Category Archives: Events

DEVASTATING BREAK-IN AT THE HISTORICAL MARITIME PARK – PAEROA

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DEVASTATING BREAK-IN AT THE HISTORICAL MARITIME PARK – PAEROA

In the last 24 hrs the social media drums have been beating about two woodys – ARIANA and  NORITA that were broken into at the Historical Maritime Park in Paeroa.

Both vessels were stripped of brass fittings and other important items, including portholes, steering wheels, railings, controls and dials. These boats are more than 100 years old. Their fittings are part of their history and are more than likely irreplaceable.

The park crew are appealing for the safe return of the stolen items and for any information that may help. If you have been offered fittings matching this description, or know anything about this crime, please contact the police or the Historical Maritime Park.

Back in April 2022 we took a Waitrmatawoodys flotilla up the Wairoa River for a visit to the Museum, we overnight berthed dockside and we hosted to a great BBQ. During the weekend several of the woodys crew went aboard the classic wooden 34’ launch ARIANA under the command of skipper and tour guide – Peter Vandersloot, and travelled from the Museums dock to the town dock in the centre of Paeroa township.  The journey takes approx an hour.

Reac / view the trip at this link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/20/ariana-at-the-paeroa-maritime-museum-park/

KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

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KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

The photo above has appeared on WW before, capturing and promoting the X-factor that makes Kawau Island such a special destination for classic boaters. Its sheltered anchorages, rich maritime heritage and relaxed cruising atmosphere make it hard to beat for a Labour Weekend escape.  

Over the past few years, the Kawau Boating Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club and WaitemataWoodys — three staunch supporters of classic boating and the cruising lifestyle — have been working together to develop and promote a gathering of traditional craft in and around Kawau Island.Brought together under the banner of Labour Weekend Spring Splash.

The event is becoming a wonderful opportunity for owners and crews to get out on the water, catch up with fellow enthusiasts and celebrate everything that makes classic wooden boating so special.It’s all about good boats, good company and the timeless pleasure of cruising in one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most treasured destinations.

Each year it gets better and better and has become one of the most popular events on the waitematawoodys calendar. Link here to last years event  https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/28/2025-kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-a-woody-weekend-to-remember/

There truely is something for all craft – 

• FRIDAY – Cruising to the island

• SATURDAY – Matakana Markets River Cruise & Round the Island Yacht Race

• SUNDAY – Waitematawoodys Classic Parade & Short Course Yacht Race + Race Giving ar KBC

• MONDAY – Breakfast at KBC

Each day the KBC clubrooms will be open to all boaties + we have new managers and menu. Check on-line for opening hours. https://kawauboatingclub.nz

f you are not racing there is no requirement to enter, just turn up and enjoy the weekend and the sociability of the KBC. Hey you my enjoy it and consider becoming a member 😉

PS – I emailed details out to the WW data base earlier in the week, but not surprisingly not everyone is on the database. If you want to be kept updated on classic events and gatherings – just drop an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your name, boat name (if you have one) and mobile number. We do not spam you, it is a very tight list.

Read more in the attached PCC notice of regatta.

NOR LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH 2026Download

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WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

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MENAI
LADY MARGARET (Colin Wild)

WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

As we get closer to the summer boating season, several woodys are nearing completion of significant winter work.

The first woody above is the Sam Ford built MENAI that came in for a deck replacement but the scope has slipped out to some TLC, MENAI is one of my favourite classic wooden launches so very happy to see her new owners commitment to her.

The last photo is of the 42’ LADY MARGARET  (Colin Wild) in the shed for a big birthday (100 in 1927) treat – photo was sent as a tease, with the promise of a full story soon. 

HEADS UP – the Te Atatu Boating Club are having a Marine Yard sale this Saturday  (3rd Oct),.Nice and early start –  7am  A great opportunity to find those goodies or to sell those preloved unused items. 
Seller spots also available for non TABC members if any of your readers wish to buy a spot.
Details are on the poster below.

CLASSIC NORTHLAND WOODY – COQUILLAGE + WOODYS KAWAU CLASSICS PARADE

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CLASSIC NORTHLAND WOODY – COQUILLAGE + WOODYS KAWAU CLASSICS PARADE

Now I suspect as soon as this story goes live someone will inform us that the yacht is either plastic or steel. But she looks the part 🙂

I spotted COQUILLQGE tied up at Dockland5 in Whangarei earlier in the month. 

Can we learn more about her.

CIRCLE THE DIARY – LABOUR WEEKEND CLASSIC WOODY EVENT – KAWAU BOATING CLUB SPRING SPLASH

A COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SAVE A STOLEN & SHIPWRECKED CLASSIC LAUNCH — ALMANA

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A COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SAVE A STOLEN & SHIPWRECKED CLASSIC LAUNCH — ALMANA

The classic wooden launch – ALMANA, appeared on WW back in August 2017 when Nathan Herbert sent in a photo of ALMANA asking if we could uncover her designer / builder and what became of her. Link here waitematawoodys.com/tag/almana/

Harold Kidd commented that she was built in 1940 by Cliff Roberts and Alder.

Fast forward to 2019 and we received several photos and comments from Nathan Herbert and Jason Prew as the launch ‘moved’ around the Waitemata Harbour – those photos are below.

Fast forward again early this week and WW is connected by Kathy Parlane who discovered ALMANA on WW while searching for historical photos of my family’s boat, ALMANA. I will hand over to Kathy to share with us an unknown chapter in ALMANA’s life –

“My parents owned Almana in the early 1980’s. After leaving her moored in Mangonui Harbour following a wet Christmas, my father intended to return from Auckland once the weather improved. Before he could do so, the vessel was stolen by three escaped convicts who attempted to sail her toward Australia. They ultimately abandoned her on 90 Mile Beach, Northland, during a spring tide.

Residents of Pukenui and Houhora assisted in recovering Almana, and she was transported back to Auckland for restoration. Many of those involved became lifelong friends of our family.

My father, Doug Parlane, passed away in 2015, so my remaining records are limited, but I wanted to contribute this part of Almana’s story for your archive. I’ve also included a link to the video of the rescue from 90 Mile Beach”

The video mentioned above was pretty ropey and one hour long, so we have uplifted images from the video – as seen above.

Can anyone tell us who undertook the restoration and where she was between the early 1980’s and 2017. 

Also in the photos below, the last one shows her alongside a Harbour Master vessel, most likely for an appointment with a back-hoe. Do we know if this happened.

May 2019 – Whau River -Te Atatu
June 2019 – Harbour Master Mooring – Northcote Point
Aug 2019 – Alongside Harbour Master Vessel

 MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

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 MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

Today classic wooden launch photo is once more from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth so we can safely assume the location is the Leigh region. 
No names to help us but I’m sure we will get a positive ID from the readers.

IF YOU NEEDED PROOF CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ARE COOL – my daughter tells me that over the weekend one of New Yorks biggest (1.1 million followers) fashion socialites – Brigette (the bride) got married and the couple arrived at the ceremony aboard a very smart classic wooden boat – link here for those with instagram  https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db6HX-nBHkA/ Screen grabs below for those that dont 🙂

MILFORD CREEK WOODYS FLASHBACK 

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2026
c.1980

MILFORD CREEK WOODYS FLASHBACK 

In the last few weeks the WW inbox has been receiving a lot of photos of the Milford Creek aka Wairau Estuary (if you own a plastic boat berthed there) from days gone by. 

The recent upgrades to the marina berths have transformed the area into a very swish place to keep your boat, aside from the draught and tidal access window issues.

As we can see in some of the photos – it really was a mangrove creek once.

(photos come to us from Ian McDonald and Glenn Martin)

AND HOME THIS WEEKEND TO THE WOODYS BOAT BOOT SALE AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – IF YOU’RE WANTING SPACE TO SELL YOUR TREASURE  – BOOK NOW. Email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH + Boat Boot Sale RSVP – SURF

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CLASSIC MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH – + Boat Boot Sale RSVP – SURF

Today classic wooden launch photo is from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth so we can safely assume the location is the Leigh region.  No names to help us but thats a very distinctive side profile so I’m sure we will get a positive ID from the readers.

In the photo she looks quite big (40’) until you factor in the child on the fore deck and the gent in the cockpit – so maybe 32-34’.

10-08-2026 INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – SURF was built in late 1916 by W. R. Dawson who owned her until 1927 . Fred Woolley of Auckland bought her in 1930. She was 32′ loa and was fitted originally with a 25hp Wisconsin which probably developed about 80bhp. She may have spent a season gamefishing out of Whangaroa in 1927 run by Kent.


LESS THAN A WEEK TILL THE WOODYS BOAT BOOT SALE AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORDIF YOU’RE WANTING SPACE TO SELL YOUR TREASURE  – BOOK NOW. Email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MANSION HOUSE BAY – THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

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MANSION HOUSE BAY – THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

The recent Kawau Island photos on WW have rattled the biscuit tin photo albums and WW has received several duplicates of photos that have already appeared on WW.

Todays photo ex Chris Leech is a newbie to my eyes and shows a great mix of yachts and motor launches at anchor in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.

 Always amazes me how they used to fill the bay back then. These days even with vastly superior anchors, most skippers are paranoid about you getting too close. 

CLASSIC WOODEN FROSTBITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE NZ TRADITIONAL BOATBUILDING SCHOOL 

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CLASSIC WOODEN FROSTBITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE NZ TRADITIONAL BOATBUILDING SCHOOL 

The long term WW followers will be familiar with The New Zealand Traditional Boat Building School, I have attended several courses over the years and it was a sad day when it went into hibernation. After YEARS! of procrastination around getting access to the Vos Shed on Auckland’s waterfront its so good that the school has a permanent home and is up and running again.

Some background, NZTBS is a volunteer run charitable trust started in 2005 that has been providing education, skills development, personal growth, community support, youth development and plays an active part in maintaining New Zealand’s valuable maritime history. Check out the website and learn how you can help this worthy group survive. Money is always nice – https://givealittle.co.nz/org/nztbs  but how about you or a couple of friends enrolling in one of the many hands on courses –https://nztbs.org.nz/

Currently the NZTBS team have been commissioned to build a classic wooden Frostbite sailing dinghy(hull #313) as seen above in todays gallery.

Frostbite History and Design

  • Designed by Jack Brooke in 1937 as a stable, versatile father-and-son boat that could handle general use and fishing.
  • Became the premier class for the Wakatere Boating Club and achieved national status in 1946.
  • Served as the official secondary school sailing trainer in New Zealand from 1951 until 1975.
  • Built with traditional clinker (lapstrake) wooden construction.