Westhaven Marina highly commended at 2026 NZMOA Awards
Westhaven Marina has been highly commended in the Outstanding Initiative category at the 2026 New Zealand Marina Operators Association (NZMOA) Awards, recognising the transformation of its long-running cadetship programme.
Over the past two years, Auckland Council’s marinas team has continued to evolve the programme, creating a more structured and consistent pathway for developing highly capable, multi-skilled marina professionals.
The programme provides cadets with practical experience across Westhaven, Auckland Central and Silo marinas, supported by formal training, clear learning pathways, dedicated mentoring and opportunities to develop skills across the full range of marina operations.
The cadetship programme has been running for around 10 years and has supported eight cadets to date. Several former cadets have progressed into permanent roles within Auckland Council’s marinas, while others have gone on to careers across the wider marina and superyacht industry, including internationally.
The Outstanding Initiative category recognises ideas, projects and practical solutions that contribute to the advancement of New Zealand’s marina industry. Westhaven’s cadetship programme was one of two full-member finalists in the category.
We’re incredibly proud of the time, knowledge and experience our team invests in developing the next generation of marina professionals. The recognition is a great reflection of that commitment and the value of investing in our people.
Silo Marina was also recognised at the awards, receiving a Specialist Distinction Award for its unique role as a specialist superyacht marina in central Auckland and its contribution to Auckland’s marine and visitor economy. Read more about Silo Marina’s Specialist Distinction Award.
The 2026 NZMOA Awards were presented at the NZMOA Awards Dinner in Tauranga on 24 September 2026.
Pictured from left to right: Gareth Wilson, Marinas Manager; David Marginet, Operations Quality Manager Marinas; Mike Keown, Marinas Asset Manager; and Kevin Lidgard, Head of Marinas.
