10/11/2026
An Evening with the Ortons - a CG Mangawhai Fundraiser
Many Mangawhai residents will remember the Orton family who moved away some three years ago to follow their dream of sailing around the world.
Tony and Bea ran a successful charter and accommodation business where they specialised in taking overseas and Kiwi clients to fish the Mokohinau Islands, targeting NZ’s world-famous kingfish. They also owned an adventure angling company – Offshore Adventures – hosting mainly Kiwi fishers to many of the world’s hotspots. These trips as well as local content appeared on their website Journey of a Fisherman, where Bea published her recipes. These were also run for many years in NZ Fishing News magazine along with their Journey of a Fisherman column.
Children Sami and Brooke went to the local primary and pre-school and were actively involved in soccer and surfing as well as developing a passion for travel and fishing.
As a family they travelled extensively. In his earlier years Tony was a successful sailor and always had a hankering to sail around the globe with the family. Many people have similar dreams, but only a few make them a reality.
When building a vessel of their own design in NZ didn’t work out, they looked further afield and came across a 45ft bluewater capable catamaran in the States which was renamed Ikigai and totally refurbished in anticipation of their planned ocean voyagers.
Some two and a half years later the Ortons made their way to NZ to sit out the Pacific’s ‘cyclone season,’ arriving earlier in November. Along the way their shared some amazing adventures in places few people get to experience, and they will be sharing the high and low lights on undertaking such a journey at a Coastguard Mangawhai fundraiser later this month.
The Ortons will be the keynote speakers – both parents and the children – at the event hosted at the Mangawhai Boating and Fishing Club on Saturday November 28.
This is a family orientated function with refreshments and meals available at the clubrooms from 4.00-6.00pm prior to the event proper kicking off.
As an appropriate major door prize, John Madden from Eco Ventures Fishing Charters has put up a half-day charter for up to four anglers. Check his operation out at www.ecoadventures.co.nz.
To book your tickets (adults $10, school students 5, family pass 2 adults and two children $30) go to the fishing club’s website www.mangawhaiboatingfishing.co.nz.
There may be limited door sales available on the night.
For more information contact CG Mangawhai secretary Grant Dixon [email protected] 0274 925 533
