About Whiting Power - History

Whiting Power Systems was established in 1983 and the company has progressively grown from an owner-operator business to a well resourced organisation employing 30 plus experienced and qualified personnel.

New Zealand is by nature a maritime nation and the majority of Whiting Power Systems' staff enjoy a marine lifestyle outside of work. Many were introduced to yacht racing, cruising or fishing at an early age and this background of practical experience provides a high level of intuitive understanding that complements their technical and business skills.
General Manager and company founder, Tony Whiting, grew up immersed in a sailing environment.

"My parents and siblings were passionate sailors. It was a wonderful way to spend my childhood."

After leaving school he undertook a management cadetship with the New Zealand Motor Corporation, then took time out from the office environment to work at an alpine construction site operating and servicing Caterpillar diesel equipment.
In 1974 he joined his parents, Molly and D'arcy Whiting, for an extended cruise aboard their 47 foot yacht, Tequila, which was designed by Paul Whiting (brother) and finished by D'arcy and the family. Leaving Auckland they sailed to Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii and Midway Island before setting course for the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, California and Mexico.
Tony disembarked from Tequila in the USA where he worked for Caterpillar on the Californian coast as a diesel engineer for three years before being promoted to lead their marine engine division, a position he also held for three years.
He returned to New Zealand in 1981 to fill the managing director's role at Whiting Yachts after Paul was lost at sea while returning to Auckland after the 1979/80 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Whiting Yachts built a range of fibreglass production yachts and under Tony's leadership the company set-up to complete all engine installations and associated engineering in-house. The machine shop, which was a forerunner of today's business, machined rudder stocks, shafts, keel bolts, mounts, couplings and power take-offs for their own vessels, and provided a contract engineering service for many of the region's major boat builders.
Whiting Yachts was sold in 1983 and Tony set up Dockside Marine Services to concentrate on servicing, installations and local refits. He engineered many significant vessels, including Grant Dalton's ketch rigged maxi, Fisher and Paykel, which finished second in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World race.

A growing client base and a steadily increasing demand for recognised equipment brands saw a number of distributorships added to the company's portfolio in 1991. The move towards distribution and retailing generated a name change to Whiting Power Systems and the company relocated to larger Westhaven premises to facilitate further expansion.

Whiting Power Systems enjoyed steady growth throughout the 1990s, progressively implementing additional warehousing, workshop and management systems, and adding selected international engine and equipment agencies. By 1997 the company was well placed to respond to the increased business levels generated by the expanding local market and the arrival of the syndicates and superyachts associated with the 1999 Louis Vuitton Regatta and 2000 America's Cup.

The company moved into its current premises within the newly developed Orams Marine Village in October 2001. The upgrade provided modern showroom, warehousing, machine-shop and office facilities within an integrated marine complex that is centrally located within the busy Westhaven marine precinct. All business systems were thoroughly tested by the peak demand generated by the 2003 America's Cup, which required long hours and seven-day-a-week operation to fulfil negotiated contracts and satisfy day-to-day enquiries.

Many of the clients introduced by the America's Cup regattas have returned to have additional work completed and Whiting Power Systems now services a mix of local and international vessels ranging between 20 and 200 feet. A dedicated super yacht team supplies, installs and commissions capital plant for new builds, refits and refurbishment, while the vessels berthed within New Zealand marinas, the yachts and motor yachts sailing South Pacific cruising routes and new-builds less than 80 feet in length remain highly valued core business.

Today Tony remains active in the business, sharing his experience & passion with his team whilst enjoying refitting his Whiting 47 sailing yacht 'Taranui III' with wife Margaret & family - when time permits.