The second weekend in February will see a magnificent showcase of boating history as the 28th annual Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade takes to the water on Saturday, February 8.

Boaters and spectators alike will be treated to a stunning display of more than 100 historic wooden boats, colourful vessels and a variety of other classic boats that will parade around the eastern end of Lake Rotoiti.

The boats will be either resident on Lake Rotoiti or visiting to participate in the annual Wooden Boat Parade.

The Mary Rose and Kelly Maree on Lake Rotoiti.

The event, organised by the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Association, will start at 10.30am from the Okere arm of the lake, with the parade beginning at 11am.

Boats of all shapes, sizes and colours will make for an impressive spectacle celebrating NZ’s rich maritime history, and Commodore Aaron Martin said the association would love to see some extra classic or wooden boats of any type join in to help to make it their largest parade ever.

Bluebird and Maverick on Lake Rotoiti.

The Pre-Parade Dinner and Captain’s Briefing will be held at the VR Resort on the evening of Friday, February 7.

The parade starts at 11 am on Saturday, February 8, in the Okere arm of the lake, at the reserve beside Highway 33 at Okere Falls.

Part of the flotilla at the 2023 Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade. Photo / Geoff Dainty

Martin said many of the boats will be historical and well-decorated wooden launches with costumed crews, along with every other type and size of small boat imaginable – sailed, rowed or powered, including some strange ones like the vintage, tiny Personal Watercraft.

“The parade will be started by a real cannon firing, and traditional Māori waka have been invited to lead it.”

Traditional Māori waka will lead the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade.

An onshore viewing area is available for the public a few hundred metres south from the Okere Store, with Commodore Martin as MC announcing the boats as they pass.

“The boats go really close to the reserve in the Okere Arm, so people can look at them close-up. I think it’s quite a special sight to see so many old boats, including a couple of steamboats, usually.”

Participants enjoying a previous Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade.

Following parading by the bigger boats around Okawa Bay, association members head for a chosen bay where they all park up their boats along the beach for inspection. They then enjoy a picnic, while on the beachside reserve, fun and games start.

Martin said there will be the usual bobbing for lollies, sack races, egg throwing, tug-of-war and The Great Rotoiti Yellow Duck Hunt for the kids.

Group of classic wooden boats at Lake Rotoiti.

The Mary Rose, Smuggler, Dancer and Kotare at Lake Rotoiti.

For the adults, a sail past along the beach by selected boats is an added attraction.

Preserving New Zealand’s maritime heritage

Martin believes it is important to keep these classic and wooden boats around and out on the water because they are mainly New Zealand-made and very much part of New Zealand’s heritage.

“All these boats need repairing and restoring from time to time, so it helps keep the traditional boat building industry alive.”

The Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade is an annual event.

He said it is also important because many of the boats have been involved in Rotorua lakes transport and tourism for a very long time.

Established in 1998, the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association organises the annual parade of the Wooden Boats and has established Lake Rotoiti as a mecca for classic and wooden boats in New Zealand.

The use of wooden boats on Lake Rotoiti goes way back in history to the arrival of the great Waka Arawa, on the shore of Maketu. It did not take long for these first Māori explorers to discover the beautiful lakes of the Rotorua area.

Rotoiti has a rich history of wooden boats.

The lakes soon became the main method of travel between the sub-tribes of Arawa, in particular Ngāti Pikiao, who settled around Rotoiti and who used waka of all shapes and sizes for trade and travel.

Thus, was born the rich history of wooden boats, especially on Rotoiti, which was probably the main Māori settled lake in the district.

European influence was first felt in the 1930s as city dwellers from Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton were able to purchase small lakeside parcels of land for holiday homes.

Great Scott on Rotoiti.

Many well-known old merchant families including the Winstones, Rendells, Stevensons, Hellabys and many others came to regard Rotoiti as their summer playground, and they needed boats.

In those days they were nearly always displacement launches, built to last. It is no surprise that many of these fine old craft are still alive and well tucked into sheds around the lake shores.

In 1997 two neighbours on the Te Akau peninsula, Gillian Marks and Lindsay Brighouse, decided this living history was too good to waste. These fine old boats needed to be gathered for at least one day each year.

So was born the concept of the Parade of the Wooden Boats.

Boats lined up ready for the picnic.

A foundation committee, which also included longtime lake personalities Morrin Cooper and John Barrowman, was set up. Brentleigh Bond and Phil Cunningham soon joined this enthusiastic group. Gillian and Morrin are no longer involved in the parade organisation, but their enthusiasm and energy was largely instrumental in its success.

The first parade, held on Waitangi Day 1998 had 40 entries. Since then, attendance has grown to around eighty wooden boats of all shapes and sizes.

A growing community of boat enthusiasts

The parade is now recognised as one of New Zealand’s most significant inland waterway marine occasions. It is also a day of enjoyment for lake people who love their boats.

The event features hot pools, a barbecue breakfast and fishing fun.

Lake Rotoiti is now firmly established as a mecca for vintage wooden boats within New Zealand.

Of particular interest to the parade organisers are any old photographs or articles of boating on Rotoiti.

“We wish to establish as part of our website a historical section to further enhance our knowledge of our lake’s wonderful history,” Martin said.

“If you have anything of interest, please contact one of the committee members.”

The event is popular with wooden boaters.

All committee members are honorary, enthusiastic wooden boaters who Martin said are doing this for the enjoyment of all.

“There is also a willing band of enthusiastic helpers who all do their bit to make a fun day. Unfortunately, there are costs involved, and any fees charged will be kept to a minimum to cover the basics.

“Our association is keen to keep building its membership. People don’t have to have a classic or wooden boat to enjoy club activities,” he said.

The family membership fee is $10 annually, and for a membership form or to see all the boats and events go to https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz

The rain date for the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade will be Sunday, February 9.