Unsurprising perhaps, but unfortunate nonetheless, this ongoing Covid-19 saga has seen the cancellation or postponement of yet more events around the country.

Among them are the Antiques & Classics Boat Show, held annually at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes district, and the Auckland Boat Show in Auckland’s Viaduct basin. Both are highlights in the boating calendar for many, but the runaway spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant and associated restrictions on gathering sizes has made these events impossible to stage.

For the organisers and exhibitors – as for many other events, boating or otherwise – cancellation is a difficult pill to swallow. All that preparation, organisation and investment coming to naught! In the case of the Auckland Boat Show, this is the third year in a row pandemic restrictions have forced the event’s cancellation.

The NZ Marine Industry Association, which runs the Auckland Boat Show on behalf of its members, is putting on a brave face and talking up next year’s show, March 9-12, 2023, which it promises will be bigger and better than ever.

Exhibitors have been supportive of NZ Marine’s decision to focus on the next edition of the show, but many are understandably disappointed it has been cancelled again this year. For the third year running, they’ve lost a wonderful opportunity to show their wares and promote their businesses to New Zealanders.

Equally, it’s a lost opportunity for us, the public, to see the latest and greatest in boating all gathered together in one place, also on the water. Fortunately, ticket holders will not be left out of pocket – tickets are automatically transferred to the 2023 show, or they can ask for refunds. Hopefully, most will support the show by rolling their tickets over and committing to 2023.

It is somewhat ironic that, while the pandemic has spurred record demand for boats and marine equipment, with events like the Auckland Boat Show falling by the wayside, there has been little opportunity for Kiwis to experience the new and exciting. Thank goodness for Boating NZ magazine!

On a personal note, after 30-plus years of attending more boat shows than I care to remember, I never thought I would say it, but I miss them! The good news? After a two/three-year hiatus, events like boat shows are coming back on stream everywhere around the world – New Zealand can’t be far behind.