A new tourist boat with an auspicious name was officially blessed by Bishop Ben Te Haara and launched at Russell in front of a large gathering of well-wishers.
The 11-metre catamaran, Matariki, which was launched last week, will sail the Bay of Islands as part of the Kiwi Eco Tours water-based
tour business, carrying up to 15 passengers.
Director Gary Hoosen said the company saw a need for a day activity including a land component, for tourists and locals, taking in cultural and historical aspects of the area.
The vessel is aptly named for the star constellation known as Pleiades or Matariki, which has guided sailors across the oceans for centuries.
The new catamaran is ready in time for the key tourist season where it will take visitors on a trip around the inner Bay of Islands.
It will call in on the Hole in the Rock and land tourists ashore at Deep Water Cove for a native bush walk and lunch, as part of the company's Hole Cape Experienz package.
Director Peter Stuart said Kiwi Eco Tours' current boat was too small and a new vessel was commissioned.
"We went to the leading catamaran designer in New Zealand, Scott Robson, and told him our requirements in relation to our work.
"He has designed this boat to perform exactly how we wanted," said Mr Stuart.
Matariki was built by Mt Maunganui metal engineering company Metal Works Innovation.
Mr Hooson praised the efforts that went into building the craft.
"Throughout the whole process, the entire staff there kept us informed and made suggestions for improvements and the workmanship that went into the boat would be hard to beat," he said.
Kiwi Eco Tours, in its fifth year of operation in the Bay of Islands, is a family owned business, conducting water tours and other activities.
