Customised boat built for Ōpōtiki mussel farm

Trainee Leah Wilson

New Zealand's largest offshore mussel farm, Te Whakatōhea Mussels, has a new boat to add to its fleet.

Kukutai, a customised 24-metre long vessel, was launched on Monday and is expected to arrive in Ōpōtiki within three weeks.

The aquaculture vessel has been designed to meet the challenging conditions of an offshore mussel farm, and is the result of a partnership between Te Whakatōhea Mussels, the Whakatōhea Maori Trust Board and McMullen and Wing.

As part of the partnership, McMullen and Wing also developed a trainee programme to give Ōpōtiki school leavers a pathway into a life-long career.

McMullen and Wing chief executive Michael Eaglen said he wanted to help Whakatōhea Mussels' investment to deliver for the Ōpōtiki community beyond simply building a great farming vessel.

"We wanted to play our part in maximising the social return of this project," Eaglen said.

"We felt the best and most lasting way that we could contribute was to establish an employment programme that provides young people from Ōpōtiki with skills that would set them up for life.

"Our trainee programme gives these young people a career pathway in a growing industry where demand for skilled workers is strong. I admire these young employees for their courage and dedication: leaving school and home, entering the workforce in a new city, learning new skills and working hard every day. I'm very proud of all of them and see a bright future here for them all."

The three young workers, all between the ages of 17 and 18, received training in metal work and construction skills which they were able to apply directly to the building of the marine farming vessel, that itself will directly benefit their own community.

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

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