Sorry guys I didn't spot your replies until now. A few other things I didn't relate but thought I should in light of your post KicBac:
My charter was a pre-arranged share cost trip and I was asked to turn up at the Marina at 9am. Late the night before I was rung and told "make it 7.30am", which was fine because I was chomping at the bit. So I got there at 7.30am as requested, only the skipper was nowhere to be found. His off-sider was though, and told me that two of the other share-costers had pulled out, and i'd need to pay double (along with the only other reamaining guy). Still chomping at the bit I said "OK", but they had to work hard to convince the other guy (another Kiwi). Eventually, at 8.30am, the skipper showed up and then took his sweet time loading the boat. Finally we're on our way, and despite all this i'm still positive and chomping at the bit. By this stage just excited just be on the way out of the marina.
Well I thought we were - just as we approached the open sea we turn and yes...we're on the way to fill up with gas. Finally making it to the front of the queue half an hour later we're full up and finally on our way. Then the fishing actually started, and as i've already related it was very slow. Gear was pretty ordinary and prep was not what i'd expect - cheap popper rods with rings rusted out and leader knots breaking on the cast. God forbid a GT was actually hooked on that gear!
I don't do a lot of boat charters so I'm not best placed to compare, but to me this was up to the standard i'd expect in NZ. I thought i'd chosen a decent operator (certainly looked more onto it than many others there). But I don't want to totally bag them because it was clear that they tried and struggled to find the $$ to plough back into the business. Take home lesson for me was to do my homework and not always expect the earth.
Cheers
Andy