Yachting New Zealand positions available
Board directors (2 appointed positions)
Help guide the future of sailing in Aotearoa
About the organisation:
Yachting New Zealand is the national body dedicated to the stewardship, growth, and long-term well-being of yachting and boating in Aotearoa. Our vision is to grow sailing and boating and inspire more New Zealanders through our sport.
The Yachting New Zealand volunteer Board provides strategic leadership, ensures effective governance, and represents the interests of clubs, members, and stakeholders.
Yachting New Zealand is committed to integrity, inclusiveness, and strengthening both community sailing and high-performance pathways. The Board prioritises strategy, financial sustainability, and sector leadership to ensure the organization can respond confidently to changing environments and the evolving needs of the sport.
About the roles:
We are seeking to appoint two Board directors to join a committed and forward-thinking governance team. Directors share collective responsibility for Yachting New Zealand’s strategic direction, performance, and compliance with legal and ethical standards.
The Board meets regularly (typically every two months), and directors are expected to contribute actively to meetings, strategic planning, and committee work.
Key responsibilities:
• Provide strategic guidance to support Yachting New Zealand’s long-term success and organisational resilience.
• Uphold high standards of governance, integrity, and accountability.
• Monitor financial performance, oversee annual budgeting, and support strong risk management.
• Participate in Board committees and support development of organisational policy.
• Represent Yachting New Zealand with members, partners, and stakeholders across the sector.
• Support Board evaluation, succession planning, and continuous improvement.
• Champion Yachting New Zealand’s values and contribute to a positive, collaborative Board culture.
Ideal applicants:
We are seeking candidates who can bring a combination of the following skills and experience:
• Strong finance capability, ideally suited to chairing the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Expertise in high-performance sport management, including athlete or programme pathways.
• Governance experience within sailing clubs or other sporting organisations.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to offer independent and informed insight.
• A commitment to Yachting New Zealand’s values, diversity, and the ongoing development of sailing in New Zealand.
• High ethical standards, strong communication skills, and a collaborative approach to Board work.
Applicants based in the South Island are particularly encouraged, given the geographic spread of our clubs.
How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience to finance@yachtingnz.org.nz by 9 January 2026.
Other positions available
Assembly Team Leader – Mackay Boats (Silverdale)
Lead the final assembly of world-class racing yachts.
Mackay Boats is looking for a hands-on leader to head our Assembly Team, overseeing and helping with the final assembly, fit-out, and detailing of our small high-performance racing yachts and parts.
This is a full-time role based at our Silverdale factory.
About the role:
You'll be responsible for managing workflow throughout the factory, keeping production on schedule, and ensuring our boats leave the workshop to the high standards Mackay Boats is known for worldwide.
Key responsibilities include:
Managing workflow and factory output
Scheduling and meeting weekly delivery targets
Assembly of components and fit-out of hulls
Final gelcoat detailing
Fibreglass and gelcoat repairs
Following all build processes and QA procedures
Ensuring compliance with company health & safety policies
About you:
This role would suit someone with previous floor management or team leadership experience, ideally with a strong understanding of and passion for small high-performance racing yachts.
You’ll bring:
Proven team or workshop management experience
Practical, hands-on skills in assembly or boatbuilding
Great communication and organisational ability
A strong eye for quality and detail
A current NZ work visa or citizenship
Additional information:
Permanent Full-time
Monday - Friday
Location: Silverdale, Auckland
Product-specific training will be given
Why Mackay Boats?
At Mackay Boats, we’re proud to build some of the fastest and most successful small racing yachts in the world.
You’ll be joining a dedicated, experienced team that cares deeply about precision, performance, and craftsmanship.
If you’re ready to take the lead and be part of a world-class boatbuilding company - we’d love to hear from you!
Apply now and join the Mackay Boats team in Silverdale.
Contact David McDiarmid at david.mcdiarmid@mackayboats.com or 09 426 4306
Sales/servicing dealer - MarkSetBot
Do you sell products or provide services to racing clubs in New Zealand?
MarkSetBot, the world's first and most advanced robotic mark setting system, is looking for a sales/servicing dealer.
Ideally, MSB would be a compliment to the array of products/services which you provide already.
For information go to www.MarkSetBot.com and then email Michael Morin at michael.morin@marksetbot.com.
Youth Sailing Coach 2025/26 Summer Season – Mercury Bay Boating Club
Location: The Mercury Bay Boating Club is located in Whitianga, NZ on the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Whitianga is a vibrant thermal ocean village with gorgeous beaches, a large marina, wonderful treks and numerous nearby top 10 New Zealand destinations like Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove, and the Hahei marine reserve.
Our junior programs focus on youth development, safety at sea, sailing skills, and some fun racing. We are not a tactical training academy but instead one that fosters respect for the sea, love of the sport, and an appreciation of our local waters.
Our local area school has more than 1000 students and we have smaller rural schools within 45 minutes of our learn to sail centre. Each summer we welcome dozens of families from Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton who want to participate in learn to sail programs.
Proposed dates: December to late March.
Dec and Feb/March sessions: 12-16 hrs per week spread over 3 to 4 days sessions are run after school, on the weekends.
Summer Holiday Sessions: Block courses, 4 to 5 days per week. These are 30 to 40 hr weeks with morning and afternoon sessions, usually 2 days sailing, then a lay day, followed by 2 more days sailing. Normally LTS 1 in the morning and LTS 2 in the afternoon.
Qualifications/Skills required:
- At least 1 year of experience as a junior sailing coach
- First aid qualification
- Familiarity with YNZ/Sport New Zealand Child Protection Policy
- Confident launching/retrieving from the beach
- Ability to operate a full range of small sailboats and patrol boats safely
- Flexible with work hours
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills (competent in English language)
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, a positive attitude and ability to work independently as well as part of a team
- Excellent computer skills in order to advertise, register and track sailors.
- Competent with social media platforms
Compensation: $30NZD/Hr plus 8% Holiday Pay - Paid Weekly
Huge growth potential and salary increase for the candidate with the right attitude and skill set. The position could evolve into a 6-month position, October to March the following year.
Email CV and cover letter to committee.mbbc@gmail.com AND to jonathan@oceanmail.org with subject “Youth Sailing Coach Application.” Also, feel free to call 027 392 7280 and speak to Jonathan directly.
Posted 30/10/25
NZIODA coaches for the 25/26 season
If you would like to be considered for an NZIODA coaching role for the upcoming 2025 / 2026 Optimist season then now is the time to let us know.
NZIODA are seeking Opti coaches to coach at clinics throughout New Zealand including the North Island Clinic at Eastern Beach, Auckland and the South Island clinic at Naval Point, Lyttelton, as well as for the following Optimist Teams for 2026 :-
IODA Asian and Oceanian Championship
- Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12 - 19 December 2026
IODA European Championship
- Gdynia, Poland, 24 - 31 July 2026
IODA Optimist World Championship
- Tangier, Morocco, 18 - 28 June 2026
Girls Development Team - October 2026, venue TBC
Junior Boys Development Team - October 2026, venue TBC
Senior Development Team - October 2026, venue TBC
Express your interest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7TOOQMueq5KD97NrWJ3mRoDtgghZtST_Je0ae75uo3MSStQ/viewform
Centreboard sailing coach - Sail Northland Charitable Trust
Location: Whangārei
Start date: February 16 - April 19, 2026
Sail Northland are looking to appoint an experienced centreboard sailing coach for junior, youth and adult sailors. We are based in stunning Parua Bay, at Whangārei Heads, 2.5 hours north of Auckland, New Zealand.
Sail Northland is a fun provider of junior Learn to Sail/Race, schools 420 team sailing, and adult Learn to Sail, and delivers a comprehensive Yachting New Zealand RŪNĀ Kokokaha programme to schools.
With its airport and regular bus connections to Auckland as well as a thriving commercial and retail sector, Whangārei has it covered. Parua Bay in Whangārei Heads, offers a friendly community with easy access to the ocean and harbour. With beautiful beaches for fishing, surfing and other water sports (including keeler, trailer sport boats and centreboard sailing) Parua Bay is a great place to come and spend the summer. If you're into tramping, mountain biking or windsurfing, you won’t be disappointed with Mt Manaia and Ocean Beach close by.
Please reply to the Secretary Sail Northland Charitable Trust at sailnorthland@gmail.com.