New $12 million Bay of Islands overnight boat named

Local Iwi instrumental in determining name

Release Date: Tuesday January 20th, 2009

InterCity Group today confirmed that its new, luxury overnight small cruise ship has been named following consultation with local Maori and the wider Bay of Islands community.

'Ipipiri' - the sacred Maori name for the Bay of Islands - has been chosen as the official name of the first ever overnight small cruise ship that will be permanently based in the Bay of Islands.

"As a progressive company, committed to the Bay of Islands, it was important to us to involve local Iwi and community in the naming of our new cruise ship. We wanted the name to reflect the region and after consulting with the people of Rawhiti, InterCity has graciously accepted the generous offer to use the name Ipipiri. We are honoured by the history of this name and respect the gesture greatly," says Malcolm Johns, InterCity Group Chief Executive.

According to Richard Witehira, Kaimahi o te Patukeha Hapu, the name was given by a leading chief on the great migration when they finally reached the safe haven of this area. He ordered all waaka to lash together while prayers were given for their safe arrival.

The Bay of Islands will be home to the 46-metre catamaran, which will be a key product for InterCity Group in the Bay of Islands and is expected to be a major draw card for visitors to the area.

"We already have around 4,000 passengers booked to stay on the vessel during the 2009/2010 summer cruising season and our international agents continue to receive enquiries on a daily basis, despite the current economic climate," says Malcolm.

"The overnight boat adds another dimension to the Bay of Islands tourism offering and our policy of sourcing products and services from local suppliers wherever possible will help bring vital dollars into the local economy."

On board Ipipiri, passengers will be immersed in Northland history, scenery, wine, produce, art and culture. Malcolm says Ipipiri will be an experience, not a product.

Building and construction of the boat is well underway and InterCity is on track to launch Ipipiri this September. Malcolm adds: "InterCity is a company that respects all cultures and it was important that we undertook consultation in arriving at a name for this vessel. We wanted the name to reflect our involvement in the area, the land, its people and what binds it all together. Ipipiri achieves all of this.

"There is a rich history around the name, Ipipiri, which makes it sacred to the people of Rawhiti and the vessel will spend much of its time at sea in their part of Aotearoa. We feel honoured to be given permission to carry this name and we will certainly treat it with the respect that it deserves."