Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

Aquapro and RFD merge

by Ivor Wilkins on 26 Feb 2005
Aquapro International Limited, New Zealand’s largest and longstanding manufacturer of inflatable boats and RIBs, is to strengthen its sales and distribution activities by merging with its parent company RFD New Zealand Limited.

This move will be very positive for the many longstanding Aquapro customers in New Zealand, who will be able to take advantage of the wider distribution network RFD New Zealand Limited is able to offer for post sales support and service.

RFD New Zealand Limited is a specialist marine safety distribution company, which has been well known in the New Zealand marine industry for more than 20 years and has service and distribution operations throughout New Zealand. Aquapro will now have an augmented presence in those locations.

Sales activity in New Zealand is expected to increase through the enlarged sales team.
RFD (Australia) Pty. Ltd. which has service and warehouse centers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and has distributed the Aquapro product through their dealer and service network for the past 11 years will continue in this role.

As part of this move, Aquapro will be undertaking some restructuring and it will close its Auckland based manufacturing plant on the 31st March 2005.

Several key Aquapro staff will transfer across to the RFD team. Aquapro will assist remaining staff to seek alternative employment. Whilst it is disappointing that Aquapro will not be continuing to support manufacturing activities in New Zealand, the strong New Zealand dollar combined with the lower offshore wages cost has forced this move.

Paul Goddard, founder and Managing Director of Aquapro says, ‘This move will provide a stronger base for Aquapro going forward and customers can only benefit.'

RFD New Zealand Limited is committed to maintaining the quality of the Aquapro product range, which has been the hallmark of the Aquapro offering.

Mark Clothier, the Managing Director of RFD (Australia) Pty. Ltd and RFD New Zealand Ltd. says, ‘The Aquapro quality combined with its unique design can only add to RFD’s significant reputation.'
Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTERSCIBS 2025Zhik 2024 December

Related Articles

Cape Horn Hall of Fame nominations close by 30 May
Public nominations open for just a little longer The International Association of Cape Horners (IACH) is calling for nominations for new inductees to the Cape Horn Hall of Fame.
Posted on 22 May
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ respond
Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight (NZT) Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight by two Challenger teams calling for more transparency in the negotiations over the Protocol and venue for the 38th Match.
Posted on 22 May
World Foiling Congress 2025 concludes
Event attracted top industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders The second edition of the World Foiling Congress took place this week at Palazzo della Borsa in Genova (Italy), attracting top industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across the global Foiling Community.
Posted on 22 May
J/70 UK Grand Slam 2 at Royal Southern Yacht Club
7 races for the North Sails May Regatta Having suffered through some tough conditions in Grand Slam 1, the forecasts were looking hopeful for the second event of the UK J/70 Season. As we got closer to the event it was anyone's guess as to how the racing would pan out.
Posted on 22 May
6mR Worlds return to Seawanhaka Corinthian YC
Oyster Bay and Long Island Sound are renowned as some of the best sailing waters in the world Founded in 1871 and located on Oyster Bay, New York, SCYC is America's oldest yacht club and its association with the Sixes goes right back to the class's foundation in 1907.
Posted on 22 May
Steering the Course kicks off to #AccelerateAction
World Sailing's global women's sailing festival gets under way soon The 2025 edition of Steering the Course, World Sailing's global women's sailing festival, gets under way on 23 May with a week-long focus on #AccelerateAction in support of this year's International Women's Day theme.
Posted on 22 May
Solo McIntyre Mini Globe Race - 18,000 miles to go
Pirates, squalls, and paradise found The McIntyre Mini Globe Race fleet has officially fallen under the spell of the South Pacific—a place where dreams of palm-fringed beaches collide with the reality of torrential rain, viscous squalls, Loud lightening, questionable dinghy landings.
Posted on 22 May
Hyde Sails Flying Fifteen Video Tuning Guide
Ben McGrane explains how to get the most out of your B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs Hyde Sails release new detailed video guide for tuning the Flying 15 for use with the B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs.
Posted on 22 May
NYYC American Magic team statement
Concerns over transparency and cooperation necessary to secure a fair Protocol Over the past seven years, we've competed with pride, purpose, and perseverance in two editions of the America's Cup. It has been an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club and the United States on the global stage.
Posted on 22 May
Athena Racing concerned over 38th AC transparency
Around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027 Athena Racing, representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd. as Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup, is concerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027.
Posted on 22 May