The US-built superyacht Evviva - replete with its own helicopter – has been spotted in the Tauranga Harbour.

The $32.8 million, 50-metre motor yacht is owned by Bayliner Marine Corporation founder John Orin Edson, according to various superyacht websites.

Superyacht Evviva in the Tauranga Harbour. Photos: Andrew Campbell.

According to Stuff.co.nz, US business magazine Forbes estimates Edson's worth at $1.9 billion. He is said to have worked a paper route and earned enough to build his first boat at age 13.

The vessel's main saloon is described as "warm and elegant with two large sofas to port and starboard and the requisite 50 inch wide screen plasma television that rises out of the forward cabinet.

Powered by two MTU diesel engines and twin propellors, Evviva has a maximum speed of 24 knots. At her cruising speed of 20 knots she has a range of 5200 miles.

Evviva can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and she is also capable of carrying up to 12 crew onboard.

Evviva may be riding out Thursday's storm at anchor in Tauranga Harbour – because there is nowhere else to put it.

'He's here for this weather so he's going to be here for a few days,” says Bridge Marina manager Tony Arnold.

'Unfortunately there's nowhere else to put them, which is a terrible shame for Tauranga.

'It's 50 metres, near 500 tonne. We couldn't put him the marina, and because there's already a lot of big boats on what used to be 600 tonne slip pier, there's nowhere else to go.

'It'll be good when we get the marine precinct going to cater for people like that.”

Evviva arrived in Tauranga early Monday morning after being seen in Nelson last week and Wellington on Friday.

Evviva is owned by John Edson, founder of Bayliner Marine. Photo: Grayson Ottaway.