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(Last updated: 07 Dec 2007)
Trends and opportunities
The market
The marine sector is New Zealand ’s largest non-primary industry. The New Zealand marine industry has a total product and services value of approximately A$1 billion and employs over 8000 people.
The industry has undergone significant growth over the last 10 years and it is forecast to further increase of 80 per cent by 2015.
New Zealand’s coastline, access to rivers and lakes, and temperate climate provides ideal conditions for marine activities. There are a large number of ports and marinas, which host a mixture of recreational and commercial activities.
New Zealand has excelled at super-yacht manufacture (ranked sixth in the world) and developing a highly skilled labour force. The competitive exchange rate, when compared to the USA and Europe, has assisted New Zealand to achieve its market share.
New Zealand is a significant and highly successful competitor in all forms of competitive sailing. It has a record of sustained achievement in the America’s Cup, and international ocean racing, in general.
For more general information please visit the Austrade Marine website. This site provides information to Australian marine companies looking to internationalise.
Opportunities
While there are opportunities for Australian manufacturers, the market is extremely competitive and local operators have lower logistic costs supplying the local market. There is, however, significant opportunity to leverage economies of scale to provide component materials to New Zealand manufacturers.
There is regular demand for new ferries to replace existing vessels. Ferries transport cars, trucks, freight and passengers between the North and South Island (Wellington to Picton). Cities that have substantial harbours, such as Auckland and Wellington, use ferry passenger services.
Overall, the best opportunities in the marine industry in New Zealand are:
- components and chandlery
- materials into the New Zealand industry
- competitively, well specified pleasure craft
- working boats
The Australian company, Tenix Defence Pty Ltd is completing Project Protector – the major New Zealand Defence Force acquisition project – contracting a number of New Zealand and Australian suppliers. This project is to supply the Royal New Zealand Navy with one multi-role vessel, two offshore patrol boats and two inshore patrol boats.
Competitive environment
The New Zealand pleasure-boat sector is relative mature. There are over 80 local boat manufacturers and more than 15 foreign brands competing.
Around 50 per cent of the population of New Zealand (two million) are involved in boating and 30 per cent fish as a recreational activity. There are over:
- 300,000 boats in New Zealand (or one boat for every 12 people)
- 1300 business in the marine industry
- 5000 new boats are sold each year (80 per cent are built locally)
The New Zealand marine industry has established itself as a quality provider of innovative design, construction, manufacturing, refits and service.
New Zealand manufactures a range of vessels including:
- patrol/rescue craft
- trailer boats
- racing yachts
- super-yachts
- cruising catamarans (power and sail)
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