off the roof so he could buy food,” Sands says. “My father’s generation – particularly the ones that had come back from the War – had no fear of failure because they had looked fear in the eye. The business had its ups and downs but the graph was generally in the upwards position. Then, thirty years ago, we had the Muldoon sales tax at twenty per cent. It killed the industry.”

The Sands were better off than most. “We were mortgage-free and had a few bob in the bank. The first year of the sales tax we built and sold one new boat. We survived by doing

Sands to Les Miller. They formed a partnership and Miller took over the retail side. Another introduction from St Clair Brown was to Denis Kendall who is now a 50% share holder in the company. “Denis came with a sound marine background and with signifi-cant experience in business manage-ment and worked in accountancy,” Sands says. “What he brought to the company was a focus on profitability, stream-lining us for production and looking at the details. He also brought administration – we didn’t have any. I wrote notes on bits of plywood.”

Sands says it helps to make the hard decisions early. “In our case, in the current recession, reducing over-time was a necessary decision, that also reflected the company’s desire to avoid more drastic measures later. The most important part of retailing is minimising debt, because the interest comes straight off your bottom line.”

In a recession, he says, you need good salesmen, not simply “order tak-ers”, and dealers who present stock well and are well capitalised.

“Recession sorts the wheat out from the chaff – there’ll be some casu-alties. It’s a good opportunity, provid-ing you have the funding, to do some development work. That’s difficult to do when you’re busy because you don’t have the time.”

Other advice? “Don’t get your tail down. Suit your marketing strategies to the current conditions but maintain the same volume of advertising. We used to buy advertising because a pretty little thing would walk in here and sweet-talk one of our sales reps. I had no idea what I was spending and the money I was spending was huge. Now we employ a marketing company. If you have something to sell, you need to tell the world, in the right format.”

Lionel SandsSea Craft Ltd

[email protected]

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 17

“We’ve been through worse”

1700 - 1900

1800 - 1900

0700 - 0830

0830 - 0835

0835 - 0900

0900 - 0940

0940 - 1020

1020 - 1045

1045 - 1145

1145 - 1215

1215 - 1310

1310 - 1330

1330 - 1430

1500

Wednesday, 22nd April

Thursday, 23rd April

Friday, 24th April

Conference Registration at Millennium Hotel, Queenstown

Happy hour - sponsored by Tenob Marine

Conference Registration / Arrival Tea and Coffee

MIA President Ian Cook welcomes Delegates

Official opening address

Marine Industry update by Executive Director Peter Busfield and BITO GM Chris van der Hor

Dr. Ian Brooks - What does it really mean to be a customer driven business? Ian will inform and inspire you to gain profitable customers who stay with you for a long time

Morning Tea - Sponsored by RSM Prince

Dr. Ian Brooks - Interactive session: Providing practical tools for a customer driven business

Ulrich Heinemann - Construction require-ments for exporting to Europe and the USA

Panel discussion: How to develop a successful export business, what works and what doesn’t Format: Each panelist will talk about their export experiences, followed by an interac-tive session led by the facilitator

Surviving recessions - case studies

Lunch - sponsored by Tenob Marine

Board buses and leave for sightseeing at Arrowtown and a tour at Amisfield Winery, followed by dinner at Gibbston Valley Winery

1800 - 1830

1830 - 1900

1900 - 2000

2000

2230 - 2300

0730

0800 - 0845

0900 - 0950

0950 - 1040

1040 - 1105

1105 - 1150

1150 - 1240

1240 - 1330

1330 - 1430

1430

Owner of Gibbston Valley to present on their experiences of developing this successful business

Wine cave tour, Gibbston Valley Winery

Cocktail hour - sponsored by Electrics Afloat

Conference Dinner at Gibbston Valley Restau-rant (Partners and guests are welcome)

Return buses depart for Millennium Hotel

Millenium Hotel: Breakfast served for the AGMin Galaxy Room 1

The Marine Industry Association AGM at the Millennium Hotel, Galaxy Room 1

Peter Paola - QCDSM: a system to improve your productivity

Panel discussion: How we reduced the cost of production in our companies Format: Each panelist will talk about their methodologies, followed by an interactive session led by the facilitator

Morning Tea - Sponsored by RSM Prince

Cameron Bagrie - Current economic forecasts and how to use economic informa-tion for businesses advantage

Vikki Lee Goode – How to get a competitive advantage in a difficult market with smarter promotion

Phil O’Reilly - State of the Nation from a business perspective and what you can do to make a difference

Lunch - Sponsored by High Modulus

Conference Close

22-24 April, Millennium Hotel, QueenstownCONFERENCE 09The New Zealand Marine Industry

PROGRAMME

construction requirements for export-ing to Europe and the USA.

Peter Paola of QCDSM systems described his Try-Z (pronounced Try Zee) structure for improving productiv-ity, by involving all employees. Last year, he helped Formula Cruisers in

Hobsonville reduce a vessel’s build time by more than 7200 hours.

Peter, a South African, came across the concept in the 1980s when he visited the Nissan facilities in Japan and helped to implement it in a company employing 7000 people in Pretoria. www.qcdsm.com

Cameron Bagrie, chief economist of ANZ National Bank, commented on current economic forecasts and how to use them for advantages in business.

Vikki Lee Goode, of Goode PR,

Smarter business for better results – that was the theme of the 8th

annual MIA conference, held at the Millennium Hotel in Queenstown, 22 to 24 April.

Seventy-nine delegates from New Zealand and overseas attended, tak-ing the opportu-nity to network on a social basis – includ-ing a wine cave tour and a visit to Arrowtown – and explore their business options. As this year’s boat shows have already shown, people are still buying, refitting and servicing boats, albeit at a lower rate than in boom times. An underlying theme for several speakers was how to remain active in a smaller market.

Dr Ian Brooks, a popular keynote from previous years, returned to stress the importance of getting the basics right – see his tips opposite page.

Ulrich Heinemann, whose cre-dentials include managing director of International Marine Certification Institute IMCI, Brussels, looked at the

looked at how to get a competitive advantage in a difficult market with smarter promotion. See her top tips opposite page for maintaining your business profile in a downturn.

Phil O’Reilly, Business NZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy

organisation, reported on the state of the nation from a business perspective and what businesses can do to make a difference.

Case studies included Paul Adams, of Stabi-craft who, 20 years ago, gave up his day-job, nervously signed up for a $1000 overdraft and built the first aluminium pontoon boat. Recently, Paul Adams was named a member of the NZ Order of Merit for his services to business.

Delegates also heard from Richard Downs-Honey of High Modulus, a leader in structural engineering world-wide for 30 years. In the past year, the business has increased turnover more than 30%, largely on the back of in-creased activities in offshore markets.

The main aims of the MIA conference 2009 were:• To grow the NZ marine industry as a whole

• To bring together the leaders of New Zealand marine industry companies

• To provide speakers that will inspire, up-skill, educate and entertain

• To create valuable networking opportunities


NZ Marine Industry Conference 200922-24 April, Millennium Hotel, Queenstown

Supported by:

Vikki Lee Goode’s top tips for marketing in a recession• Hit the right noteIn tough times, people retreat to family values, nostalgia and traditional views. Anything that appeals on the basis of frivolity or fear is out. Reassure your customers that investing in your prod-ucts or services is a good decision and a sound investment. • Aim at the targetAdvertise where your potential custom-ers are likely to be reading, viewing, listening or hanging out. Don’t be tempted by cheap deals, if they are not reaching a high hit rate of good prospects, they are still expensive. • Keep spending but spend smarterThis is not the time to cut promotion. Brands that increase advertising and PR, when others are cutting back, can improve market share and return on investment for less cost than in good economic times. • Show and deliver valueRemind your customers what great value your products and services deliver to them. Do deals: buy 2 get 1 free, discount, improve terms, cross-sell. Offer temporary price promotions. • Read the consumer trendsFollow consumer behaviour right now and watch for trends emerging. Find out how your customers are behaving and offer products and services that match their changing expectations. • Focus on your customers Get close to your best customers - by refurbishing your databases, getting sales people to pick up the phone, finding good reasons to communicate regularly. Offer rewards for loyalty. Focus on your most profitable custom-ers and invest in keeping them. Some companies are putting their efforts into supporting 20% of customers who are providing 80% of sales. They may even avoid those customers who involve too much chasing for too little return. • Plan ahead but be prepared to change quickly for a better idea • Use PRIt’s a number one tool: incredibly cost effective and more affordable than you might think.

Bob FraserMembership Services Officer, MIA

[email protected]

1. Understand customers are your businessYour profit and the money to run your business and pay your staff come from your customers. Without them you have nothing.

2. Become a farmer, not a hunterYour best customer is the one you’ve already got. Understand their lifetime value and aim to get all that business.

3. Focus on creating superior customer valueMake sure the benefits your customers get from you are greater than the costs they pay.

4. Be fast and easy to do business withTime and effort are bigger costs to customers than the price.

5. Aim to create an inspirational customer experienceMake sure your customers walk away so impressed with you, they want to tell others how great you are.

6. Walk in your customers’ shoesAsk yourself: if I was the customer, what would I like to hear or see happen?

7. Show you careCompanies and people not caring is the biggest cause of bad customer experiences.

8. Have a can-do, will-do attitudeThink of what you can do for your customers, not what you cannot do. Then do it.

9. Treat your customers politely and with respectCustomers want to be greeted, hear ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and to be spoken to with respect.

10. Solve your customers’ problemsCustomers want solutions, not explanations or excuses – just results.

11. Go the extra mileDelight your customers by looking for problems they would just love you to solve but cannot reasonably expect you will – and then solve them.

12. Learn from your customersThey will tell you everything you need to know to succeed. Listen to what their compliments, complaints, questions and suggestions are telling you about your business.

www.ianbrooks.com

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 19

12 tips for businesssuccess

Dr. Ian Brooks’ top

Registrations increase

The Boating Industry Training Organisation registered 118 new

apprentice/trainees to 30 June this year, indicating the industry’s willing-ness to continue investing in skilled staff. Despite the current economic climate, industry training continues to be well supported with the number of apprentices/trainees at 660.

BITO general manager Chris van der Hor says the increased number of apprentice/trainee registrations is partly due to new qualifications offered by the industry. These include:• National Certificate in Marine Sales and Services (Marine Retailing and Distribution) Level 4• National Certificate in Boatbuild-ing (Fill and Fair Marine Substrates) Level 3• Limited Credit Programme (Boat-building Foundation Skills) Gateway – 23 credits (for secondary school students only)• Limited Credit Programme (Boat-building Foundation Skills) Pre-apprenticeship – 41 credits • Limited Credit Programme (Com-posites) – 37 credits (for Compos-ites Industry - non-boatbuilding)

Limited Credit Programmes (LCPs) allow a trainee and employer a trial period of practical and theory work at introductory level, before committing to a full national certificate in that subject. If the apprenticeship does go ahead, credits from the LCP count towards the national certificates.

BITO is also developing advanced qualifications at level 5 (Diploma level):• Diploma in Boatbuilding (Metal Yacht Construction) Level 5• Diploma in Boatbuilding (Compos-ite Yacht Construction) Level 5

BITO has completed a consultation process for the National Certificate in Boatbuilding (Level 4). The new format replaces the 2000 version and will be phased in from late 2009.

Employers’ Guide to Apprenticeship Training

BITO is producing a guide to assist employers gain the maxi-

mum benefit from the employment and training of apprentices. It will include recruitment strategies, structure of apprenticeships, benefits of training, responsibilities of employers and apprentices, literacy and numeracy, and how to review training progress. Copies will be distributed to all member companies; it is hoped that industry will adopt these recommenda-tions, which will lift industry stand-ards. The guide has been produced in consultation with industry.

Hard Yards: Prime Minister John Key and Bevan Randell at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show

Bevan Randell does the Hard Yards

Bevan Randell, aged 22, completed his boatbuilding apprenticeship

at Spencer Marine during 2008. He had always wanted to build a hard-top boat, so, with the support and design input of his employer, Richard Spencer, three years ago Bevan began building his 8.5-metre fibreglass boat, in his own time. His boat, Hard Yards, was on display at the BITO stand at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show and attracted a surprise visit from the Prime Minister, John Key. BITO was proud to highlight the skills of a young and highly motivated and skilled boatbuilding apprentice.


Boating Industry Training OrganisationChaired by Lloyd Stevenson

Technology-based learning: RUDDER Project

The project RUDDER (Review, Understand, Detect, Develop,

Engage, Recall), is a partnership between Urban Voyage, a superyacht 3D visualisation specialist and BITO. This is a technology-based learning project with innovative learning tech-niques that will greatly raise the level and quality of understanding of course content for marine industry appren-tices/trainees.

RUDDER involves a learner-orient-ed, interactive environment that uses multiple media such as text, video and hands-on 3D interactive simulations which are delivered through an on-line, e-learning platform: “It will help ap-prentices steer their course.”

BITO is seeking to fund this from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) along with current industry investment to further develop this project. Its aims for RUDDER are to attract new entrants to the marine industry and provide a more effective learning environment.

BITO supports Literacy and Numeracy

Most apprentices in the marine industry are people who tend to

enjoy working with their hands, and their experience of maths and English at school was nothing to get excited about. In the workplace, however, literacy and numeracy suddenly have a place – boatbuilders need good reading skills to understand user manuals for installing equipment, and an understanding of maths helps with the complex measurements in boatbuilding.

A new programme launched this year, Literacy Aotearoa, provides up to 30 hours one-on-one tutoring, valued at around $1800, to all apprentices who need it. For most, this involves meeting their tutor for an hour, one day a week after work.

Last year, BITO secured govern-ment funding to launch an Embedded Literacy and Numeracy Project and appointed Charlie Hayward as its full-time literacy and numeracy coordi-nator. Charlie is reviewing the Study Notes to make them easier to read, and working with the night school and block course tutors to support appren-tices in their study.

Charlie says all the Literacy Aotearoa tutors use the apprentice’s Study Notes to help tailor the lessons. “When study is directly relevant to something you enjoy, you can relate to it so much better,” Charlie says.

Apprentices who feel they may benefit from Literacy Aotearoa may contact their field officer or phone Charlie Hayward on (09) 360 0056, or email [email protected]

World Skills Challenge

They are considered the Olympics of the Trades: when apprentice

tradesmen from all over the world compete in the Worldskills Competi-tion in Calgary, Canada, in September. Mike Shieffelbein, a 19-year-old marine cabinetmaking apprentice from Robin-son Marine Interiors, will represent the New Zealand Tool Blacks team. Mike was selected at an event in Wellington in which six apprentices from Robin-son Marine Interiors, Alloy Yachts and Salthouse Marine used supplied tools, plans and timber to make cabinets over three days..

“You had to do a lot by hand,” Mike says. “From dovetailing, we had to use a handsaw and a chisel instead of using a dovetail machine. You have minimal cramps so you need to use them effectively to achieve tight joins. If you muck something up and need more timber, you lose points.”

Jonathon Lougher from Alloy Yachts won the Wellington trials but is over the age limit of 22 to qualify for Canada, so the spot went to Mike.

Mike has shipped a box of power tools and transformers to Canada.

RUDDER interface: a screen-shot of the on-line E-learning platform

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 21

Lean Marine Thinking

The Boating Industry Training Organisation (BITO) has taken

a significant step in making it easily affordable for member companies to participate in Lean Marine Thinking programmes. These are a set of op-portunities to help businesses become more competitive, achieve better returns on investments, and increase staff effectiveness.

BITO has negotiated a heavily subsidised programme with QCD Systems so that member companies can have their staff trained in ‘Lean’ programmes.

Some of the benefits offered by the programme include:

Below: Picture 1: Brendon Jones and Nenad Rajic of Southern Spars

Picture 2: Cameron Harrison of Smuggler Marine

Picture 3: Sean Ervine of 121 Marine Centre

Picture 4: Bowen Turoa and Wiremu Thompson of NZ Yachting Developments

Picture 5: Welder at Alloy Yachts International

• Identify, develop and implement more effective workflow processes• Manage information to provide measurable results• Involve staff in improving effi-ciency• Create pride in the workplace so that staff feel a sense of owner-ship in the company and are more personally motivated• Use external consultants to help implement the necessary changes

To participate in the programme, companies must be MIA members and have all trainees registered under BITO to a Competitive Manufacturing Qualifi-cation from level 2 to level 5.

Training costs per year:

• BITO registration fee per trainee:

$100 pa• Cost of 2 ½ day TRY Z seminar per participant:

$300 pa• Ongoing QCDSM training for each trainee on site:

$200 pa

This is a significant step in Lean Marine Thinking, presented at excel-lent value. Companies wishing to know more, or to register for the programme, may contact their field officer or BITO.


1 3

4 5

2

Stabi-craft tries out Try-Z

A core role of Industry Training Organisations, as set out in the

Industry Training Act, is to build ef-fective ways of supplying skills, use market information more effectively and develop a better understanding of training. In achieving these goals, Industry Training Organisations are improving workplace productivity and business performance. QCD Systems

With these aims in mind, BITO is working with QCD Systems which has developed a model for improving efficiency, called QCDSM – Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety and Morale. This includes Try-Z, a manufacturing training model, which will be part of the Competitive Manufacturing qualifica-tions.

BITO is trialling the system with several marine companies, including Invercargill boat manufacturer Stabi-craft Marine. Stabi-craft general man-ager Paul Adams and his staff learned the system in a Try-Z workshop.

“We spent two and a half days putting little toy cars together on a production line,” Adams said. “We’ll be implementing it over the next six months.” Adams was impressed by the lean thinking system as it covered the whole business, rather than just manufacturing, and is self-correcting, continually finding and fixing faults. Prime Minister John Key observed the early stages of QCDSM at Stabi-craft recently.

BITO has signed an agreement with QCD Systems to make the pro-gramme available to the wider marine industry at an affordable cost. The introductory programme is supported by the Tertiary Education Commission; Trade and Enterprise New Zealand assisted Stabi-craft Marine’s imple-mentation.

Early indications are positive, and more comprehensive results will be reported in the next MIA News.

Chris van der Hor General Manager, BITO

[email protected]

This page: Prime Minister John Key with

Paul Adams at Stabi-craft

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 23

The ultimate team building event – the 2009 Makita Marine Trades

Challenge (MTC), was held Saturday 4 April at the MIA headquarters, West-haven Marina, Auckland. In perfect weather conditions, an all-time high of 25 boatbuilding teams competed for the Harken trophy and the chance to compete at the Australian challenge held at the Sydney International Boat Show in July.

With no South Island event this year, MTC welcomed a team from Christchurch, two teams from Fitzroy Yachts in New Plymouth, Hakes Marine from Wellington and APS Marine/West-ern Boat Repairs from Australia. For the first time, the MTC included high school teams, Westlake Boys’ High School and Glenfield College.

BITO (Boating Industry Training Organisation) organises the event, in which teams of three apprentices and an experienced boatbuilder build boats in two hours to plans provided by the organisers.

The teams receive three sheets of plywood, some lengths of cedar and pine, Sika 291 adhesive, cordage,

bailer, fastenings and a set of Makita tools. Southern Spars provided shiny black carbon fibre masts with halyards already run. Judges, representing boatbuilders, designers, structural engineers, painters and media from the marine industry, marked teams on site cleanliness and presentation, team support, safety observation, standard of build and innovation – and racing on the water.For the innovation category, teams may bring, pre-built, a rudder and tiller, centreboard and case, or paddles or oars.

The on-water course is an upwind paddle or row, followed by a down-wind sail under North Sails gennakers. Old hands, such as Dickson Marine, continued their use of short paddles as it helps them avoid getting caught in a log jam.

Peter Montgomery got on the mike for the final race so that the antics of

prods tangled with paddles, tangled with capsized craft, actually sounded like a professional outing.

Cookson Boats and Vaudrey Miller sent teams to the Build a Boat competition at the Sydney Inter-national Boatshow, continuing five years of Kiwi domination. Defending champions Cookson Boats again won the event finale on the water. BITO apprentices Andrew Duire and Sam Israelson designed and built a light, fast kayak-styled craft that proved seaworthy and manoeuvrable. Vaudrey Miller’s apprentices attending their first competition finished third on the water. Their long straight boat proved fast on the legs but slower through the mark roundings.


Marine Trades ChallengeNext event : 20 february 2010

Mike BirdsallField Officer and Events, BITO

[email protected] 09-360-0056

Main picture: Sailing leg of the 2009 Marine

Trades Challenge in WesthavenTop left:

Paul Moriarty, Apprentice Joiner at Fitzroy Yachts, cutting away

Top centre: An example of a mast step design

Top right: The support crowd of the 25 teams

watching the preparationsPhotos by Rebecca Hayter

and Colin Sandford

On the water Transpac Trophy

Health and Safety BITO Trophy

Team support and Presentation

Best Built Boat

Winners overall

Manager’s Trophy - MIA Trophy

First non-builder - EAL Trophy

North Sails / Southern Spars Trophy for Innovation

First Time Entrant - High Modulus Trophy

Cookson BoatsDickson Marine RefitsAPS Marine / Western Boat Repairs (Australia)

Harkin Team 12Cookson BoatsEqual: Fitzroy Yachts Team 24 and Alloy Yachts Team 14

Firebird MarineFitzroy Yachts Team 24Fitzroy Yachts Team 23

Yachting Developments Team 8Cookson Boats Team 2Vaudrey Miller Team 3

Cookson BoatsVaudrey Miller BoatsDickson Marine

Brian Harkin, HarkinBoatbuilders

Southern Spars Team 5

Yachting Developments Team 8Alloy Yachts Team 15Stark Bros Team 19

Brin Wilson / Craig Partridge Team 18

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 25

From top: – MIA President Ian Cook addresses the guests at the Navico After 5– Networking at the Friendship Yachts After 5– Doyle Sails new loft in Avondale, Auckland

Doug Anderson and his team at Navico hosted an After Five

function for more than 70 people on 25 June. The Albany research centre is the largest of four Navico centres around the world and employs 58 designers and engineers.

At its Glenfield location, Navico manufactures specialist Navico models, which includes fish finders and chart plotters, but the highlight was the new Navico Broadband radar, available under Simrad, Northstar and Lowrance. Unlike pulse radars, it can be mounted almost anywhere on the boat because it is safe to be near.

The Broadband Radar represents more than five years development in new technology. It has superior target definition, allowing crew to clearly differentiate between docks, channel markers, pilings and moored vessels at close range.

Friendship Yachts in Whangarei hosted an After Five on Wednes-

day, 22 July, attended by around 140 people. Dennis Maconaghie discussed the projects underway, including a fast tender and a gleaming timber Starcraft, circa 1930s for the refit of the superyacht Suri.

Friendship Yachts is the exclusive builder of the classic-style Friendship 40 model, designed by Ted Fontaine in the USA. Number 19, Pussywillow, registered in Newport, was lauched late July. The first Friendship 75 is due for launching late this year.

Doyle Sails New Zealand will host an After Five function on Thursday

27 August. Dates coming up include Tauranga Marine Industry Association in Tauranga in September; Mouldcam NZ Ltd, Auckland in October and a Christchurch company in November.

MIA Boating After 5

Bob FraserMembership Services Officer, MIA

[email protected]


NZ Marine Export Group Inc, for-merly MAREX, is the export sector

group of the MIA. It focuses on marine export and employs a full-time man-ager, Jo Dick, to manage and co-ordi-nate all aspects of its work, although committee members also contribute a significant amount of voluntary time. Member companies of NZ Marine pay an annual subscription, in addition to their MIA subscription.

The group was originally set up to look after the interests of boatbuilders, but its brief has expanded to include manufacturers of products such as clothing, electronics and spars. Com-panies involved in these activities are represented on the committee.

A major role of NZ Marine is to help member companies attend some or all of the four main overseas boat shows: Fort Lauderdale, Dubai, Monaco, and METS in the Netherlands. NZ Ma-rine books a large amount of space at the show and sub-leases that to member companies. It arranges all signage and promotion, so that there is a solid, consistently branded New Zealand Street. It organises functions and invites potential customers and suppliers to attend, thereby fostering a strong networking environment for member companies.

Every boat show has a different focus – for example, METS is a trade show for innovative products – so NZ Marine can help companies to decide which boat shows will best suit their target market.

Chairman Mark Wightman says sites at these shows can cost more than $25,000, so NZ Marine makes space available for incubator sites: that is, a small space in which a company can display signage and brochures to test the water, before committing to a full-size site.

“It gives new companies immedi-ate credibility to be accepted under the New Zealand brand,” Wightman says. “They have to be mainly marine-related and be accepted as a good fit when applying for membership.”

But the most glamorous event on NZ Marine’s agenda is the Millennium Cup race for superyachts. The most recent was held in Auckland during the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series; prior to that it was in Mallorca. “It’s a huge, logistical exercise,” says Wightman, adding that it involves superyacht berthing, crew requirements, pilotage and even a golf tournament.

Another service offered by NZ Ma-rine is the New Zealand Marine Excel-lence Directory: a high quality, glossy

publication, which promotes the New Zealand marine industry, specifically exporters, and provides a directory of all member companies. The full content of the directory is on the website and the book also contains a CD for convenience when travelling. A quarterly newsletter of industry news is distributed to members, and local and international media – this is also available on the website. “It contains marketing intelligence,” Wightman says. “For example, if there is a new build starting in Holland, the news would be passed on so that New Zea-land companies could contact them and offer their products to them.”

Every three years or so, the NZ Marine executive arranges Yacht Vision, in which some of the world’s best naval architects, interior design-ers and structural engineers are invited to speak at a three-day conference in Auckland. The group also arranges inbound trade missions in which journalists from overseas are invited to New Zealand to visit local boatyards and manufacturers.

Jo DickNZ Marine Export Group

[email protected]

Monaco Yacht Show 2008

NZ Marine Export GroupChaired by Mark Wightman

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 27

Ian MacLeodVT Fitzroy

[email protected]

Within New Zealand, RINA’s primary focus is to help its

members continue their professional development; last year this included a presentation on structures and stability by naval architect John Harrhy.

Pricing and contracts is a difficult area for many naval architects and designers; RINA advises members on contractual specifications and has developed a standard set of terms to protect copyright.

The New Zealand branch of RINA enables its members to share the ben-

efits of RINA worldwide, including ac-cess to an internationally recognised, professional qualification; free access to leading technical journals, plus discounts on other related literature; reduced rates for all RINA international conferences and training courses, and general networking opportunities within New Zealand and overseas.

The members visit boatbuilding projects which are particularly innova-tive, such as Alloy Yachts’ Mondango project and Doyle Sails’ new sail loft in Avondale, Auckland. An upcoming

visit will be to the Auckland University’s wind tunnel, and include a paper de-livered by an engineering student who won a cash prize sponsored by RINA.

RINA also sponsors the Marine De-sign course at Unitec with a prize for the best project and offers mentoring for students working on a project.

Arrowcat NZ www.arrowcat.co.nz Bailey Marine www.baileymarine.co.nzBlue World Yachting [email protected] Chains, Ropes and Anchors www.chainsropesandanchors.co.nzChallenge Marine www.challengegroup.co.nzDecking Specialists www.deckspecs.co.nzDiverse Projects Ltd www.diverseprojects.comDoyle Sails New Zealand www.doylesails.co.nzFrews Marine www.frewsmarine.co.nzFriendship Yachts www.friendshipyachts.co.nzFuel Bug Technologies www.fuelbugtech.comInternational Marine Certification Institute www.imci.orgKeelshield NZ www.keelshield.co.nzMarine South Ltd [email protected] Engineering www.mge.co.nzMouldcamNZ www.mouldcam.co.nzNorsand www.norsand.co.nzNZ Sail.com www.nzsail.com Osprey Boats www.osprey.co.nzSea+City www.seacity.co.nzSea Spray magazine www.seaspraymag.comTouch of Gloss Gulf Harbour www.touchofgloss.co.nzToyota Tsusho NZ www.toyota-tsusho.comVessel Management Services www.vms.co.nzVoith Turbo NZ Pty www.voithturbo.comWartsila Australia www.wartsila.com


The MIA welcomes the following New Members:

Royal Institution of Naval Architects(RINA) NZ Division, Chaired by Ian MacLeod

The New Zealand Ship and Work-boat Group (NZSWB) represents

177 companies who, collectively, have all the skills necessary to build, refit, maintain and repair commercial vessels – the likes of pilot boats, fast ferries and commercial fishing boats. For vessels based overseas, it can also include military support boats and pirate protection vessels.

NZSWB chairman Tony Whiting says the skills required for commercial vessels vary significantly from those required for pleasure craft. Service work may include sandblasting, heavy hydraulics work on cranes and dredges, and specialist engineering. There is a constant awareness that time in dock represents lost earnings. “It is sometimes necessary to work around the clock to get the boat back at work quickly,” Whiting says.

Its member companies operate in-dependently, but the NZSWB umbrella presents their collective skills, coordi-nated by the MIA, as a one-stop-shop for commercial boat projects.

Tony Whiting says that by work-ing together, the companies under the NZSWB are far more effective in targeting the domestic market and overseas – especially the South Pacific region and east coast of Australia. Prior to this, it was easy to fall under the radar, as even the New Zealand government has sometimes commis-sioned overseas companies to supply and service its boats.

Recent initiatives by the group in-

clude the creation of www.nzshipand-workboat.co.nz which provides a comprehensive list of all NZSWB com-panies by location and skills offered, making it easy for potential custom-ers to familiarise themselves with the resources available.

NZSWB has formed an even closer working relationship with the MIA to improve efficiency in administration, has undertaken a survey of potential markets in the Pacific, and is preparing a presentation to ensure the Govern-ment is aware of all the services of-fered by NZSWB companies. A survey of the sector conducted in June 2009 provided the estimations below, which will be used in the up-coming presen-tation to the Government:• 2,732 Full Time Equivalent staff are employed with the 177 companies that form the Ship and Workboat Sector in New Zealand• The biggest group of these com-panies (30% or 81 of the total) are in

the equipment, service and supply category of “main activity”• The overall sector turnover is $442m per annum• 56% of the overall turnover ($259m) is generated through export activities• 80% of all companies in this sector (141 companies) are involved in export activities• 80% of companies within the sector expect their turnover to stay the same or increase for the next financial year• 78% expect the export component of their turnover to stay the same or increase next financial year

The sector also works closely with the Maritime Transport Association, and has increased its marketing to offshore governments and commercial operators, while increasing its profile at international events and boat shows.

A recent example of a project by a NZSWB company is Q-West Boat Builders of Wanganui which recently delivered the 19m, $2.7m Mararoa, Meridian’s new staff transport vessel for the Manapouri power station.

“This was one of the many suc-cessful projects within this group,” Whiting says.

Mararoa undergoing trialsPhoto courtesy of Q-West Boat Builders

Tony WhitingWhiting Power Systems

[email protected]

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 29

MIA New Zealand Ship and Workboat GroupChaired by Tony Whiting

The Refit Group represents com-panies throughout New Zealand

who collectively manage $150m worth of business a year; forecasts indicate that by 2010 this may increase to $412m. It reflects the high regard in which New Zealand is held as a refit and maintenance destination for large vessels and superyachts.

There are 12 people on the Refit Group committee, representing 200 companies who are directly or indi-rectly involved in refit work – either by doing the work involved or supplying those people.

More than 630 visiting yachts arrived in New Zealand in the last 12 months. Some are using New Zealand as a cruising stopover and carrying out routine repairs and maintenance; at the other end of the scale are super-yachts which come here specifically to undertake major refits. They are attracted to New Zealand for several reasons. It has a reputation for a high standard of workmanship and integrity. Yards are generally happy for own-ers and owners’ representatives to be involved in the project. Many of these boats have Kiwi crew so it is a good opportunity for them to spend time in their home country, and, for the non-Kiwis onboard, New Zealand is a popular tourist destination for them and their families.

Refit Group chairman Warren Tait believes that the service offered in New Zealand is often superior to that offered elsewhere. “For example, we often get asked to repair something - and repair it successfully – that other refit companies around the world have been unable to repair,” he says.

“We often hear our clients say: ‘It has not worked like that since I have been on the boat.’ On this note I think we can justifiably quote that our standard of work and innovation is one that is the envy of many refit facilities. I believe that you can’t solve today’s problems with yesterday’s answers, so we are always looking for innovative thinking; but with refit we are con-stantly fixing yesterday’s problems with today’s solutions, giving us a tech-nological advantage because of the wonderful network of skilled resources we have at our disposal.”

Research has shown that supery-achts staying for an average of six months spend nearly $1m in addition to their marine services – for example, accommodation, domestic travel and entertainment. Other gains for the local economy include foreign exchange earnings, employment and training.

And, when the work is done, the New Zealand and South Pacific cruis-ing grounds are a short sail away. Plus, for Northern Hemisphere boats, it’s a chance to have an extra summer.

The Refit Group was formed to encourage this trend and ensure New Zealand companies provide a refit service that continues to improve. With this in mind, the Refit Group plans for future developments in the sector; it markets its services internationally – often in conjunction with NZ Trade and Enterprise. Its member companies are listed in an easy-to-use format on NZ Marine’s website: www.nzmarine.com and it circulates a brochure advertising its services. The group has confirmed the marketing and PR services of Clive Bennett to write and distribute inter-

national press releases of superyacht refits in New Zealand.

Other achievements include the preparation of entries in the Refit Cat-egory of the 2010 World Superyachts Awards, rolling out a code of practice to ensure consistently high quality of work and planning to leverage off special events such as the Rugby World Cup 2011, Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup, Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and NZ Marine Millennium Cup.

Members of the Refit Group recent-ly completed a refit on the 49m (160ft), 350-tonne, superyacht ketch Thalia. Designed by New Zealand naval architect Ron Holland and launched in 1994, she has a low profile, classic style steel hull with teak-clad alumini-um superstructure.

Fourteen years after her launch-ing, she was due for a comprehensive refit and her skipper, Captain Jake Reid, surveyed possible options. “We chose New Zealand after consider-ing a combination of cost with the beneficial exchange rate and quality of work, equal if not better, than the best offered in Europe,” he says.

Work commenced in January 2008 at Orams Marine Services and in-volved more than 100,000 man hours, across many Auckland marine-related companies. It included major engi-neering work, complete stripping and finishing of the hull and decks, and an interior makeover, including new navigation and entertainment systems which accounted for 7km of cabling. Following Thalia’s 11-month refit, His Worship, the Mayor of Auckland, John Banks, accepted an invitation to view the work.


MIA Refit GroupChaired by Warren Tait

Warren TaitElectrics Afloat Ltd

[email protected]

Across page: Thalia anchored off Rangitoto IslandTop: Auckland Mayor John Banks visits Thalia. From left, Refit Group chairman Warren Tait, NZTE specialised manu-facturing sector operations director Craig Armstrong, Thalia captain Jake Reid, Auckland Mayor John Banks and MIA executive director Peter BusfieldAbove: New Zealand refit excellence: before and after shots of Thalia’s main saloon and foredeckPhotos by Clive Bennett, Kjell Nilsson, Ewen Café and Thalia crew

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 31

It wasn’t so long ago that New Zealand was a world leader in work-

related fatalities and injuries. Its safety record has improved dramatically in recent years so, while some of the health and safety measures may seem over-zealous, there is no doubt that they are helping to reduce accidents in the workplace.

The Health Safety and Environ-mental group meets quarterly, with

representatives from the Department of Labour and Accident Compensation Commission (ACC). Its main focus is to help companies within the marine industry comply with the health and safety requirements; to this end, the group is updating its health and safety manual, first published about five

years ago. With the benefit of experi-ence, the manual suggests more ef-fective ways to comply with the health and safety laws, in practical terms on the workshop floor, and in dealing with the significant amount of paperwork.

Companies which have effective health and safety systems can choose to have a two-yearly audit of their sys-tem. A workplace safety discount pro-gramme of up to 20% off ACC levies is available to companies who follow correct health and safety procedures.

Last year the group organised a forum to help manufacturers in the marine industry manage their health and safety requirements – including issues such as the ACC workplace safety management practices discount scheme, health monitoring of employ-ees, and for dealing with hazardous substances such as waste paint.

A representative from the Auckland Regional Council also attends the meetings to help companies deal with environmental issues, for example, air quality and discharge into streams. Apart from helping companies to be responsible citizens, it can save them being fined for infringement.

Chairwoman Tracey Stevenson admits that initially she felt the require-ments were quite arduous but, having worked with them for several years, she sees they have made a difference in making work places safer.

Mrs Stevenson would welcome en-quiries from people who are interested in being on the committee or who would like to receive the minutes of the meetings to keep them up to date with changes and information about health and safety, and environmental issues.

Tracey StevensonLloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders Ltd

[email protected]

Top: Han Cheol Heo of NZ Yachting Developments

Above: Sunset at Kai Iwi lakes, Northland, Summer ‘09


MIA Health, Safety and Environment GroupChaired by Tracey Stevenson

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 33

For 10 months from June last year, Rayglass Boats was out of produc-

tion, but – going by the increased volume of advertising and sponsorship by Rayglass – most people assumed the manufacturer was in full flight, which was what Rayglass wanted them to think.

On the day of the fire, there had been leakage from a chopper gun. When the area was hosed out, the water carried the leaked substance into contact with another substance. It took six hours before the reaction of the chemicals generated enough heat to ignite.

The fire destroyed all the moulds and means of production – includ-ing both sets of moulds for the highly popular Rayglass 2500; all jigs and patterns, some boats near completion and some belonging to customers, in for repair. Cost-wise, says managing director Tony Hembrow, they would have been better off losing the show-room and the boats ready for sale.

“I spent two to three days wal-lowing in emotion,” Hembrow says, although he can smile about it now. “It happened on a Friday. Monday, I gathered the staff and sent them home for a couple of days while we got our heads around it because we needed to make informed decisions.”

He’s aware that many people assumed that Brunswick, the giant corporate which purchased Rayglass two years ago, was standing by to pick up the pieces but Hembrow says Rayglass had to stand alone. Neither did he dwell on the fact that, 16 years ago, a faulty vacuum cleaner had also started a fire which destroyed the Rayglass building. “Then, I had a small factory and six staff. This time I’ve got 65 full-time staff and 40 subbies [sub-contractors].”

The management team did a thor-ough analysis: the insurance, existing

capital, production capacity, and the fact that the Rayglass Protector range, housed elsewhere, had survived. “If it wasn’t a sensible decision to rebuild

we wouldn’t have done it. We did the sums: here’s your insurance money. Do you put it in the bank and run away, and or do you rebuild? We had mas-sive customer support, a lot of brand loyalty and supplier loyalty. The guy who does our windscreens – that’s thirty percent of his work.

“We knew it would be an 8-9 month task to rebuild the moulds.”

Over a spit roast lunch, he told the staff that the company would stay in production, “but it was going to be a long, hard year and that we were com-mitted to getting a new boat and going into production with it straightaway. We needed to build as much as we could to create cash flow.”

They worked in teams. One team contacted all the customers who had lost boats in the fire or who had boats on order, in which case they were offered their deposits back. “It was about fifty-fifty,” Hembrow says. “Some didn’t want to wait. We helped some get into a good, secondhand Rayglass.”

Other teams emptied the burnt-out building. They began rebuilding moulds, the lifeblood of the company, in temporary premises. “We needed to keep everybody busy.”

Then, the world economy slumped, but in some ways, being out of pro-duction during a boom time would have been even more costly, and there has been a silver lining. The new build-ing will have the latest technology in moulding and assembly, air condition-

ing, air flow and dust extraction.“It’s led to a whole regrouping of

Rayglass. It’s been a great time for staff training, new safety processes, and for tooling up a new product.”

Lessons learned? “Check your insurance policy because you’re never going to have enough insurance. Even if you think you do, you don’t. Make sure you have a loss-of-production in-surance – it’s all very well having your

building back, but it’s no good if you’re broke.”

Despite the new building opening soon, he admits, “It’s bloody tough out there. The people who will see this

[recession] through are the people with no debt.”

When the economy picks up again, he wants to be ready for it and Rayglass has attended this year’s boat shows with a full fleet, including some borrowed boats. It was easy to forget that, for most of the last 12 months, it’s been out of production.

“Check your insurance policy be-cause you’re never going to have

enough insurance. Even if you think you do, you don’t.”

Tony HembrowRayglass Boats

[email protected]

After the fire

The CPC-certified (New Zealand Audited Boat Building Standard)

Manufacturers Group welcomes a new member, Extreme Boats of Whakatane, which manufactures a range of alu-minium trailer powerboats. Managing director Glenn Shaw says he became a member of the CPC programme because it dem-onstrates to his custom-ers, within New Zealand and overseas, that his boats are consistently built to a high-standard, accredited boatbuilding programme. “This was a good step to take,” Shaw said.

The CPC programme is endorsed by the MIA and Coastguard New Zealand and is supported by 14, lead-ing, New Zealand trailer powerboat manufacturers.

In the last 12 months, CPC has modified its criteria and plate design to meet the administration and wording

requirements of Australia’s builders’ plate requirements. This means that when New Zealand-CPC accredited boats are sold in Australia, they don’t need to apply for, nor display, any plate other than the New Zealand CPC plate. However boats built in Australia to the Australian builders’

plate require-ments do not meet New Zealand’s CPC require-ments.

CPC chairman Griff Simpson says that CPC was introduced 12 years ago. “More than 15,000 boats are now proudly displaying a CPC plate,” he says, “and the buying public are certainly looking for and appreciating the significance of a boat passing and being CPC plated.”

Brisbane International Boat Show 26 – 30

World Skills Challenge, Calgary, Canada1 – 7

Christchurch Boat Show, Westpac Centre 5 – 6

Monaco Yacht Show 23 – 26

Waikato Boat, Fishing and Leisure Show, Mystery Creek events centre, Hamilton16 – 18

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 29 – November 2

August 2009 September 2009 October 2009

Griff SimpsonFi-Glass Products Ltd

[email protected]

The CPC programme is en-dorsed by the MIA and Coast-guard New Zealand, and is supported by 14 manufacturers

A trailer boat for sale displaying a CPC plate

METS, Amsterdam17 – 19

BITO Graduation26 (TBC)

November 2009


Calendar of events

MIA CPC Manufacturers’ GroupChaired by Griff Simpson

The Boat Builders Group was re-established this year, in response

to the economic recession. Chairman Lloyd Stevenson says the topic of lower sales was a prominent part of the agenda.

“I think in one sense you can’t sit down and complain because the industry goes through these phases,” he says, “but the good side is that you often get a lot of refit work because guys are hanging onto their boats.

“What new work is still out there, we’re all fighting for, and all putting in competitive prices – but I’d rather be busy and making no money than not be in business at all in a year’s time.”

At its meetings, the group dis-cusses areas of concern to all of them: dealing with health and safety issues, issues with suppliers and even the challenges of dealing with young ap-prentices who don’t show the expect-ed respect for senior staff.

The members of the group also share tips for reducing costs. Steven-son says he found a cheaper way of

having rubbish removed from site and passed this on to the rest of the group: “Anything we can do to make our-selves more competitive in the global market,” he says. “I think the industry has got a lot more talkative.”

He says more established compa-nies which have lower debts and have planned for a rainy day will be fine through the economic downturn.

The group had their second

Dubai International Boat Show9 – 13

Auckland International Boat Show11 – 14(Trade Day 10)

Marine Trades Challenge20

China International Boat Show8 – 11

Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, ASB Show Grounds, Auckland13 – 16

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show20 – 23

March 2010February 2010 April 2010 May 2010

meeting at Formula Cruisers to hear about the use of Try-Z in making the company more efficient – see the BITO update for more details of Try-Z.

Lloyd StevensonLloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders Ltd

[email protected]

Above: Crusader and Coastal Cowboy, built by Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders, Photo: Bryce Taylor

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 35

MIA Boat Builders GroupChaired by Lloyd Stevenson

The Marina Operators Association of NZ executive meets monthly

and arranges several events for all members through the year. Our most recent Annual General Meeting was held over three days in September, and more than 70 participants enjoyed the marina tours, educational presen-tations and networking opportunities. Marina visits included Tauranga Bridge Marina, Tauranga Marina (Sulphur Point), and the new Nautilus Drystack facility. After a night in Tauranga the group visited the Whangamata Marina construction site, followed by tours of Whitianga Marina and Whitianga Wa-terways. The next day members visited the future Tairua Marina site and Tyco Pipelines factory in Hamilton.

Our international conference at the Gold Coast the week after the Sanctu-ary Cove Boat Show attracted more than 400 people and included a field trip to assure us that New Zealand marina operators are managing the

facilities to the highest possible inter-national standards.

Over the last two years NZMOA has been working on the Clean Marina environmental programme. Thanks to strong support from regional and central governments, we believe we will be a world leader in environmental management.

For the second year we printed a comprehensive Marinas Guide to be included with the Boaties Book. Again, thanks to central and local government support this book now has a print run of more than 50,000 and is the most popular reference guide for boaties around the country.

In the current economic environ-ment our membership considers that the industry is exploited as an easy target by local and central government for additional charges and levies. Over the last 12 months the marine industry has participated in more submissions and lobbying than in the last 10 years.

In particular we have submitted on the Auckland Regional Council’s an-nual consent charges which the ARC incorrectly believes are lawful. The NZMOA’s legal advice over the last three years has found the allocation of charges relating to many of its regional programmes to have been unlawfully levied on marina operators.

We must be careful that charges such as these and potential levies like coastal occupation charges have the potential to significantly impact on the recreational boater and may deter the general public. It is important that the NZMOA and the MIA work together on making sure any costs passed to the boat owners are fair and reasonable.

Philip WardaleBayswater Marina

[email protected]

Wellington’s Seaview Marina


NZ Marina Operators AssociationChaired by Philip Wardale

Despite being in the depths of winter, we are pleased with the

depth of enquiry through the door and the internet but it is difficult to get

commitment to paper. The two main barriers seem to be lack of job security from one or both purchase partners, or being unable to realise any bank fund-

ing, despite not encountering this as a problem in the past. Some sales are being made but with small margins or even no margin, to reduce stock.

Outboard service centres are reporting reasonable to good flows of service work, and some major work upgrading boats. I believe some deal-ers have reduced staff hours in a bid to reduce costs and retain staff.

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show had a good level of enquiry but unfortunately few have resulted in sales. As a Waikato dealer we are much looking forward to the Waikato, Boat, Fishing and Leisure Show in October as long as support is going to be forthcoming from manufacturers and suppliers.

From a retailer’s point of view it is encouraging to see new models pre-sented at the boat show – a bold step in these times but it shows confidence as we move forward into spring. As I keep telling my staff: we need to be patient and maintain good follow up.

Registrations of new trailers began with a rush in January and Febru-

ary 2008 but tailed off over the rest of the year to a three-year low of 24,825, down 10.37% on the previous year. This includes New Zealand-made trail-ers but a high proportion of registra-tions were of cheaper, sub-standard units imported from China and distrib-uted through building supply stores or on TradeMe.

The state of the US dollar has since made it less attractive to import

these cheap trailers. Of those already imported and sold, many have proven to lack the structural integrity neces-sary for towing boats and caravans. There were several examples of cracked drawbars; one suffered a complete failure and detached from the trailer.

The Trailer Manufacturers Group sent photos of this failure and sam-ples of other sub-standard couplings to the NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency), although the group is yet to

hear what action may be taken.Orders for trailers made in New

Zealand have continued to decrease and some manufacturers have reduced hours and staff just to keep ticking over. In the short term at least, the trailer manufacturing market looks particularly subdued.

Gary DuttonRollos Marine

[email protected]

Roger PollardTrail Com Ltd

[email protected]

Above: Roger’s Boat Shop’s salesman Bob Mirabito explaining

the technical details of a Haines Hunter SS700

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 37

MIA Trailer Manufacturers Group

MIA Boat Dealers GroupChaired by Gary Dutton

Chaired by Roger Pollard

This sector group meets quarterly. Its main focus is to monitor sales

of inboard diesel engines within the New Zealand marine market. It uses these statistics to identify trends – for example, sales to new vessels versus repowers, new brands coming into the country, and the buying trends of various types of engines – eg, size ranges, turbo, electronically monitored.

Wayne Patten says the statistics are provided by members of the Big Engine Group who log into a website every month and upload their sales figures. “If people are building new boats, we generally know way in advance that they want a particular en-gine, so we have ordered it,” he says.

“When trends are toward repower-ing, people go: ‘I want it now,’ so you have to balance your stock between having enough to score a repower, and what you don’t need to carry for new vessels.”

This information is available only to paid-up members of the Big Engine Group. The group is close to adopting a new system for even better analysis of statistics.

During the Auckland International Boat Show in March, the meeting of the Big Engine Group included some Australian counterparts who were impressed with the group’s ability to monitor sales and may even adopt a similar system.

When appropriate, the group works with other sector groups, for example, on training and legal issues.

Wayne PattenVolpower NZ Ltd

[email protected]

Above: Halcyon VI by Salthouse Marine

Photo: Bryce Taylor

MIA Big Engine GroupChaired by Wayne Patten


Mission Statement:

“To encourage development of the New Zealand marine industry and help our

members build successful businesses.”

Marine Industry Association of New Zealand85 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, AucklandPO Box 90 448, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142Phone: 09 360 0056Free phone: 0800 600 242E-mail: [email protected]: www.nzmarine.com

WWW.NZMARINE.COM 39

MIA N S P R I N G 2 0 0 9ews

I C Frith (NZ) Ltd International Insurance Brokers, partnering with the

Marine Industry Association, are committed to that partnership by providing solutions to members’ insurance requirements. We welcome the opportu-

nity to assess your needs and supply a quotation based on those needs.

Contact:North Island: [email protected] phone 09 820 9710

South Island: [email protected] phone 03 366 0243

MIA insurance partner

www.aucklandinternationalboatshow.comwww.nzmarine.com

presented byaccredited by

“Come on down to the Viaduct for this great event!”

Peter Montgomery

Viaduct Harbour auckland, New Zealand11th - 14th of March, 2010 10:00am - 6:00pm

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