Comissioned by the University of Auckland's 'Leigh Marine Laboratory' and built by Peter Parvin and the team at Qualicraft in Matakana NZ, Hawere’s specification was driven by many different needs. The result is a relatively fast, multi-purpose workboat with large deck spaces, easy access to the water and accommodation facilities to service eight researchers and a professional skipper. The vessel conducts a diverse range of research work and is also chartered to local government organisations and other research agencies to maximise utilisation and claw-back costs. The laboratory’s operational requirements include everything from estuary surveys to extended dive trips to the exposed Three Kings Islands. The Kings are situated 30nm north west of Cape Reinga and are washed with strong currents and the changeable conditions in the area can produce vicious seas.

CLD drew a large volume vessel with a high sheer line forward and flare to maximise sea keeping. The bow is relatively fine and designed to meet the requirement for an 18-knot cruise and a soft ride in moderate weather. It has a sedan-style appearance, but two internal levels – accommodation and bridge – and a two-level cockpit designed for diving, dredging, sorting samples and transporting a 16ft tender during passages. 

Two-speed gearboxes are installed to optimise control during dredging and survey work. Trolling valves provide a further speed reduction if required (single speed gearboxes with trolling valves would be fine for recreational applications). The starboard gearbox runs a hydraulic pump that powers the main drum winch in the cockpit, a smaller warping capstan that also services the overhead gantry and a ‘pot’ hauler on the starboard side. The anchor winch is also hydraulically operated because Hawere could anchor up to 15 times per day and an electric winch was considered too hard on the batteries. Hydraulic backup is provided to the anchor winch and gantry capstan by a 240v hydraulic pump powered by a 7.5kw Lombardini genset installed under the cockpit. The back-up pump also has a primary role to drive the dive compressor. 

The hardtop extends to the gantry and shelters more than half the cockpit. With 3.4m clearance there is ample working room beneath it. The aluminium gantry is designed to lift 750kg and was proved with a working load of 1,000kg during the commissioning process. 

The accommodation area is open plan, with headroom up to 3m and plenty of natural light provided by three overhead hatches and ten fixed hull ports. It has a very spacious feel. Apart from the toilet, shower and wet-lab facilities off the cockpit there are no private areas. Because most people gravitate to the bridge when underway, ample seating and plenty of standing room were prerequisites. The bridge seats six passengers plus the skipper and a pilot berth is provided in the port, rear corner. Even when anchored safely for the night, the skipper is seldom off watch and good visibility is available from his bunk, and the instruments and controls are only seconds away. 

The vessel was developed to meet the University's diverse requirements which parallel the needs of the full-on recreational fishing and diving sector. The concept would make an excellent dive charter vessel and a great syndicate boat for a bunch of outdoor types wanting to dive and fish coastal islands and chase game fish out wide.