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Marine Engineering
The marine construction and refit industry, clustered mostly around the Whangarei Harbour, contributes over $50 million annually to the Whangarei economy and employs around 500 people.
Advantages include low labour and land costs, established facilities and a solid support industry of trades and professional services.
Whangarei also has established relationships and experience in naval shipbuilding including a $100 million naval contract at the Whangarei Tenix yard.
Whangarei and Opua are also often the first entry points for yachties sailing to New Zealand to escape the Pacific hurricane season.
Each year over 600 international cruising boats visit New Zealand for maintenance or re-fitting. For many boats Whangarei has become the preferred destination because of its location in the centre of the Northland Coast cruising grounds and because of the facilities offered by the Town Basin Marina and marine industries in Whangarei City. The estimated spend for visiting yachts requiring repair or re-fitting is $20,000 - $30,000 with additional income generated from living expenses and tourism.
Whangarei is offered referred to as the “Meeting place of the Pacific”.
Maintenance services available to these vessels include refrigeration, electronics and electrical, engine supply and service, haul-out and hard-stand, engineering, chandlery, glazing, sail and canvas makers, paint, riggers and sand blasters.
A focused industry group has been established, with representation from both the private and public sectors, to address challenges faced by the sector.
Whangarei is currently examining the facilities that would be required to elevate the marine industry to the global stage.
Related Websites
- Enterprise Northland
Find out more about, and download reports on, the marine construction and re-fit industries in Northland - Whangarei Marine Promotions Group
A collective group of businesses aimed at delivering quality services to visiting yachties.
