A group of sailing enthusiasts and youth workers are setting up a charitable trust with the aim of building a tall ship to be based in Whangarei for youth training programmes.
Naval architect Erwin Haag, who has designed a 30.5m topsail schooner the fledgling trust intends to build, said the project was motivated by concerns about Northland's high youth suicide rate.
He said considering Northland had the country's highest youth suicide figures, there was a need for more life-building experiences for at-risk people in the region.
The ship would take young people out on various length voyages, "teaching them something useful", Mr Haag said.
The trust's promotional material said children today lacked basic learning, team skills, co-ordination and personal accountability, and on-board training voyages would help counterbalance that.