The 18-year-old will sail up the coast next Tuesday on the boat which was the late Sir Peter Blake's Whitbread ocean race yacht.
He will spend the night on board at Akaroa before sailing on to Lyttelton.
A competitive 29er sailor, the Otago Polytechnic civil engineering student, who was second in the 29er nationals last year, hopes to one day sail in the Sydney to Hobart race himself.
He was hooked on sailing at the age of 7 when his parents took him to an open day at Waihola, and is out sailing most weekends with the Ravensbourne Yacht Club.
Otago Yachting Association president Fiona Balch said the association was sponsoring Mr Meehan to give the "aspiring young sailor" the chance of a lifetime.
Lion New Zealand arrives in Dunedin on Friday and will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Sailing trips will also be open to the public at a cost of $20.
It will be berthed at the naval shed in the harbour basin.
