A new mussel boat is being built to take on six school leaver trainees in the Bay of Plenty.

Auckland boat builder McMullen and Wing is partnering with Whakatohea Mussels and the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board in Opotiki to build a mussel boat and take on six school leaver trainees.

A signing ceremony was held in Opotiki on Tuesday.

'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,” says McMullen and Wing CEO, 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, which is the major shareholder in Whakatohea Mussels' aquaculture business, has a focus on creating sustainable high-quality employment opportunities for the people of Opotoki, says Michael.

'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 youths, between 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 impact their own community.

'We are giving these young people the chance to start a life-long vocation,” says Michael.

'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 Opotoki,” says Peter.

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

McMullen and Wing will be constructing a highly customised vessel with a number of 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 Opotoki 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 2018.

Whakatohea Mussels was formed to raise capital from local investors to fund the first phase of commercial development of the Opotoki mussel farming venture. The company is headed by former Aquaculture New Zealand chairman Peter Vitasovich who has over 30 years of experience in the industry.

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.