Māpua Boat Club & Maritime Museum

13/08/2026

06/08/2026

Photographic talents recognised with prizes

There were some very happy winners at Sunday’s prize giving in the MBC rooms for the 2026 Mapua Maritime Museum Amateur Photographic Competition.
That’s when the photographic talents of 28 winners were acknowledged with vouchers and gifts donated by generous local sponsors.
The contest attracted a record 216 photos from 48 entrants, eight of them children.
Discussion are on-going regarding how to better display photos in the museum for next year’s competition.
A 2027 Mapua calendar featuring some of the photos from the competition is now on sale for $20 from Delicious Homewares.
Thanks to our generous sponsors: CopyArt; Coolstore Gallery Mapua , Wharf Shack, Mapua Dawn Chorus, Java Hut, Rabbit Island Coffee Co, Bruce Batty of Summit, Delicious Homewares, The Smokehouse, Jared’s Fruit and Veg, Jellyfish, Split Apple Rock Cruise, Earth & Sea Jewellery, Darby & Joan Mapua, Mapua Ferry, Sprig & Fern, Hamish’s Mapua, The Indian, Mapua and Mapua Chemist.
Caption: Some of the talented photographers who won prizes on Sunday.

19/07/2026

A record 216 photos from 48 entrants, eight of them children, were entered in the 2026 Mapua Maritime Museum Amateur Photographic Competition, and are now on display at the museum.
Judges Jane Smith of Chocolate Dog Studio Mapua and Jamie Brown of major sponsor CopyArt said the standard of entry was higher than last year, making judging even harder.
The exhibition continues at the museum on the Mapua Wharf until the morning of Sunday August 2 and prize giving takes place in the Mapua Boat Club rooms from 4pm that afternoon.
A 2027 Mapua calendar featuring some of the photos from the competition will be on sale at the prize giving and then from Delicious Homewares.
Results in the Children’s Categories are:
People: Winner Asher Robinson, Runner-up Adelia Lamb, Commended Noah Fisher
Boats: Winner Oakley Hare, Runner-up Josie Lamb.
Nature: Winner Arlo Willetts, Runner-up Jacob Marcon Walton, Commended Josie Lamb.
Land/seascape: Winner Adelia Lamb, Runner-up Asher Robinson, Commended Jacob Marcon Walton.
Mapua Dawn Chorus Birds: Winner Daly Cullen, Runner-up Kaden Hare, Commended Daly Cullen.
Travel: Winner Asher Robinson, Runner-up Noah Fisher, Commended Arlo Willetts.
Over-all Children’s Winner Arlo Willetts.
Results in the Adult category are:
People: Winner Annie Riley, Runner-up Hamish Ballantyne, Commended Vicki Ryan.
Boats: Winner Kathy Trott, Runner-up Vincent Alexander, Commended Nigel Philpott.
Nature: Winner Owen Fisher, Runner-up Hilary Hurst, Commended Barbara Brown.
Land/seascape: Winner William Robertson, Runner-up Mel Hansen, Commended Nigel Philpott.
Mapua Dawn Chorus Birds: Winner Brigitte Kreigenhofer, Runner-up Barbara Brown, Commended Charlotte Downey.
Travel: Winner Brent Hovenden, Runner-up Susan Hassell, Commended Jacinta Coe.
Over-all winner Adults - Brent Hovenden.
Thanks to our generous sponsors: CopyArt; Coolstore Gallery Mapua , Wharf Shack, Mapua Dawn Chorus, Java Hut, Rabbit Island Coffee Co, Bruce Batty of Summit, Delicious Homewares, The Smokehouse, Jared’s Fruit and Veg, Apple Shed and Jellyfish, Split Apple Rock Cruise, Earth & Sea Jewellery, Darby & Joan Mapua, Mapua Ferry, Sprig & Fern, Hamish’s Mapua, The Indian, Mapua and Mapua Chemist.
Captions:
Brigitte Kreigenhofer’s winning photo of a Caspian tern, ‘Tarā nui’ in the bird category of the 2026 Mapua Maritime Museum Amateur Photographic Competition.
Arlo Willetts’ photo of an emerging cicada won the children’s category of the 2026 Mapua Maritime Museum Amateur Photographic Competition.

26/06/2026

Artist’s affections for
‘Tramps’ and tall ships

Paul Deacon’s childhood fascination with sail is portrayed in his detailed paintings of tall ships, but he also has a deep affection for the less glamorous ‘Tramp’ coastal traders he served on as a young man.
Paul, who was guest speaker at the Mapua Boat Club on Thursday June 25, outlined his early life as one of nine children growing up in Dartmouth in Devon, son of a fisherman father and artist mother. After his father died at 46, the family moved to Southern Ireland.
Paul joined the British Merchant Navy in 1974 aboard coasters trading around the British Isles, the Baltic, Europe, Mediterranean and West Africa, beginning as a deckhand and working up to the position of relief master.
The self-taught artist who began painting and sketching as a youngster, also explained some of the processes involved in creating the maritime paintings for which he is now internationally renowned.
Much of his work comes from commissions from clients who want a painting of the ship which brought their ancestors to New Zealand. Each project begins with research, sometimes carried out in the Port Mapua Maritime Museum, which Paul described as a marvellous resource.
Paul’s paintings, many of tall ships, are displayed at the Nelson Suter Art Gallery, in select galleries throughout New Zealand and the Scrimshaw Gallery, Sausalito, California.
To see more of his work go to: https://www.pauldeaconnauticalart.co.nz/
Paul Deacon with a photo of one of the Tramp ships he served on as a young man.

22/06/2026

Invitation to hear mariner and artist speak at Mapua Boat Club.

Members of the public are welcome to join Mapua Boat Club members to hear New Zealand’s premiere marine artist, Paul Deacon speak this Thursday June 25 at the club rooms on the Mapua Wharf when doors open at 5.30pm.
Originally from Dartmouth in the UK, Paul is the son of a fisherman and an artistic mother. He moved to New Zealand in 1995 and is now retired and living near Nelson. As a seafarer in the Merchant Navy, Paul worked on ships trading cargoes around Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Northwest Africa. His last voyage at sea under sail was aboard the barquentine ‘Spirit of New Zealand’ out of Auckland in 2018.
His marine art can be viewed in select galleries throughout New Zealand and the Scrimshaw Gallery, Sausalito, California.
“My marine paintings are inspired by first hand experiences on motor ships and under sail, having an affinity with the ‘run of the sea’ and the ‘way of ships’ enables me to infuse my marine art with atmosphere and realism. I accept private commissions and paint mainly in oils working from a small home studio,” says Paul.

29/05/2026

An invitation to hear NZ’s Premier maritime artist speak at MBC

New Zealand’s premiere marine artist, Paul Deacon of Nelson, will be guest speaker at the Mapua Boat Club on Thursday June 25 when the public is invited to attend.
Originally from Dartmouth in the UK, Paul is the son of a fisherman and an artistic mother. He moved to New Zealand in 1995 and is now retired and living near Nelson. As a seafarer in the Merchant Navy, Paul worked on ships trading cargoes around Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Northwest Africa. His last voyage at sea under sail was aboard the barquentine ‘Spirit of New Zealand’ out of Auckland in 2018.
His marine art can be viewed in select galleries throughout New Zealand and the Scrimshaw Gallery, Sausalito, California.
“My marine paintings are inspired by first hand experiences on motor ships and under sail, having an affinity with the ‘run of the sea’ and the ‘way of ships’ enables me to infuse my marine art with atmosphere and realism. I accept private commissions and paint mainly in oils working from a small home studio,” says Paul.
Members of the public are welcome to join club members to hear Paul speak on Thursday June 25 when the doors of the club rooms on the Mapua Wharf open from 5.30pm.

15/05/2026

Antarctic presentation
Captivates audience

A capacity audience enjoyed Roger Lusby’s enthralling two-hour presentation of “40 Years Below” at the Mapua Boat Club on Thursday May 14.
Featuring photographs, stories, original songs, poems and plenty of humour, it was Roger’s reflection of his time wintering over at Scott Base, Antarctica, as a base mechanic as part of Operation Deep Freeze from 1969-70.
His storytelling, singing and poems brought to life for the audience, that year of extraordinary isolation, brutal conditions, and rare beauty.
Roger had also woven Ernest Shackleton’s story of incredible survival and courage into this one-man show.
On Thursday the beneficiary of the admission charge was the Mapua Maritime Museum. “The club and the museum are very grateful to Roger for his generosity and also for the entertaining and informative presentation which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience,” said club commodore Andrew Butler.
“The club was also pleased to welcome many members of the public to enjoy the event. As a club with a strong community focus, we aim to put on events with the wider community in mind, including the annual Regatta, Kid’s Fishing contest and photographic competition.
“Visitors are always welcome to social club nights from 5.30pm to 7pm on Thursdays too. New members are also welcome – you don’t have to have a boat to join,” said Andrew.
For more information or to become a member, please contact the Mapua Boat Club. email:[email protected]

Captions:
Roger Lusby with an image of Shackleton's ship the Endurance during his show at the MBC.
Roger Lusby was just 22 when he wintered over in Antarctica.
Maintaining the Scott Base generators was part of his role.

25/04/2026

Moving Mapua
Anzac Service

Hundreds of people took part in the moving 2026 Anzac Service under clear blue skies outside the Mapua RSA Memorial Library this morning.
The morning began with a parade, led by a pipe band, from the tennis courts to the library. There the gathering joined in singing both the New Zealand and the Australian National Anthems.
The service included speeches by Mapua Primary School and Upper Moutere School students reflecting on the sacrifices of those who served in war.
The students acknowledged current conflicts and their impacts on New Zealand, sharing a message, that although unable to influence global events, it is important, in everyday life, to be tolerant, compassionate and understanding of others.
The Mapua Community Choir sang, wreathes were laid and the Australian and New Zealand flags lowered and raised to the sound of the bugle.

13/04/2026

Exciting new categories, prizes for Photo competition
Exciting new categories and more prizes from generous local sponsors are a feature of the 2026 Mapua Maritime Museum Amateur Photographic Competition.
Now is an excellent time to capture stunning images to enter in the categories which include a Mapua Dawn Chorus Bird category, sponsored by Java Hut and Rabbit Island Coffee Co.
The categories are: Boats, People, Nature and a new Landscape/seascape category which includes local vineyards/farms and national parks as well as coastal/marine areas.
The boundaries for where photos for these five categories can be taken is from Golden Bay to Cable Bay and includes inland as well as coastal areas.
A new Travel category, sponsored by Bruce Batty of Summit is for photos taken anywhere in New Zealand.
Coolstore Gallery Mapua is a major new sponsor for the children’s Nature and Travel categories, and the Wharf Shack will sponsor the kids’ boat’s category.
Once again, the major sponsor is CopyArt which not only prints entrants’ photos but also provides generous prizes for the competition.
Other sponsors include: Delicious Homewares, The Smokehouse, Jared’s Fruit and Veg, Apple Shed and Jellyfish, Split Apple Rock Cruise, Earth & Sea Jewellery, Darby & Joan Mapua, Mapua Ferry, Sprig & Fern, Hamish’s Mapua, The Indian Mapua, and Mapua Chemist.
Entry is open to children under 15 and to adults. Entries close on Friday 17th July 2026.
An exhibition of the photos will be on display at the Port Mapua Maritime Museum from Monday July 20 to Sunday August 2 when prizegiving will take place.
Some of the images will feature in a special 2027 calendar. All proceeds from the competition and calendar are in support of the museum.
Entry forms are available from Delicious Homewares at the Mapua Wharf or by emailing: [email protected]

Vincent Ravell’s image of a bonfire on the beach was runner-up in the People section of the 2025 competition.