NZMOA chair reflects on 2023-24

Chris Galbraith is Chair of NZMOA and General Manager of Bay of Island Marina.

Last year we were reporting on a sequence of year-on-year challenges to our sector that placed new demands on management operations, particularly financial, and in many cases tested our durability and stamina!

Having met the unprecedented impacts of Covid, both positive and negative, we then endured over 18 months of poor weather that culminated with Cyclone Gabrille. Hours on the water were the lowest in many years and subsequently, general boat expenditure was down.

As noted last year the one pleasing aspect was that marina infrastructure stood up exceptionally well with only minor damage experienced.

So, with all that behind us the year in review then played out in an unhelpful economic climate, of inflation, constrained customer expenditure and general uncertainty. Throw in an election and you could begin to lose your sense of humour!

But we are a resilient bunch, let’s claim to be sea hardened. Certainly, there is more recent cause for hope, and much could be said for the change in Government – a more confident outlook. At last, a lighthouse that works, providing more support as we safely navigate to calmer waters.

As a sector Marinas continue to evolve operationally with a number advancing in areas of environmental quality management, security and access, training and professional development, database systems implementations and a continued focus on customer service delivery.

There continued to be some development highlights as evidenced with the opening of Waiheke and Waikawa North. There are investments at various phases in Whangarei Town Basin and Port Nikau, Westhaven and Nelson. Acquisitions of new land-based haul-out equipment continued with several new investments made throughout the country. These decisions were both addressing demand and the recognition for new and improved services. Hydraulic trailers continue to be a big focus due to versatility and the need to service the growing multihull market.

Waikawa North West Marina - Photo provided by Marlborough Sounds Marinas 

Central Government has renewed its interest in regional development, and this may present opportunities for our sector as in past years via MBIE and the PGF. We will have to wait and see if the important marina/marine sector has profile. Should the sector face investment decisions without this support, the stimulus will need to come from our customers and growth in boating activity generally. I am also hopeful that private and local government investment will continue to support growth and the opportunities the sector brings to the lives of those in our communities. Our sector is New Zealanders’ favorite recreational activity.

NZMOA actively supports its member aspirations by providing support and advice. The two Open Forum events held in Whangarei in April had great attendance, which reflected positively on the value members derived from these events in the past. I certainly appreciated the involvement of your Executive in making these a success. The greatest benefit from these events is the sharing of the tangible experiences of those who operate day-to-day in our marinas and boatyards. We have advanced a body of work around guidance material to support Boatyard Best Practice Operations. Training in this area needs further effort and will be a focus for the Executive.

This year's Open Forum was held in Whangarei. Photo supplied by Whangarei Marina.

It is important that we, and others, understand the value of our sector to the New Zealand economy. This year the Executive engaged Michigan University in the USA to survey and report on the health and value of our sector. This work is modelled on the successful studies done by the Marinas Industry Association of Australia over the past 12 years. This detailed work can be used to make a range of important decisions about our businesses, and support investment and development decisions. We had an awesome response rate from members which enables greater confidence in the data. The results of the survey will be launched in a summary form at this year’s Conference. Our intention is to carry out this survey every two years. Thank you to the Executive and members for supporting this work.

I am pleased with the work members are doing to develop staff and the level of uptake on skills and professional development programs both here and in Australia. Your Executive continues to work closely our industry training organization (MAST) to support our needs. The MIAA continue to have excellent courses that we can dovetail with to provide improved professional development opportunities to all. We have another AMM course scheduled for delivery in New Zealand next year. I hope we can see continued interest in these which will see more being delivered in New Zealand.

The Executive has been busy addressing a number of issues in the regulatory space. There is work being done across National Environmental Standards, Antifoul Standards, Clean Hulls and Biosecurity, Craft Risk Management Standards, Regional Pest Management Pathway Plans, and Regional Plan reviews.

I want to thank the team for their hard work over the past year which has included continued work on our communications strategy and work around being more connected and accessible to members. A special thank you to our hard-working administrative team of Phil Wardale and Zoe Hawkins.

I am pleased with the continued growth of our membership both full and Associate members. We stand at record numbers and again. I am pleased to report a healthy financial position with member equity at $316,953. following an operating profit of $39,015. We are well placed to fund the body of work above and deliver continued value to the membership. Thank you all for your support especially our Corporate memberships and sponsors.

The future remains bright for our sector. We cannot, however, ignore the challenges emerging from various points around the compass. The economic challenges remains. Interest rates impact investment decisions and bottom-line profitability. Less money will be available for your initiatives so careful planning and astute marketing will be needed. Regulations continue to be thrust upon us and your Association needs to stay close to these areas and carefully scrutinise and respond where appropriate. Climate and Sustainability will forever be more integrated in our decision-making. We must look forward with confidence and embrace challenges as we have in recent years.

I remain immensely proud of the cohesion of our Association and the shared interest and effort to advance the collective interests of Marinas and Boatyards. Thank you to all.

Chris Galbraith CMM

Chair - NZMOA