Kiwi membership model under review

Racing sailboats in New Zealand requires membership with a Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) affiliated club. But rather than also directly joining the national federation, as is done in the USA, YNZ is supported by fees from these clubs.

But this system, which YNZ relies on to deliver services to support the growth of the sport in New Zealand, is under review. Here’s an update from the federation:

Yachting New Zealand is launching a comprehensive review of its national membership model and club affiliation fee structure and is seeking expressions of interest from individuals to help lead the work.

The review aims to ensure the current system aligns with the evolving needs of the organization’s 106 affiliated clubs nationwide. It follows a commitment made by Yachting New Zealand at its AGM late last year, where the review was identified as a key priority for 2026.

“This is an important piece of work for the sport,” said Yachting New Zealand CEO Steve Armitage. “The landscape for sailing and boating clubs is changing, and we want to ensure our membership and affiliation model reflects the realities clubs are facing while supporting the long-term health of the sport.” – Full report