New Boating Industries boss to canvass the issues

The head of the Boating Industries Association tells ROBIN BAILEY that he and his board will be roaming countrywide to help his members out.

A change of tack is under way for the group serving the country's marine industry. The new chairman of the Boating Industries Association is Wellington businessman Bob Tait, who plans to ensure its umbrella covers all of New Zealand.

"I'm a transplanted Aucklander who has been operating in the capital for 18 years," Tait says. "So I am well aware of the 'South of the Bombays syndrome' and the effect it can have.

"It's a perception the association has been working to overcome, and working towards changing it will be one of the main targets of my term as president."

To do this, he will take the BIA board of management on the road, holding meetings in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. Then it will head into other areas of industry activity as the need arises.

Owner of Porirua-based Diversified Products, which services the recreational boating sector, Tait began his career as a ships' providore.

He remains secretary of the New Zealand Association of Ships Suppliers, which links him to a cross-section of both the leisure and commercial sectors of the maritime world.

Having chaired the Boating Industry Training Organisation for the past year - and continuing in 2001-2002 - the new man at the helm of the national association believes training will guarantee the future of the industry.

He is pleased with the $200,000 grant from Industry New Zealand to promote cross-over training which will provide more skilful workers for the booming superyacht industry. The money enables the BITO to re-train tradespeople to meet the standards required for the domestic and export markets.

Tait emphasises that this project is not aimed at catering just for the new start-ups in Whangarei and Whenuapai, but to provide people for the existing yards that have established New Zealand's reputation for competing at the top end of the market.

He is proud, too, of the success of the apprenticeship programme which last month resulted in McDell Marine in Auckland signing on apprentices 300 and 301, Anthony Murray and Kate Locke.

"In 1991 we had just 35 apprentices, so we have seen an increase of 760 per cent, a figure which exceeds our most optimistic forecasts," Tait says. "The apprenticeship training programme was set by BIA members working closely with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Skill New Zealand. Our aim was to be able to deliver what the industry required.

"Today's programmes show we have achieved that goal. Particularly pleasing is the commitment made by the new superyacht builder, New Zealand Yachts, which has formed a partnership with Northland Polytech to undertake an ambitious training programme to meet its present and projected labour needs.

"This will be of huge benefit to Whangarei, which in the past has had a high level of unemployment and few job opportunities."

The association's efforts are not all going into the top end of the market.

The BIA and Coastguard four years ago introduced the CPC plate for trailerable boats up to 7m. It ensures the boats meet rigorous construction standards and has proved a valuable quality guarantee and marketing tool.

Tait says this concept is about to be extended to boats of 8m and above, which will cover the segment of the industry that extends to luxury launches.

The programme will have fierce competitors working together on common problems and creating new business opportunities.

"The success of the BIA depends on its members being able to operate profitable businesses," Tait says.

"I see my role as working to ensure that happens."