Yachting New Zealand

Yachting New Zealand is the National Sport Body in NZ for the sport of sailing at all levels. We are a non profit organization of approximately 20 employees around the country and 250+ member clubs, classes and organisations.

Vision: To inspire greatness and national pride, while embracing adventure, enterprise and a passion for the sea.

Purpose: To promote the appeal, development and success of sailing as an innovative, inclusive and lifelong sport.

Strategic Goals:

• To promote and grow participation in sailing as a lifelong sport while enhancing its development at all levels.
• To safeguard and to advance members’ interests and rights through effective advocacy, and to grow the value of our services to members.
• To win medals consistently at Olympic and World Championship events
• To lift the appeal, visibility and funding potential of sailing – working closely with media to expand coverage.
• Through effective, innovative and targeted support to lift the capability and number of volunteers, particularly in the areas of judging, umpiring, race management and coaching.

Yachting New Zealand provides a strong and informed collective voice to protect the freedoms and interests of all members.

Yachting New Zealand commits substantial effort and resources to lobby central and local government in respect to environmental and legal issues directly affecting New Zealand’s recreational boat-owners and operators. We have a nationwide viewpoint; when we submit we submit with a voice of just over 31,000 people from over 120 clubs, 50 class associations and 40 maritime organisations. This carries far more weight than an individual submission.

Yachting New Zealand is often recognised as the spokes group for boaties, not just sailors. YNZ lobbies to ensure continued freedom of navigation in the coastal marine area and unimpeded access to sheltered bays for both enjoyment and safety.

Yachting New Zealand has, on many occasions, ensured regulatory bodies, government agencies and local Councils are made aware of the views of boaties, and the impact of potential regulations and bylaws on our ability to use the marine environment for club racing and recreational cruising on launches and on yachts.

While some issues do not affect every boatie today, a large number of people might one day own or cruise on friends keelboats and launches and will wish to do so in an environment that is as reasonably unrestricted as possible. Once an Act or bylaw impacting on boat owners is passed, it is far more difficult and costly to amend in future.

Yachting New Zealand also advocates for projects that will add value and enhance yachting and boating and the coastal environment we enjoy.

What can clubs do?

Clubs should nominate a person(s) to keep up to date with matters that may pose a risk to local club activities.

Talk to local councils. Clubs should be on the list of “Interested Parties” so they will be notified when anyone submits an application for resource consent that is of concern to them. Also, by talking to the council, it puts the club in a better position for consultations with councils on projects.