A specialised research, development and education institute could be operating in Whangarei within months to complement the city's fledging superyacht industry.
The proposed institute will form a key part of a plan by New Zealand Yachts to position Whangarei as the world's best fully integrated superyacht manufacturing site. The company estimates
up to 1000 workers could be based at its 20-hectare Port Whangarei site in the next five years.
Plans for the innovative marine institute project were revealed by the NZ Yachts managing director Dennis Maconaghie at the annual meeting of the Northland Chamber of Commerce in Whangarei this week.
He told about 50 chamber members he hoped to confirm that the institute project would proceed when Prime Minister Helen Clark opened stage one of the superyacht site on April 28.
He said the new organisation would work with research and training organisations throughout New Zealand to help focus resources across the whole spectrum of the superyacht industry.
It would also push New Zealand universities to set up marine architectural degrees, and he was discussing that with Auckland and Massey Universities, he said.
"Currently New Zealanders wanting to study marine architecture or tank test models have to leave the country," he said.
Mr Maconaghie said the institute would be sited alongside a "towing tank" the company intended building within the next two years. The 124-metre tank would be the first development of its kind in New Zealand and would enable performance testing of designs.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
