Three finalists named in Outstanding Initiative category

This week we announce finalists in the NZMOA Awards, starting today with the Outstanding Initiative Award.

The Outstanding Initiative Award celebrates the ideas, projects and practical solutions that are helping move New Zealand’s marina and boatyard industry forward. It recognises initiatives that respond to a genuine challenge or opportunity, deliver meaningful benefits, and demonstrate the value of looking for better ways to work.

We are pleased to announce that the finalists for the 2026 NZMOA Outstanding Initiative Award are:

• Commercial Dive Specialists' Rehabitat (associate member category)

• Westhaven Marina's Cadet Program (full member category)

• Seaview Marina's Staff App (full member category)

These finalists reflect the breadth of initiative taking place across the industry, from environmental action and smarter technology to projects that improve the way marine facilities operate. The judges were impressed by the ambition, practical thinking and commitment behind the entries.

The initiatives are:

Commercial Dive Specialists - Rehabitat

Brooke McRae and his team developed Rehabitat to tackle one of New Zealand’s most difficult marine biosecurity challenges: exotic caulerpa. The system uses a containment chamber placed over affected seabed, where a controlled treatment neutralises caulerpa while containing the process and minimising disturbance to the surrounding environment. Developed through extensive prototyping and field trials, Rehabitat can be deployed in different sizes to respond to outbreaks at varying scales. CDS has worked alongside government, iwi, regional councils and research organisations to develop and trial the technology, creating a practical and scalable tool with potential applications in New Zealand and internationally. Learn more about Rehabitat

Westhaven Marina's Cadet Programme

Westhaven Marina’s long-running cadet programme provides a structured pathway into a career in marina operations. Over the past two years, the programme has been significantly strengthened, moving from largely observational learning to defined learning pathways, competency milestones, mentoring and structured rotations across Westhaven, Auckland Central and Silo marinas. Cadets combine formal study through MAST Academy with hands-on experience spanning customer service and administration, marina infrastructure, vessel handling, health and safety and superyacht operations. Ultimately the two-year programme develops capable, multi-skilled marina professionals while supporting succession planning and contributing skilled people to the wider New Zealand marina and marine industry.

Seaview Marina's Staff App

Seaview Marina’s Staff App began as a simple way to improve health and safety processes and has evolved into a digital hub for the marina’s day-to-day operations. Developed in-house using the marina’s existing Jotform subscription, it gives the seven-person team mobile access to checklists, permits, incident and hazard reporting, emergency information, site plans, tide forecasts, training resources and other essential information. Staff can complete and access documentation while working around the marina, with records stored centrally for reporting and compliance. Seaview plans to continue developing the platform and ultimately extend access to customers and contractors.

The NZMOA Awards include three categories: the Outstanding Initiative Award, the Boatyard of the Year Award, and the Marina of the Year Award. The Awards are run bi-annually and are judged by industry experts and expert guest judges.

The guest judges for 2026 are:

• Brian Jolliffe: A retired public company CEO in the finance sector with a lifelong passion for boats. In the 1990s, he chaired the Mana Marina Trust, overseeing the completion of that marina’s final stages. He and his wife have since sailed the world, experiencing numerous overseas marinas and visiting nearly every marina in New Zealand

• Rebecca Hayter: A multiple award-winning writer passionate about sailing, with extensive knowledge of the local and global boating industries.

• Matthew Woodley: A CEO, experienced sailor, marketer, and business leader with extensive export experience, including automotive, textiles, construction technology, and software. Currently an independent Director of Hyundai NZ and Group General Manager at Stormwater360.

• Callum Gillespie: New Executive Director of NZ Marine and former CEO of Coastguard New Zealand. Callum brings extensive experience in maritime operations, organisational strategy, financial management and leading organisations through change.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala dinner in Tauranga, Thursday 24 September.