10 Jul 2014

Greenpeace boat to bear Mahy's name

6:00 pm on 10 July 2014

Greenpeace is naming a new boat after children's author Margaret Mahy to mark the 29th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

The boat is one of three new rigid inflatable boats for the organisation and was at the centre of a waterfront ceremony attended by Mahy's daughter Bridget Mahy in Auckland on Thursday. They replace an old set of rigid inflatables.

Daughter Bridget Mahy and Greenpeace's Logan Petley toast the boat on Thursday.

Daughter Bridget Mahy and Greenpeace's Logan Petley toast the boat on Thursday. Photo: Greenpeace

Greenpeace New Zealand chair Stephanie Mills said Margaret Mahy, who in July 2012, was a long-time supporter of Greenpeace.

"She loved the ocean, that's clear from her writing, whether it was The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate or The Horrible Hullabaloo or Tom The Three-Legged Cat, she was inspired by the ocean, too."

Ms Mills said she expected the new boat would be used in Greenpeace's campaign against deep-sea oil drilling off New Zealand.

Greenpeace has three large ships in its international fleet, including a new Rainbow Warrior.