Superyacht Capital established at Hobsonville

by Sail-World on 30 May 2007
Waitakere City Council has today announced a major move towards expanding superyacht building and facilities at Hobsonville, with the purchase of 15 hectares of land, an area three times the size of the existing marine cluster, as part of the planned overall redevelopment of the area.

Mayor Bob Harvey says the objective is to make Hobsonville the Southern Hemisphere capital of superyacht building.

'We want to create a cluster of marine industries and a centre of excellence at Hobsonville to enable New Zealand to compete better with new facilities in Australia trying to muscle in on the lucrative international market for building, outfitting and maintaining superyachts.

'Waitakere has identified filmmaking and boat building as two industries which the council wishes to foster, by making best use of natural competitive advantages, existing skills and infrastructure in our city.

'By helping make these industries in our city internationally competitive, we will help create employment and wealth', he said.' Creating local employment is a fundamental principle of the city’s sustainable development strategy.'

Mr Harvey said Waitakere has already achieved spectacular success through fostering the film industry, investing in studios in Henderson and attracting sufficient business to nurture a range of skills attractive to international film makers.

'In July this year we will be opening a 2000 square metre sound stage building which will be the biggest in the country, making a total council and private sector investment of $13 million in these film facilities.

'Now we are taking the opportunity to take a major step forward in fostering our marine precinct at Hobsonville, which currently consists of Sovereign Yachts, Yachting Developments Ltd with two superyachts under construction, Bluewater Boats and a traditional boat building school.'

The Hobsonville move is strongly supported by the marine industry, which is keen to see the existing fledgling marine precinct at Hobsonville develop into a major marine cluster, close to the centre of Auckland and to deep water.

The council has purchased 15 hectares of land at valuation for $15. 3 million.

The land will be developed on a commercial basis by Waitakere Properties Ltd, a council subsidiary, which will make land available to new entrants to the Hobsonville cluster.

The 15 hectares of vacant land are being purchased from companies associated with Sovereign Yachts, which will continue boat building on an adjoining site. The land purchased by Waitakere City Council also adjoins an area of land owned by Housing New Zealand Corporation on which boat building companies have established operations in former hangers.

An existing slipway leading to deep water allows boat builders to launch major vessels directly into the upper harbour.

The Waitakere land purchase is a major step forward in the creation of the marine precinct at Hobsonville which is a central component in the overall redevelopment of the former air base.

It creates the opportunity for other boat builders and related marine industries to relocate to Hobsonville, strengthening the cluster and creating jobs and economic growth in the area.

Next steps are the re-zoning of the land which is to be determined in the next couple of months in conjunction with the Auckland Regional Council’s decision s on adjustments to Auckland’s Metropolitan Urban Limit.

Mr Harvey said the expanded Hobsonville marine cluster would be readily accessible from the new motorway linking North Shore and Waitakere, with a possible commercial airport at Whenuapai in the future and rail not far away. Hobsonville could also be serviced by ferry from downtown Auckland and the North Shore.

Mr Ian Cook, President of the Marine Industry Association New Zealand (and managing director of Yachting Developments Ltd) has hailed the move as a major step forward for the marine industry, which now accounts for annual exports of some $570 million.

'There was a feeling when we lost the America’s Cup that international interest would wane in Zealand as a place to have a superyacht built and outfitted, but this has not been the case,' said Mr Cook.

'The ability of New Zealand craftsmen is well established, as is our ability to build these complex vessels on time and on budget, to a superb standard.

'One of the keys to doing this is for builders to be able to integrate all of the suppliers of joinery, spars, sails, rigging, engines, refrigeration, sound systems, computer and navigation systems and a host of other specialised components which go towards making up the whole package. In doing this we will work cooperatively with the marine industries based at Westhaven to present a seamless service to clients'

Mr Cook said the New Zealand industry faces strong competition from Australia, where State Governments have encouraged and subsidised the establishment of new facilities for the building and maintenance of superyachts.

'It is great to have Waitakere City Council so strongly encouraging and supporting the development of a marine cluster at Hobsonville to allow New Zealand to compete in this lucrative market, which has so many flow-on benefits in the retention and development of skills, and the creation of new jobs.

Mr Cook says New Zealand is firmly positioned on the world superyacht stage, with the New Zealand sponsored Millennium Cup for superyachts starting in the Spain next month a number of the fleet having been built in Waitakere.

'We are on the world stage already. The industry needs to stay there and consolidate and grow our position through this new initiative, as the best place to be in the world to build or maintain a superyacht.'