The just-released line up of March’s Auckland Boat Show is a strong indicator of an adventurous few boating seasons to come.
The show, held from 6-9 March in central Auckland’s Jellicoe Harbour and Viaduct Events Centre, has a reputation for hosting boat debuts; from trailer boat releases to luxury yachts. In 2024’s edition, a record number of boats made their entry into the New Zealand market, with new releases from a spread of manufacturers drawn from France, the United Kingdom, the USA, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Finland and Spain, plus New Zealand and Australia.
Now, the 2025 show line up is building on last year’s success. Debuts for the coming event are sporty, adventurous and designed to stand out, with the show emerging as the place to release new designs, and unveil new vessel launches.
Making its Australasian premier at the show, the ultra-stylish wallytender43 has just arrived in New Zealand and has already been causing a stir on Auckland’s waters. The design is unmistakably Wally and unmistakably sporty, with blistering pace and manoeuvrability delivered via the balanced, deep-V hull form developed by Wally and Ferretti Group’s engineering department.
An angular glass windscreen, hull with sharp origami-esque lines and carbon sailcloth hard-top are the first aspects to catch the eye, but the design behind this day boat is all about being fit for purpose.
An inviting stern swim platform gets a size boost when the wallytender43’s aft wings fold down, where extended sunpads invite you to make the most of the expansive area close to the water. There’s a walk-around cockpit, with plenty of shade and protection for guests at the top speeds of 40 knots, and a welcoming forward sunbed providing extra space to lounge for the up to 12 people it can carry on board.
A comfortable cabin below with bathroom and double berth makes for ease on the water and the ability to overnight. Though its the wallytender43’s looks and performance which are likely to set it apart when it’s released to Australia and New Zealand at the Auckland Boat Show in March. An ergonomic helm station, propulsion to 880hp, and fine-tuned performance and handling make this one to watch.
Following the successful 2024 launch of its Legacy 70 custom aluminium yacht, New Zealand builders Legacy Marine will bring its adventurous, luxurious take on custom aluminium yachts to the 2025 show. With two vessels in the show, the Legacy Marine team will be showcasing its biggest custom vessel – a Legacy 70 designed for cruising the Pacific in comfort – and a new 55ft multihull, the Legacy L55SF which will be introduced to the public for the first time in Auckland in March.
From Gisborne, Dickey Boats will launch its Pacific 62. The ever-popular boatbuilder describes the Pacific 62 as its most-capable long range sport fisher-meets-explorer to date. Designed to appeal to the adventurers, it will merge versatility and fuel efficiency with exceptional seakeeping abilities when it’s launched this year. Generous living space equipped with facilities for self-sufficiency add to the appeal for local excursions or extended sea voyages. The Pacific 62 is designed by seafarers to accommodate adventures big and small, with all the amenities and space serious fishers and divers expect. High levels of equipment customisation can be accommodated as required with our compromise on safety or efficiency.
Appealing to those who appreciate both efficiency and speed, Scott Lane Boatbuilders will present a foil-assisted catamaran at the 2025 show. The foil-assisted vessel is designed by Roger Hill and made entirely of carbon fibre. It follows the successful debut of the first in this series, which displayed the ability for customisation and additional luxury and accessories, combined with the extra capability and excitement of speed the foiling design delivers.
For fans of innovation and world-leading products, Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders, builders of Catalyst boats for both Alinghi and INEOS, will make the same vessel design available to consumers at the central Auckland show along with other New Zealand-designed launches. Likewise, Auckland-based company Rayglass, which supplied Protector vessels for America’s Cup officials and the race village, will display its vessels to the public in March.
Tickets are on sale now for the Auckland Boat Show 2025, and visitors can expect growth on the 2024 show, which displayed 400 boats and a wide array of marine product and service companies. The event’s sea trial marina allows show visitors to not only learn about new products, vessels and services, but to also experience them on the Waitematā Harbour. companies. Known for that large sea trial area, and for providing a launching point for new marine releases, it is a favourite on the southern hemisphere marine calendar.
The show also has a fast-growing reputation for being a hub for innovation releases, with new technologies and fine-tuned services released at the show from within New Zealand’s marine industry.
“We’re a marine nation and it makes sense that we lead the world in creating better ways to be safer, faster, and more sustainable on the water,” says show organiser, Stacey Cook.
Tickets are on sale now. auckland-boatshow.com
