Yamaha Marine New Zealand, has announced the winner of their #ImRepoweringWithYamaha competition with Ez Faauli of Nelson winning a new Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard for his Osprey 620 boat.
Adding to that, a second ‘People’s Choice’ winner was announced with Emilie Servais receiving a new Yamaha fourstroke for her 16ft Glasscraft.
Yamaha launched the #ImRePoweringWithYamaha competition in July, looking for one lucky boat owner to receive a NEW Yamaha outboard motor, rigged and installed on their boat all for FREE!
All that Kiwi boaties had to do was create a video showing themselves and their boat telling the Yamaha judging panel who they were, where they are from, and a bit about their boat and why they needed a Yamaha repower.
With over 250 entries received, and so many worthy Kiwi boaties who were in need of a new Yamaha fourstroke for their boat, and much deliberating there, Ez was chosen as the lucky winner by the Yamaha judging panel.
However, Yamaha felt they couldn’t stop there.
“We are so pleased for Ez and his family, and excited for them to receive a new Yamaha F150hp four stroke outboard on their boat. It was a very good entry, and we all agreed that he was a deserved winner,” said Yamaha General Manager, Alan Petrie.
“But, such was the quality of the video entries submitted videos into our competition, we were left in a little bit of a dilemma. We received hundreds of videos, and all of them, in their own right are deserved winners on any given day.”
“However, the rules of the competition said we’re going to have one ultimate winner, one prize for the day. What we decided to do is choose three ‘finalists’ in addition to our winner. Those three were voted on by the public via Social Media for a ‘Peoples Choice Winner’, with the winning entry also receiving a new Yamaha outboard to repower their boat also.”
“With that, we are so thrilled to announce that Emilie Servais will also receive a new Yamaha fourstroke for her 16ft Glasscraft ‘Flash Dance’.”
On being announced as the winner, Ez Faauli said it was a mixture of emotion, shock and happiness for he and his family.
“Our reaction to winning the competition was that of few words. We were speechless as we didn’t expect to win and it’s not everyday something great like this happens – the last competition I won, was a colouring competition back at primary school!” said Ez.
“A new Yamaha fourstroke will be amazing for our friends and family. Better fuel economy saving on fuel, reduced emissions, and reliability. Helping us to feel safer on the water and create many more beautiful memories for our friends, family and others who may share this resource with us.”
Ez does a variety of things with his boat currently, both for he and his family as well as others.
“We have supported many Kaupapa (purposes), gathering kaimoana for various local events such as Matariki celebrations, The visit of Te Kuini Maori (Maori Queen) and Tangi (Funerals). These events consist of big missions gathering kaimoana and at times are not funded and more so way of supporting the kaupapa especially in time of need, typically three or more boats feeding up to 400+ people.”
Outside of these adventures Ez likes to get out fishing with friends and family in the Tasman Bay launching the boat at the local Nelson boat ramp, chasing the plentiful summer snapper.
“At times we will make the trip to the French pass and fish around one of NZs best kept secrets, Durville Island chasing the beautiful southern blue cod, kingfish, and Hapuka.”
“Our children, friends, and family love biscuiting and water sports, so every now and then in the summer, we will take our boat to Lake Rotoiti (St Arnaud) and tow them around.”
“I also utilize my boat for work purposes. I currently work with low to high risk vulnerable youth that end up in the youth court system due to offending. I use fishing as a tool to connect with them, teach them life-skills and at the same time have positive conversations while out on the water.”
In the coming weeks, Ez’s boat will be taken to his local Yamaha dealer, Nelson Marine Centre, where dealer principal Pete Walters and his experienced team will commence the repower of a new F150hp fourstroke onto the boat.
