Tuesday, November 28, 2017
McMullen&Wing chief executive Michael Eaglen and Whakatohea Mussels chief executive Peter Vitasovich look over plans for the new mussel boat. Photo Louis Klaassen D6265-29
AN Auckland boat building business has signed a deal with Whakatohea Mussels to build a $3 million boat and create jobs for up to six Opotiki school-leavers.
McMullen&Wing chief executive Michael Eaglen was in Opotiki yesterday to sign the contract with Whakatohea Maori Trust Board and Whakatohea Mussels.
Under the agreement, the company will construct an aluminium boat purpose-built for mussel farming. Mr Eaglen said a strong component of the deal was to create jobs for Opotiki people and he was in the area looking to employ six young adults from the town to take on job training scholarships with the company. He said the positions were permanent and full-time.
“We understand that [Whakatohea Mussels] is owned by local people in Opotiki and there is a lot of community involvement and a lot of the people here in the community know about it and feel invested in it. “So, it makes sense that we hire people that have an involvement with the community because it will mean that they will have a strong connection to the boat. “This project is supporting people to become involved in the boat building industry. We plan to work with the iwi here and with the school itself to find people who want to work on the boat and perhaps start a career in the boat building industry.”
The boat would be very similar to the Northern Quest, which is being used by Whakatohea Mussels for harvesting, although it would be slightly shorter. Mr Eaglen said the boat would be built in Auckland so it would require those who were to be employed to relocate. Given this, he was looking for Opotiki people who had support people in Auckland that could help with the initial period of transition. He said he expected the work on the boat would begin in the new year but was hoping to employ people before Christmas. “Moving to the city is a big thing for any kid from any area and it is a big transition to move for work and move away from your support base and close family. “So, we are looking for people who have support in Auckland that could help them get themselves set up.” He said he believed the jobs would provide employment and also the opportunity to carve out an interesting career. “I am here in Opotiki to encourage the kids that might be interested in taking up the opportunity to do so. I think there is a real bright future for people in the boat building industry.
“We are seeing a lot of growth, particularly in the commercial boat building area and I truly believe that those who take up the jobs will only be limited by their own capability and what they can dream of.”
Mr Eaglen said McMullen&Wing had a strong history and had been operating from its site on the Tamaki River, in Auckland, for more than 50 years.
“We have built fishing boats to super-yachts, and everything in between including the boat that won the America’s Cup in 1995.”
Mr Eaglen said he expected the jobs would provide an avenue into an interesting career. He said while they hadn’t signed any deal to provide work for New Zealand’s boat in the next America’s Cup, they expected to gain business from through tourism including work on many of the super yachts that would come to New Zealand because of the competition. “We would be supporting and providing support for the tourism, rather than building boats for the America’s Cup but it will provide a career with huge variety.”
Second boat to increase capability
WHAKATOHEA Mussels chief executive Peter Vitasovich will present a deal that will allow the company to build a second boat and increase capacity.
Mr Vitasovich is scheduled to present the deal at the Whakatohea Mussels annual meeting today. He said he was proud they had reached the stage where a second boat was required.
“Part of the annual meeting was confirming and signing the contract with McMullen&Wing so that we can build a second marine-farming vessel to complement the Northern Quest.
“Currently the business has grown, and we are very pleased with the results and performance.”
Mr Vitasovich said the second boat would increase capability on the water and allow further development on the marine farm in the future.
“It is a proud moment for the company to be building another vessel and we are very proud to be signing with a company like McMullen&Wing that has a strong reputation in the industry.”He said he was also very pleased that the deal provided employment for people from Opotiki.
“It is a great result, not only do we get a new vessel, but we also get to create jobs in Opotiki, which could lead to a career in boat building. And in the future, we are hopefully going to want to build more boats and we will have people who have skills in this area as a result of the agreement.”
Opotiki mussels are unloaded from the Northern Quest at Whakatane Wharf. File photo