Abel Tasman Charters' Team

Our professional crew are here to ensure you enjoy your day

About Abel Tasman Charters

Abel Tasman Charters is a small, family owned and operated company. As locals, we enjoy sharing our knowledge of the Abel Tasman National Park with you. It's been our back yard all our lives...

Abel Tasman Charters is owned and operated by Rod Stuart (yes! just don't ask him to sing), your other skippers are Emma, Tim and Mac. They are passionate about this special place in New Zealand and you'll find their knowledgeable enthusiasm has captivated you by the end of your cruise.


  • Friendly
  • Professional
  • Helpful
  • Informative
  • Fun

A Day With Us In The Abel Tasman

Rod Stuart, owner & skipper on Abel Tasman Charters

Rod Stuart

A local in the true sense of the word Rod was brought up in Kaiteriteri where his mother still waves a tea towel off the deck to the boats in the morning.

Rod's passion for the Abel Tasman is evident as he shares his piece of paradise with you. He grew up snorkelling, diving and boating every nook and cranny of the coastline, leading him to complete a BSc in Zoology at Canterbury University, to follow his passion for marine biology.

After operating several local business and travelling around the world for a couple of years Rod grabbed the opportunity to run a tourism business, Abel Tasman Aqua Taxis, with Jane and Kelvin Goodman in 1998.

This successful venture renewed his love of the Park and allowed him to showcase this amazing environment to world travellers. During this time Rod and Kelvin developed the design of the osprey boats used by the company, and supported the development of a marine reserve and the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust.

With the sale of Aqua Taxis in 2003 Rod and his partner, Karina established Abel Tasman Charters with the aim of providing a more intimate personal trip for travellers with low impact on the environment.

This led to the purpose built Taranui, an 11 metre semi displacement power catamaran surveyed for 25 day passengers. The semi displacement hulls allow for greater fuel efficiency as well as providing a smooth ride.

He'll be one of the skippers to greet you on your cruise.

Abel Tasman Charters Skipper, Emma Buscke

Emma Buscke

In 2014 we welcomed Emma Buscke (pronounced Bus key) as our new skipper at Abel Tasman Charters.

Emma grew up in Ocean Beach, Hawkes Bay where her love for the sea, boating and great outdoors began.

She studied Outdoor Recreation Guiding & Leadership at Christchurch Polytechnic and then spent a year in the USA in the Out Door Department at Appalachian State University, sharing her love for adventure with up and coming outdoor leaders.

She fell in love with the Abel Tasman when she brought a group of American students back for a kayaking tour, revelling in this beautiful part of New Zealand, where she felt at home.

Emma has extensive boating experience and a passion for the local landscape which has seen her train and work as a kayak and walking guide in the Abel Tasman National Park before obtaining her skippers ticket.

This experience is evident in her extensive knowledge of the history, wildlife and ecology of the area and ensures she can cater to your area of interest on your cruise.

Emma's friendly personable manner and highly professional attitude makes her a fantastic addition to our team and we are delighted to have her as part of the Abel Tasman Charters family.

She looks forward to welcoming you on board and ensuring you enjoy your time in the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park.

Abel Tasman Charters Deckhand and trainee skipper, Emma Langford

Emma Langford

Emma joined our team in 2022. A graduate from the fantastic Outdoor Education Programme at Motueka High School, Emma arrived with relevant skills and existing experience in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Emma grew up right here in Motueka and the Langford family name is long associated with the area.

With her love of the outdoors, existing hospitality experience from previous summer work, and an aptitude for learning new skills, Emma has been the perfect fit as deckhand in our team.

As it became clear how much she enjoyed her new job, we realised that Emma was a great candidate to work towards gaining her skipper's ticket in the future.

She is in the process of gaining the training and hours necessary with us to achieve her goal.

With her sights set on travel experiences of her own in the off season, we look forward to having her back on the water again soon – (even if two Emma's on the team can be complicated at times).

Abel Tasman Charters Crew, Skipper, Mac Stuart

Mac Stuart

Mac Stuart is Rod and Karina’s eldest son and one of Abel Tasman Charter's skippers.

He grew up on boats in and around this stunning region and developed a passion for the outdoors.

At a young age Mac enjoyed rock climbing and hiking with friends in the many mountain ranges of the Tasman area. Upon leaving school Mac left New Zealand to spend some time travelling mainly around Europe.

Upon his return he realised how much he enjoyed sharing the Abel Tasman National Park with others and after a year as crew with Abel Tasman Charters studied for his Skippers ticket.

He spent the next summer with Abel Tasman Aqua Taxis learning about the quick pace of life as a water taxi driver before a position as a skipper was offered to him at Abel Tasman Charters.

He completed his engineering degree at Canterbury University and although he now works as an engineer, he is unable to resist the beauty of the Abel Tasman and returns to skipper for us in the summer. Karina and Rod are both delighted to have him as part of the Abel Tasman Charters team.

Rod, owner & skipper on Abel Tasman Charters

Angus Stuart

Angus Stuart is Abel Tasman Charters only full-time crew and also Rod and Karina’s youngest son.

Angus has grown up around boats all his life and spent much of his childhood in and around the Abel Tasman National Park.

He has a passion for the outdoors, enjoying hiking in the mountains and rock climbing as well as snorkelling and fishing.

At the finish of High School Angus worked a summer season as crew and then spent five months traveling on his own starting in Turkey and making his way through many countries in Europe.

He returns to crew in the family business in the summer and Karina and Rod are thrilled to have him back as he is knowledgeable, friendly, hardworking and a very capable first mate.

Abel Tasman Charters, Karina

Karina Amey

Karina Amey is the office manager/occasional crew /chief towel washer and co-owner of Abel Tasman Charters. She is also Rod's partner and Mac and Angus' mother.

Karina ran her own Landscape Design company in the Nelson area as she is a qualified Landscape Architect while also working within Abel Tasman Charters. She brings her landscape architect's experience to the Planting For The Birds project that Abel Tasman Charters are leading.

With the expansion of the boating business she decided it was time to have a change and is enjoying being a full time member of the Abel Tasman Charters team.

Karina is also the driver for our vehicle transfers.

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Contact Abel Tasman Charters

Free Phone In New Zealand

Free Phone: 0800 22 35 22

International Phone

Tel: +64 274 418 588