Our NZ Marine News Summer 2017/18 edition is now available to download.  Read all about what’s happening in the NZ Marine Industry, our members’ successes and what America’s Cup 2021 will mean to New Zealand. Read More

Yachting Developments is proud to have launched their latest superyacht project, 39.5m (129’6’’) sportsfisher Hull 1015. The yacht left Yachting Developments Hobsonville shed on a sunny day in Auckland, New Zealand, on 22 November 2017 before safely launching at high tide on 23 November. This impressive yacht is the world’s largest all-carbon sportsfisher and is on a scale unseen before for this style of yacht. Built for a highly experienced owner, who is a passionate fisherman, Hull 1015 combines luxury styling with exceptional performance capabilities and speed and an impressive all-inclusive fishing setup that will allow her to undertake extended… Read More

With the America’s Cup set to return to our shores and New Zealand sailors and boat builders revelling in a triumphant campaign, one former NZMACITO apprentice has given us his take on why New Zealand boat builders are considered some of the best in the world. Nathan Kerry has forged a successful career for himself in Europe following his NZMACITO apprenticeship at Gulf Harbour’s Brin Wilson Boats. Now based in the UK and owner of NK Marine Services, he’s worked on the two biggest superyachts in existence, built the first wings for team Landrover BAR, and worked for the Red… Read More

Simon Bird, age 28, qualified as a Marine Systems Engineer whilst working at Alloy Yachts under Ross Clapham, now one of our NZ Marine and Composites ITO field officers.   (In his own words): After Alloy Yachts I wanted to get my Class 3 foreign going engineering ticket. So I managed to get a training position aboard an anchor handling and support vessel servicing the oil rigs down in New Plymouth.   I needed nine months sea time and then had to go the NZ Maritime School to do the theory side and sit the exams. After getting my engineering… Read More

Fijian boat builders training in New Zealand With assistance from government funding, NZMAC ITO and Skills International Limited have given four Fijian apprentice boat builders an incredible opportunity to further their training in an off-job training course and a short tour of some New Zealand marine companies. The off-job training course is designed to supplement skills already learnt in the workplace, and expose learners to skills and experience that they may not otherwise have access to. Vi, Ryan, Tony, and Tex have spent two weeks at the Scale Drawing and Lofting course with NZMAC ITO providers Northtec at their Whangarei… Read More

As an employer do you have trouble recruiting employees? NZMAC ITO may be able to help. A new initiative introduced in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and TEC, is helping employers recruit employees for the marine, composite, and marina businesses in Auckland, Hamilton, and Whangarei. The School to Work concept is a simple one. Through recommendations from careers personnel, presentations to technology classes and careers expos, the NZMAC ITO School to Work Transition Advisor is matching talented and suitable students with employers. Students are introduced to a workplace, usually for 1 or 2 days per week, while they continue studying… Read More

Ngāi Tahu Tourism has launched a marine mechanic training programme at Shotover Jet, providing a unique opportunity for iwi members to build a career in the tourism industry. Working at one of the largest tourism operators in Aotearoa, the programme will offer the successful Ngāi Tahu applicant on-the-job training, guidance and support, while working towards a marine mechanic qualification. Chief Executive Quinton Hall says the company wants to encourage more people to consider the tourism industry as an exciting and worthwhile career option. He says, “Tourism is New Zealand’s biggest export earner, so this is an awesome opportunity for someone… Read More

Composites company Matcraft have produced a mega cow for Morrinsville. Read More

On the 8th December 2016, the New Zealand Marine and Composites Industry Training Organisation (NZMAC ITO) celebrated the graduation of 52 apprentices in the marine, composites, and marina industries. NZMAC ITO has hit a major milestone in apprenticeship training in 2016, with 400+ apprentices currently engaged in training. Marine and composites industries have shown steady growth. Sales of trailer power boats on the increase generating $163.7 million in trade sales in New Zealand in 2014. Businesses are increasingly desperate for skilled staff. This has fuelled an increase in the number of companies investing in upskilling their staff through training programmes… Read More

NZMAC ITO have been working with a group of digital media students from Auckland University of Technology to produce a new video promoting working and training in the marine, composites, and marina industries. NZMAC ITO would like to thank the following companies for their cooperation and assistance in producing the video: C-Quip International General Marine Services Hobsonville Marina Marineworkz Motoryacht Service Centre Ltd Pier 21 Rayglass Boats Robinson Interiors Salthouse Boatbuilders Seacraft Miller Moyes Southern Spars Yachting Developments For more information on this video, contact [email protected]  Read More