News

BEST SHOW ATTENDANCE SINCE 2004

Monday 19 Oct 2009

The crowds and weather turned out for last weekend’s annual Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton. The three day marine event boasted record attendance with close to 13,000 through the gate, resulting in the highest attendance since 2004.

The only event of its type in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty this year, the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show featured over 120 quality exhibitors, industry related clubs, expert forums and a variety of compelling demonstrations and competitions. Sites bustled throughout the weekend with visitors keen to see the latest marine craft and equipment and take advantage of competitive show offers.

Event organisers; a joint venture committee comprising of the Marine Industry Association and Mystery Creek Events Centre, were thrilled with the significant visitor turn out confirming the benefits gained through only one industry exhibition in the region. Exhibitor confidence was apparent early on in this year’s show development, given that presence at an exclusive regional exhibition allowed operators to devote their investment to just one trade event.

Despite the challenging period, boat and fishing enthusiasts weren’t shy in opening their wallets with a number of considerable purchases made; from modest equipment to luxury craft. When approached, several visitors remarked they had come to the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show in search of typically generous show deals, of which they found many. Others commented they were there out of curiosity, enjoying a day out and browsing the latest gear on the market.

This year the show saw the introduction of a culinary exhibition space, ‘The Fisherman’s Basket’, an invention display area ‘Innovation Court’, and a variety of amusing contests. The new additions proved popular with the public, providing a dynamic enhancement to the event.

Visitors to the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show were given the chance to participate in three show competitions, with winners announced on Sunday. Debbie Wiseman was the lucky recipient of the Mondo Travel tropical holiday, the ‘Hook, Stamp & Sinker’ prize package went to Patricia Sutherland, and Bob Franks was rewarded for his vote in the ‘Peoples Choice Boat of the Show’.

Exhibitors also competed in two competitions; the ‘Best Site Awards’ and ‘Peoples Choice Boat of the Show’. Congratulations to the site award category winners; Best large Pacific Ocean Pavilion site, Andrew Fink Marine; Best small Pacific Ocean Pavilion site, Canoe & Kayak; Best Tasman Sea Pavilion site, Fishing 4 Less; Best Outdoor site, Get Wet; and best Think Tank site, Mighty River Power. During the event, the public voted for their favourite boat of the show, with Everyman Boats on PO25 winning by a country mile.

During the show visitors were surveyed, the results will provide exhibitors and the JV committee with crucial feedback to enhance and improve their experience. Exhibitors will also be surveyed to ensure the event continues to meet their needs and add value to their business. Organisers of the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show agree they would have been unable to bring an event of this calibre to the region without the enormous support of the industry and their generous sponsors; Radio Hauraki, Radio Sport, Boating NZ, NZ Fishing News, Mondo Travel Chartwell, Jack Links, Viking Kayaks, Buff NZ, Special FX Limited, Maverix Rods, Tristram Marine, Para Rubber, Fishing 4 Less and Hamilton Party Hire.

SHOW SET TO SAIL

Thursday 15 Oct 2009

The Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, sets sail this Friday; and with over 120 exhibitors on site, it's sure to satisfy visiting boat and fishing enthusiasts.

The only marine event of its type in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show will provide punters with access to show only deals, expert forums and a variety of compelling activities.

Visitors to the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show will get the chance to go in the draw to win a fantastic tropical holiday package courtesy of gate prize sponsor, Mondo Travel. Mondo Travel Chartwell, Cherrywood and Tauranga are providing a luxury 4 Day/3 Night Gold Club Blue Lagoon Cruise for two, including return airfares to Fiji, flying Air Pacific. This attractive prize is one of many offered in a variety of competitions; from a scavenger hunt to a ‘Dares for Dollars’ challenge, providing another great incentive for visitors to come to the show.

The on site lake at Mystery Creek Events Centre provides a unique stage for a variety of demonstrations. This Saturday the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure show will host an International Wake Boarding competition on the lake. The compelling international competition will take place amidst a selection of interesting displays including kayaking, sail boating and various entertaining water sports and safety demonstrations.
The Lake will also be home to a Smartkat Catamaran and an innovative mono-hull with wings. Courtesy of Kevin Johnson & Alan Wright; the mono-hull was also a popular attraction at this year’s boat show in Auckland.

Popular personalities Bill Hohepa and Bruce Duncan returns this year to update visitors with the latest in fishing secrets. Positive parenting advocate Pio Terei will attend the show on Friday in his role as the ambassador of Water Safety NZ.

Over 12 clubs will also be on site to share their hobbies.The Hamilton Microlight Club will offer visitors the opportunity to take a ride in a state of the art Microlight. The Hamilton Car Club will be doing sprint laps offering visitors the chance to rip around the out skirts of the show in a variety of different cars. Exhibiting clubs include; NZ Water Skiing Association, New Zealand Powerboat Federation, Waikato Yacht Squadron and the Waikato Air Gun Club.

With numerous show only deals, marine based activities and opportunities to win a substantial number of prizes; the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show provides plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Tickets are priced at only $12 for adults and children 14 years and under free, ensuring the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show is an affordable outing for the entire family to enjoy. The Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show will be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, this Friday to Sunday (16 to 18 October). The show opens 10.00am to 5.00pm each day.

WANTED: INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

Tuesday 22 Sep 2009

Organisers invite interested inventors or designers to showcase their inventions in the Innovation Area of the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure show. Our team are searching the country for the best boating or fishing inventions, innovations and new equipment. A range of ideas are welcomed from the very basic to the technically elaborate.

Coordinator Gemma Antoniadis explains “The Waikato Boat Fishing & Leisure show is an ideal opportunity to test your ideas on a likeminded audience. As the only boat show in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, at least 10,000 boating and fishing enthusiasts are expected to attend.”

Entries for the Waikato Boat, Fishing & Leisure Show Innovation Area are being accepted now. For further information contact Gemma on 07 843 4497 or email gemmaa@waikatoboatshow.co.nz.

SMARTKAT - PORTABLE SAILING CATAMARAN

Tuesday 15 Sep 2009

Smartkat – Media Release 06/09/2009 – For Immediate Use

SMARTKAT – PURE SAILING FUN: OUT OF THE BAG & INTO THE WATER IN 20 MINUTES

Smartkat is a lightweight portable sailing catamaran, with inflatable hulls. An innovative compact design allows the catamaran to be transported in 2 x 20 kg bags that can be loaded into a station wagon or on roof racks.

It can be fully assembled in 20 minutes, with absolutely no tools required and without small parts that can easily get lost. When assembled the catamaran n measures 4.2m long with a sail height of 5.8m. Then when its time to go home it can be disassembled in 10 minutes. With each bag measuring 180cm x 30cm x 30cm it can be easily stored in a cupboard, garage or spare room.

You may ask how is this possible? Thanks to clever construction, use of high quality and perfectly compatible materials, and numerous ingenious innovations, the Smartkat provides you with a new fun sporting device. It offers outstanding performance, excellent sailing characteristics and high speed potential.

Not only do the excellent sailing capabilities make the inflatable racer desirable, so too does its versatile applications. Young people especially benefit from the boat’s low weight and easy handling. If the wind is non-existent the Smartkat can be equipped with an optional motor. It’s the ideal holiday partner for the entire family.

Smartkat was built and designed in Austria and following the enormous success that Smartkat celebrated as a worldwide innovation at the Interboot and Boat fairs in Germany, it is now on show for the first time in New Zealand. Smartkat will feature at the Waikato Boat, Fishing and Leisure Show at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton from the 16th to 18th October.

In very exhaustive tests on Austrian lakes, in the Adriatic and in the Canary Islands, every aspect of the Smartkat has been checked thoroughly and it’s been received with fantastic enthusiasm, not just by catamaran sailing fans.

If you would like further detailed information on Smartkat please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime.

(Release supplied by exhibitor)


Media Contact: Jason Perrett
Sales & Marketing Manager
T: 07 843 3552
M: 021 558 853
E: jason@tyreline.co.nz
W: www.smartkat.at

Site: Pacific Ocean Pavilion PO32B

AIRODOCK - INNOVATIVE TEMPORARY DOCKING SYSTEM

Monday 14 Sep 2009

The AiroDock* is the newest, most innovative temporary docking system in the world, not only is it practical manageable and storable, it is easy. The AiroDock* can be easily set up in around 15 minutes and then be ready for use as a temporary jetty, wharf, seaplane walkway, house boat gang way or even as a "Beach" behind super yachts.

The AiroDock is made from Hypalon which is a high grade marine rubber which is used by leading inflatable boat manufactures. The AiroDock* has a specially blended form of Hypalon which ensures that it is hard wearing uv protectant and the material has been made in a way that has allowed us to incorporate an anti slip deck surface.

The AiroDock* has come a long way since its release in earlier this year with adaptions into many different markets seen as the AiroDock was primarily designed for use as a temporary jetty or wharf at holiday house and tourist locations round the country. It has now been adapted into a host of different applications and has also been released into Australia were there are now dealers in the Gold Coast and also Perth. The AiroDock* is also started to get used with super yachts with us working closely with some major companies to get this new product on board.

The AiroDock* is now working closely with a UK based company trying to set up a dealer in the UK and also around Europe this will be happing over the next six months and will put us in good stead for the end of the current economic climate having us well set up globally ready to take orders.

(Release supplied by exhibitor)

Johny Winstone
Product Manager
johny@lancer.co.nz
99 Central Park Drive, Henderson, Auckland
www.airodock.com, www.lancer.co.nz