More than one boat was stolen every day over the past year, according to provisional police data, and they can end up as far away as Sydney Harbour – or on Facebook Marketplace.

As Spring arrives and the region’s boaties get ready to hit the water again, authorities are urging owners to take safety measures to avoid joining the hundreds of victims who have had boats and trailers nicked from the backyard.

Two men trained to physically protect prominent figures and ultra-high-net-worth New Zealand families share what the job is like.

Dion Neill and Mark Templeman have been bodyguards for A-list stars and wealthy families. Still, they’d prefer not to be pictured as Kevin Costner in the 90s movie The Bodyguard.