Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust

What Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust does

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust is a New Zealand-registered non-profit charitable trust founded in 2012, operating the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre at 8-10 Tamaki Drive, Okahu Bay, Auckland. The trust runs a fully inclusive waterfront marine sports hub combining an event centre (Te Kawau Room, Joyce Fisher Room), the Akarana Eatery restaurant and bar, and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) under a single umbrella. Its stated mission is "to provide safe pathways to the sea," with programmes such as New Navigators delivering marine sports education and youth outreach. The organisation employs 11-50 staff and is governed by trustees rather than shareholders.

The trust generates revenue through four primary streams: venue hire for weddings, conferences, meetings, and social events; on-site food and beverage operations at Akarana Eatery; recurring RAYC individual memberships providing facility and equipment access; and donations, fundraising, and corporate sponsorship. Pricing includes standard venue hire rates with minimum spend requirements, discounted rates for registered charities (20-50% off room hire), and a Community Access Programme offering complimentary space for eligible community groups. The trust maintains a curated preferred suppliers network of 15+ event service providers.

Distribution is primarily domestic within the Auckland region through direct venue booking via the website, walk-in and reservation-based restaurant service, and membership enrolment. Key financial sponsors include Hyundai New Zealand (naming rights), General Finance, Auckland Council, the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, The Masfen Foundation, and Ecostore. The trust operates on a non-profit basis, reinvesting surpluses into community marine sports programmes and venue operations rather than distributing profits.

Name

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust

Legal name

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust

Website

https://akarana.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust is a New Zealand non-profit operating the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre on Auckland's waterfront. It runs venue hire, a restaurant, and a yacht club, serving event bookers, marine sports enthusiasts, community groups, and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Event Venue and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused) (THAAAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Snorkeling & Marine Activity Centers (THAAAKAE)

Keywords

• Maritime event venue
• Yacht club membership
• Waterfront dining
• Marine education programmes
• Community sailing hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire: The trust generates revenue through hiring out event spaces including the Te Kawau Room, Joyce Fisher Room, and other venue areas for functions, weddings, conferences, and community events. Discounted rates are offered for registered charities and not-for-profit community organisations.
2. Akarana Eatery: On-site restaurant and bar operations generating revenue from food and beverage sales. The eatery hosts regular dining, special events, weekend roasts, and private functions.
3. Donations and Fundraising: As a charitable trust, Akarana relies on public donations, voucher sponsorships, and fundraising support to fund community programmes including the New Navigators initiative.
4. RAYC Membership: Royal Akarana Yacht Club membership provides access to facilities, equipment, and member discounts on venue hire and dining. The trust does not offer corporate memberships but encourages corporate partnership or sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust operates the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre on Auckland's Okahu Bay waterfront, offering venue hire for weddings, conferences, social events, meetings, and celebrations of life, alongside an on-site restaurant (Akarana Eatery), yacht club membership (Royal Akarana Yacht Club), and marine education outreach through the New Navigators programme. The trust is a registered non-profit that relies on venue hire income, food and beverage sales, memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships to fund its community mission.

Product overview

Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust operates the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre as a fully inclusive marine sports hub on the Auckland waterfront. The offering is a multi-component ecosystem comprising the Akarana Event Centre (core venue hire), Akarana Eatery (restaurant and bar), Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) membership, and the New Navigators Programme (marine education). The venue offers various spaces including the Te Kawau Room and Joyce Fisher Room, with community access programmes and charity support. Regular programming includes quiz nights, wine clubs, family movie nights, sailing series, and corporate/event hire across multiple venue configurations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Navigators: Marine sports education and youth programme
• RAYC Membership

Products and services

• Akarana Event Centre Waterfront venue hire facility at Auckland's Okahu Bay offering multiple event spaces for weddings, conferences, meetings, social events, celebrations of life, and sports events, including Te Kawau Room and Joyce Fisher Room, with on-site catering, security, and a preferred-supplier network. Designed for corporate clients, wedding planners, community groups, and individuals hosting functions at a scenic waterfront location.
• Akarana Eatery On-site restaurant and bar at the Auckland waterfront serving kiwi coastal cuisine with à la carte dining, weekend roasts, themed dining experiences, quiz nights, wine clubs, and private function catering. Open to walk-in diners, online reservations, and event attendees.
• Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) Yacht club operating within the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre offering sailing programmes, twilight racing series (Lasers available for hire inside Okahu Bay), and social sailing events. Individual members gain access to club boats, surf skis, facilities, and member discounts on venue hire and dining.
• New Navigators Programme Marine sports education and youth pathway programme run by the trust with its primary home in the Joyce Fisher Room, focused on creating safe pathways to the sea through sailing instruction, holiday programmes, and community engagement. Targeted at youth, beginners, and local community members who would not otherwise have access to marine sports.
• RAYC Membership Individual membership programme for the Royal Akarana Yacht Club providing facility access, use of club equipment (boats, surf skis), member discounts on venue hire and eatery dining, and community involvement for personal, social, family occasions, and small business meetings.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAYC operates as an integral part of the Akarana Marine Sports Centre, providing sailing programmes, twilight racing series, and marine sports activities. The club uses the venue facilities and contributes to the marine sports community hub.
• Kasia Kolmas (Photography)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred wedding and event photographer for Akarana, familiar with venue spaces and lighting.
• Luxury LaneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred event styling and design supplier, selected for creativity and professionalism.
• Wildly Madly DeeplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred florals and event styling supplier for venue events.
• Flock EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred furniture and decor hire supplier for venue events.
• Pinnacle BridalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred artificial floral design and event styling partner.
• Event Styling COminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred curtains and draping supplier for venue events.
• The RevelryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred event planning and styling supplier for venue events.
• Vnilla EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred event styling and planning supplier.
• InsphireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred equipment, furniture and decor hire supplier.
• VintoboothsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred photobooth hire supplier for events.
• Serenity Hair & MakeupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred hair and makeup styling service for events.
• Champagne Towers NZminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred champagne tower service for celebrations and events.
• Balloon NZminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred balloon garlands and backdrop supplier for events.
• Pacific LinenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred linen hire supplier for venue events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron: Premier Auckland yacht club offering sailing, club membership, dining and event venue hire at Westhaven. Closest direct comparable — same city, same membership-club-plus-events model, same waterfront DNA as Akarana/Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
• Orakei Marine: Auckland waterfront marine facility providing berthage, boat services and access to the harbour. Comparable waterfront marine-sports infrastructure serving the same Auckland recreational boating community as Akarana.
• Lyttelton Yacht Club: South Island yacht club providing sailing, club membership and clubhouse event hire. Comparable membership-driven sailing club with venue-hire element, similar in scale and mission to Akarana/RAYC.
• Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club: Wellington-based yacht club offering sailing, club membership, dining and event hosting. Directly analogous membership yacht-club model to Royal Akarana Yacht Club, serving a different harbour.
• Westhaven Marina: Largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere, located adjacent to Akarana at Auckland's waterfront. Comparable as a waterfront marine-sports hub serving recreational boating in the same Hauraki Gulf catchment, though Akarana is more venue/event-led.
• Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club: Regional yacht and powerboat club combining membership sailing with bar/restaurant and function venue hire. Comparable to Akarana's integrated yacht-club-plus-events format, though operating in the Bay of Plenty rather than Auckland.

Regional players

• Silo Park: Auckland waterfront public venue hosting events, markets, dining and cultural programming at Wynyard Quarter. Comparable Auckland waterfront event-venue competitor overlapping Akarana's corporate/social hire audience, though without the yacht-club or marine-sports layer.

Broad incumbents

• Emirates Team New Zealand: Auckland-based America's Cup defender operating marine-sports facilities and events on the waterfront. Overlaps with Akarana's world-class marine events positioning and Auckland waterfront setting, though at much larger scale and with a competitive-racing focus.
• Yachting New Zealand: National governing body for sailing in New Zealand, supporting member clubs including affiliates like RAYC. Operates broadly across the marine-sports category Akarana serves, but as an industry body rather than a venue operator.

Others

• Auckland Council Waterfront Services: Council entity operating public waterfront facilities, events and marine recreation infrastructure around the Auckland waterfront. Listed as a supporter of Akarana and a key institutional stakeholder in the marine-sports and waterfront-events ecosystem Akarana inhabits.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AkaranaMarineSports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akarana-marine-sports-charitable-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/akaranamarinesports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust