The 2025 New Zealand Boat, Fish & Dive Expo is shaping up to be another landmark weekend for anyone passionate about the marine lifestyle. Held at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton on Saturday 30 August (9am–5pm) and Sunday 31 August (9am–4pm), the event builds on its successful 2024 relaunch, arriving larger than ever with more boats, more gear, and more to take in across the board.
New Zealand's only dedicated gathering that brings the boating, fishing, diving, and marine lifestyle communities together under one massive roof, the expo draws the full gamut of attendees, from seasoned offshore anglers and hardcore dive enthusiasts to young families and complete newcomers.
"This show is for everyone who loves the marine lifestyle," says the event organiser. "It's a celebration of New Zealand's connection to the sea, our boating culture, our fisheries, and the passion Kiwis have for our coastlines, lakes and rivers."
The 2025 show floor features an impressive cross-section of the country's most respected boatbuilders. Stabicraft brings its unmistakably rugged alloy pontoons built for offshore fishing, while Haines Hunter upholds its long-standing place in the New Zealand boating scene with designs built for comfort and ride quality. Innovision Boats presents sharp-edged alloy vessels focused on handling and safety, and Sealegs International displays its amphibious innovation, ideal for beachside launching. Extreme Boats offers precision-built alloy hulls recognised for performance, and Buccaneer brings sleek fibreglass family boats with a soft, dry ride. Surtees Boats, known for ballast-stabilised hulls purpose-built for serious fishing, appear alongside Image Boats, custom aluminium craft made tough in Southland. Lighter options are well covered too, with Flyfin Boats catering to calm-water fun and FatCat Boats bringing their stable twin-hull polyethylene craft suited to estuary adventures. Rounding out the line-up are Tristram Marine with luxury performance boats proudly manufactured in Waikato, Fi-Glass Boats offering Kiwi-built fibreglass classics designed for reliability and ease of use, Senator Boats with aluminium plate designs suited to both offshore and inshore use, and Takacat presenting light, packable inflatable catamarans ready for adventure.
Marine power and electronics are equally well represented. Honda Marine NZ will present its quiet, fuel-efficient four-stroke outboard range, while Yamaha covers proven performance across a wide power spectrum. Mercury Marine brings its continually evolving range of versatile, powerful propulsion options. Lusty & Blundell covers marine systems, plumbing, and navigation technology, and Garmin NZ will have GPS, sonar, radar, and marine electronics on display for boaties and anglers looking to sharpen their on-water capability.
Fishing sits at the heart of the expo's identity, and the 2025 show pulls together an exceptional collection of brands, gear, and personalities spanning every discipline. DAIWA, an event sponsor, presents high-end rods, reels, and tackle across the full spectrum of fishing styles. The team from Fishing & Adventure will be on hand to meet visitors and show off their gear, and Wise Angler brings its well-regarded tackle storage and accessories. The Lateral Line, a fishing lifestyle brand with a cult following, features alongside XPLORA, geared towards adventure and outdoor use. Calibre Composites will display custom rod blanks and fishing tools, while Tio Fishing covers rods, reels, and lures. Catch Fishing Tackle brings quality gear built specifically for New Zealand conditions, and Salt Attack's boat and gear cleaning solutions, a favourite among saltwater anglers, will be in attendance. International brands TiCA and Aftco are represented locally, and the major global players in reels and rods, including Okuma, Penn, Shimano, and Jarvis Walker, will all be present. Safety and sustainability also feature, with Pure Salt, Unjustified Risk, and Response Life Jackets each bringing their focus on responsible time on the water. The NZ Online Fishing Club provides a community hub for recreational fishers, while East Coast Sportfishing Charters, Reel Rods, Bullet Fishing, and the CATCH & CONNECT Crew round out a line-up spanning hands-on fishing experiences, charter options, and club connections. From softbait to gamefish and inshore rigs to bluewater setups, the show covers all disciplines with gear suited to beginners and seasoned pros alike.
The dive zone ranks among the most comprehensive showcases of its kind in the country. Scuba gear, wetsuits, regulators, BCDs, and accessories are covered by Aqualung, Scubapro, Beuchat, Fourth Element, and Apeks. Spearfishing, freediving, and underwater hunting specialists Rob Allen, Prodive, Wettie, Oceanpro, Arataki Dive, and S.E.A Fiordland are all represented. OMNE Marine, Pure Salt, and Unjustified Risk focus on ocean expeditions, technical diving, and sustainable practices, with Response Life Jackets providing safety solutions for above and below the waterline. Whether a visitor is gearing up for their first open water course or hunting down technical dive solutions, the zone caters to the full range of experience.
The show also reaches into the hunting and outdoor space, particularly for those whose interests blur the boundary between land and water. Stoney Creek, Spika, Salt Aotearoa, and Salt Shark bring hunting apparel and hybrid marine clothing, while Razorback Hunting & Fishing Adventures offers guided trips and backcountry experience. PRIMAL PURSUIT and HUNTING & FISHING NZ supply broad-spectrum gear for field and boat alike. Junkie Jigs, Boomer Anchors, and Long Cloud BBQ add outdoor cooking, jigging, and anchoring solutions to the mix, alongside multi-purpose vehicles, camping kit, tactical gear, and bush-to-beach hybrid wear.
There is plenty to enjoy for visitors less focused on tackle or hulls. Seafood tastings, BBQs, and cooking demonstrations share space with premium New Zealand-made gin and whisky from Lammermoor Distillery. Ocean-inspired art, crafts, gifts, clothing, sunglasses, homewares, spices, and sauces make the expo as much a lifestyle occasion as an industry event, set within a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere.
"Even if you've never baited a hook, you'll find something to love," organisers say. "The expo showcases not only the marine industry, but the wider lifestyle that comes with it."
Every ticket purchased includes automatic entry into a draw to win a fishing prize pack valued at over $15,000, courtesy of DAIWA. That alone makes it a hard event to skip.
The 2025 New Zealand Boat, Fish & Dive Expo takes place at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on Saturday 30 August (9am–5pm) and Sunday 31 August (9am–4pm). Tickets are available now and include automatic entry into the DAIWA $15,000 prize draw.
