Maketu Coastguard Sea Rescue volunteers are welcoming the arrival of their new state-of-the-art rescue boat after more than a year of fundraising.

The Maketu community have raised an undisclosed amount for the new rescue boat and will celebrate its arrival with an official launch at the Kaituna Cut jetty in Maketu on Sunday afternoon.

The new 12 metre mono-hull Maketu Coastguard boat.

The 12metre mono-hull boat, equipped with state-of- the-art electronics and search and rescue equipment, is a welcome addition to coastguard units along the Bay's coastline.

Maketu Coastguard president Shane Beech says the boat, named the Maketu Coastguard EastPack Rescue, will be a resource which can stay out on the water for longer periods of time.

'It will be a huge asset not only to the community but the whole Bay of Plenty coastline.

'We can compliment our other Coastguard units around us including Tauranga, Waihi and Whakatane for instance.”

The boat, to be permanently moored at Kaituna, was 80 per cent built in Christchurch before the Coastguard reached an agreement to have Mount Maunganui firm Alloy Cats Ltd finish off the design.

Shane says fundraising started more than a year ago with a charity auction raising $25,000 before receiving a number of successful grants including First Sovereign, NZTT and TECT.

Western Bay of Plenty District councillor Maureen Burgess says she supported the arrival of a new rescue boat for Maketu Coastguard from the beginning.

'It's just been fantastic. They're a fantastic group of people. They put themselves totally at risk to help others.

'It's such an important asset in our community.”

Maureen says the Maketu Rotary Club donated $500 at the Kaimoana Food Festival, held in Maketu, which went towards the new boat.