A Dunedin couple had brought "a touch of class" to the city, Mayor Peter Chin told a small gathering on board the MV Tiakina yesterday.
Owners of the luxury launch, Lindon and Paula Colloty, have refitted the one-time pilot boat and will carry their first commercial passengers on a cruise on Otago Harbour in three weeks.
Mr Chin said the couple, who have spent a number of years working on super yachts overseas, had shown faith in Dunedin during difficult economic times.
He considered the fortunes of the city would "ebb and flow" but projects such as those undertaken by Mr and Mrs Colloty would ensure it always survived.
He wished them luck.
"But it's not about luck. It's about having faith in what you are doing."
It is 13 years since Mr and Mrs Colloty first considered providing Dunedin with a luxury cruise service and yesterday's launch of the business was "a dream" realised.
"It's not unlike becoming a parent for the first time," Mrs Colloty said.
"There is an enormous sense of pride and excitement about what the future holds."
The 24m twin-engine vessel has three luxury cabins for overnight cruises on the harbour or further afield.
Mrs Colloty has selected local food and wine for the menu in conjunction with High Tide chef Mark Lane.
Tiakina was built at a shipyard at Bideford in England in 1953.
It arrived in Wellington the following year and was involved in the rescue of passengers from the stricken Cook Strait ferry Wahine, in 1968.
It was owned, for a time, by Michael Swann, convicted earlier this year of defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million.
Moeraki marae chairwoman Koa Mantell outlined many of the other colourful aspects of the vessel's 56-year history before blessing the new venture.
