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Yachting New Zealand’s biennial club conference brought together 75 delegates from nearly 60 yacht clubs across the country at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club over the weekend, for a packed day of ideas, updates and collaboration.
The conference featured a strong line-up of speakers who addressed some of the most pressing topics facing clubs today. These included Volunteering New Zealand chief executive Michelle Kitney, who provided insights into best practices for organisations relying on volunteers, including how clubs can better engage and retain younger members.
Samantha Alexander, national compliance and grants manager for The Lion Foundation, gave an entertaining look at the grants and gaming funding environment, including navigating its opportunities and avoiding its common traps.
Sustainability took centre stage as well, with Sally Carson, director of the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, offering practical and inspiring ways clubs can embed environmental action into everyday activities.
Raynor Haagh, Yachting New Zealand's national sport development director, presented a wide-ranging “state of the nation” update, drawing on fresh data from the 2024 club survey and the 2024 Voice of the Participant survey, produced in partnership with Sport New Zealand. The numbers sparked useful discussion around what’s working, what’s changing, and where support is most needed, including the restructuring of Yachting New Zealand's regional development manager programme.
The Lion Foundation's Samantha Alexander presented information on gaming and grant funding.
Before lunch, breakout sessions allowed for quicker, topic-focused presentations - and proved a highlight for many attendees. Haagh was joined by Maritime New Zealand’s Jason Lunjevich to run through updates to the Safety Regulations 2025-2028 book, as well as changes to skipper responsibilities, accident reporting, the certification process for Categories 1 to 3, and club safety boat systems.
Yachting New Zealand’s high-performance team, led by director Ian Stewart, covered athlete development pathways, while coach development director Kirsten Moratz introduced new coaching resources and upcoming training opportunities. Communications manager Eduan Roos shared tips on sharpening club messaging, and attracting sponsors.
Coaching resources were displayed in one of the breakout sessions.
Among the crowd were two young club members with bright futures - Brooke Mundy of Nelson Yacht Club and Katie Roberts of Kerikeri Cruising Club, who were both attending the conference as part of their selection for the Blake Inspire programme later this year. The residential, week-long programme brings together young leaders to learn from scientists, environmental experts and mentors and will be held over the first week of December.
Roberts was especially impressed with the sustainability session and Yachting New Zealand's schools engagement programme RŪNĀ.
"I really enjoyed the conference," she said. "I learnt a lot about RŪNĀ and Marine Metre Squared. That was really interesting, especially how we’re using yacht clubs to learn about the scientific side of marine life."
Yachting New Zealand board chair Greg Knowles addresses the 75 attendees at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club.
The day wrapped up with an open Q&A session featuring Yachting New Zealand chief executive David Abercrombie, board chair Greg Knowles, Haagh and Stewart.
There was also a special farewell from Knowles to Abercrombie, who retires next month after more than 14 years at the helm.
Below you can find all the material from the conference.
