Jet Boats in New Zealand

In the 1950s, driven by a desire to power around the shallows of the Mackenzie Country's braided rivers, inventor and "South Island sheep man" Bill Hamilton developed an improved method of jet boat propulsion. This NFU film explains the concept and Hamilton demonstrates the 'turbo craft': cruising Lake Manapouri, waterskiing Lyttelton Harbour, and heading up the Whanganui. Then it's spin outs and shooting rapids (and deer) with Commander Philip Porter from the icebreaker USS Glacier...who clearly loves the smell of the Waimakariri in the morning.

The New Zealand-invented jet-boat, or turbo craft — is now also being manufactured in the United States, Canada, England and Australia and is rapidly opening up new waters for navigation in many parts of the world.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Bob Kingsbury

Director

James Harris

Writer, Editor, Camera

Val Federoff

Sound

Peter Gwynne

Narrator