An internationally renowned New Zealand boat builder has partnered with a Bay of Plenty iwi and a local mussel farming company to build an innovative new vessel and offer training scholarships for local youth.

McMullen and Wing, acclaimed for its award-winning yachts and commercial vessels, including the victorious 1995 America's Cup boat NZL32 (Black Magic), is taking on up to six school leavers to learn boat building through on the job training.

The partnership with Whakatohea Mussels and the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board also includes a contract to build a new customised vessel for the mussel farming business based in the Bay of Plenty – made official today with a signing ceremony in Opotiki.

"McMullen and Wing has a proud history of innovation and partnership. We're now taking that to a new level with Whakatohea Mussels and the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board," said chief executive Michael Eaglen.

"Not only will we build a fantastic custom-made vessel for them, we will have their young people actually in the factory building it, and building great careers for themselves,"

"Whakatohea Maori Trust Board, who are the major shareholders in Whakatohea Mussels' aquaculture business, have a focus on creating sustainable high-quality employment opportunities for the people of Opotiki," said Eaglen.

"Our trainee programme is aimed at further supporting that work by offering these young people a career pathway in a growing industry where skill shortages are prevalent."

The six young people, between the ages of 16 and 18, will be trained in metal work and construction skills that they can immediately apply to the building of the marine farming vessel for Whakatohea Mussels which will directly affect their own community.

"We are giving these young people the chance to start a life-long vocation," said Eaglen.

"My hope is that our trainees will find extra satisfaction through their and their families' own personal connection to this project and that the satisfaction and pride they feel will anchor their work ethic and ultimately set them up for long-term success."

Whakatohea Mussels chief executive Peter Vitasovich is pleased by McMullen and Wing's commitment to supporting their vision for the region.

"Employment options for our young people are limited in Opotiki," said Vitasovich.

"We're working hard in the region to grow opportunities for our people and we are thrilled McMullen and Wing have this vision to use our project to help us expand the options even more broadly."

Twenty-one years in the making, the mussel farm is a commercial project that is part of the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board's long-term vision to generate financial returns and create sustainable employment for the region and its people.

McMullen and Wing will be building a highly customised vessel with several unique innovative features in line with Whakatohea Mussels' and the iwi's considerations of the staff working on the vessel and the environment.

Some of the standout features include a special high-stability design, specific to the rough open-ocean operating conditions of the Opotiki mussel farm, comfortable interior conditions for farm workers and a range of eco-focused features to minimise environmental impact and maximise end product quality.

The aquaculture vessel is expected to launch in September next year.

Source: Rotorua Daily Post