Westhaven Marina

🌊 A young sailor’s perspective on Westhaven, Auckland Central and Silo marinas

Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting Tamaki Ogasawara, an 18-year-old student researcher from Japan, as part of his Tobitate! Ryugaku JAPAN scholarship.

During his visit, Tamaki spent time immersed in marina life across our sites – observing operations, meeting staff and berth holders, and experiencing Auckland’s boating culture firsthand.

One of the things that stood out most to him was how active the marinas are on and off the water:

“I was surprised to see dedicated berths for charter operators and boat dealers. It made the marina feel like a very active commercial hub.”

He was also struck by the hands-on role of marina staff:

“The most interesting thing was seeing how often dockmasters are out on the water… and how they maintain such a friendly, helpful relationship with customers.”

A highlight of his visit was assisting with a vessel berthing at Silo Marina – a moment he said made him feel part of the crew.

Now back in Japan, Tamaki is taking these insights home to help inspire the next generation of sailors.

We really enjoyed hosting him and wish him all the best for the journey ahead ⚓

This morning, ten of our female team members from across Westhaven, Auckland Central and Silo marinas attended the inaugural Women in Marine event at the Auckland Boat Show.

The session brought together inspiring voices from across the marine industry, including Olympic sailing champion Jo Aleh, entrepreneur and podcast host Nicky Vaux, Hillary Buckman and Isabell Zitzelsberger.

Our team heard powerful stories about building confidence while navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry, and about supporting more women to pursue careers on and around the water.

One key takeaway shared by speakers was how much the industry has evolved – with the number of women in marine roles having doubled over the past 20 years, alongside growing recognition of the value women bring across all areas of the sector.

It was an inspiring way to kick off the show and a great reminder of the importance of connection, confidence, and continuing to pave the way for the next generation of women in marine.

Your berth. Your front-row seat ⚓✨

Why battle traffic or rush home when you can stay right on the waterfront?

We’re heading to the 2026 Auckland Boat Show – come and see how our marinas can be your front-row seat to the city for:

🎤 Live music
🏉 Major matches
🎭 Must-see shows
🌃 City lights at your doorstep

Perfect for weekend getaways, event nights, or winter stays on the water.

👉 Enquire now: westhaven.co.nz/contact/

Contact Westhaven Marina has personnel on site 24/7, 365 days a year.Our dockmasters are available around the clock via VHF channel 13 or by phone on 0800 MARINA (0800 627 462).Our customer service office is open:Monday to Thursday: 8am–5pmFriday: 8am–4.30pm

Wooden boats, harbour vibes and heritage stories ⛵✨

The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival is back from 13-15 March – a free celebration of craftsmanship and seafaring culture just around the harbour.

Whether you’re exploring the boats or enjoying the waterfront atmosphere, there’s something for everyone!

Discover the stories behind the boats and plan your visit at www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz

Auckland Wooden Boat Festival Majestic A-class yachts with B-Class and K-Class beauties. Classic launches and old-school work boats, and a treasured restored scow. An Australian ‘Couta’ boat, a converted fishing trawler, cruising boats with stories to tell, and passage yachts that have been places that dreams are made of. Ic...

🥁 Drums, paddles, and action this Auckland Anniversary Day! 🛶

Get ready for the Auckland Anniversary Day Dragon Boat Regatta this Saturday at the Viaduct Basin! With 50+ crews racing, including an international team from Guangzhou, China, the waterfront will be full of colour, energy, and excitement.

Join the Auckland Dragon Boat Association to watch this fast-paced, team-focused sport with front row seats to the action.

Bring your friends and family - it's for everyone, cheer on the crews and soak up one of Auckland’s most vibrant Anniversary Day traditions!

📍 Where: Viaduct Basin
📅 When: Monday 26 January, Auckland Anniversary Day
💥 Don’t miss it!

⚠️ Harbour activity advisory – Auckland Anniversary Day ⚓️

As part of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, several on-water events will take place in the inner harbour on Monday 26 January, which are expected to create increased wash, particularly around Westhaven.

What’s happening:

🕙 10am – Tugboat Race:
Starting off Westhaven – course to Orakei and return; significant wash expected, especially at the start (approx. 30–45 mins)

🕚 11am – Classic Launch Race:
Starting off Westhaven – course to Orakei and return; finishing off Westhaven around 11.40am

🕛 12pm – SailPast (not a race):
Yachts and launches will gather off Westhaven and motor/sail up the harbour to North Head

🕜 1.20pm – Waka Ama race:
Waka Ama paddlers will race down the harbour, keeping to the southern side, starting from Resolution – please keep a watchful eye out for paddlers

Safety vessels will be patrolling throughout the events.

👉 Berth holders and harbour users are encouraged to ensure vessels are securely moored and to take extra care if planning to be on the water during these times.

Thank you for helping keep everyone safe while enjoying the harbour celebrations.

Westhaven boaties – protect our harbour this season ⚓

Before you head out on the water, take a moment to check your vessel and gear for marine pests. These unwanted hitchhikers can harm our local environment and spread between harbours and marinas.

A great resource for all boaties is 👉 www.marinebiosecurity.org.nz/what-are-marine-pests – your go-to guide for identifying invasive species like Wakame, and other biosecurity tips to keep our Waitematā clean and thriving.

Whether you’re prepping for a day sail or planning a big trip, a quick check-clean-dry can make a huge difference. Let’s look after Westhaven and our waterways together! 💙

What are marine pests? » Marine Biosecurity Porthole Many hundreds of non-native species have been introduced to New Zealand waters, but not all of them are harmful. Most have arrived with shipping, either attached to the submerged surfaces of ships ("biofouling") or in the ballast water carried by large vessels to maintain stability.

🐟🎣 At Westhaven Marina, we believe in protecting our waters and supporting our community. Through initiatives like The Kai Ika Project, fish off-cuts and recycled cans are turned into support for families around Auckland – good for the sea, good for the people.

Want to help? Check out this video 👇⚓

We're constantly on the hunt for volunteers to help out at The Kai Ika Project, especially down at our filleting station at Westhaven Marina - if this sounds like a bit of you, send us a PM and let's chat! It's a lot of fun down there, we highly recommend you come and check it out!