The Pacific Maritime Safety Programme yesterday celebrated the completion of a new school boat for the children of Tokelau, an island group in the South Pacific that is a territory of New Zealand, with a blessing ceremony attended by around 25 members of the South Island's Tokelauan community.
The boat, Te Kaniva, was blessed ahead of its journey to the atolls where it will be formally launched and blessed again in its future home of Fakaofo.
Children in Fakaofo have to cross a lagoon each day to get to school and the new boat will provide them with safe, reliable transportation.
The 12.5-metre school boat was built by Icon Custom Boats in Christchurch and was jointly funded by the Government of Tokelau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The PMSP supported its design, construction and delivery to the atolls.
The Pacific Maritime Safety Programme is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade programme, funded through New Zealand Aid.
