Staff members from ANZ Tauranga are helping to transform a ship into a mobile medical clinic.

The MV Pacific Hope was bought by Marine Reach, a Tauranga-based not-for-profit organisation.

Staff helping give the Pacific Hope a makeover.

Once the fit out is complete, the ship will travel to the Pacific where volunteer specialists will provide free dentistry, eye surgery (such as cataracts) and basic medical services.

More than 70 ANZ staff will spend three days painting the exterior of the boat, getting it ready for its first sailing to Vanuatu in mid-2014.

The massive volunteering effort is part of ANZ's corporate social responsibility programme, where every staff member receives one paid day's leave a year to volunteer at a charity or not-for-profit.

ANZ Regional Manager Rob Yeoman says Marine Reach is a remarkable organisation.

'They're a very well organised charity. Despite the Pacific being full of tropical islands, there's still a lot of poverty, and these guys are really making a difference to the lives of our South Pacific neighbours.

'We're thrilled to be able to help them out by throwing a bit of manpower their way.”

Rob says they've also supported their application to the ANZ Staff Foundation, which makes donations to community organisations around New Zealand.

The 55 metre ship is being renovated to house a full medical clinic, lounge, reception area, kitchen, and sleeping accommodation for 40 people.

Medical specialists from New Zealand, Australia and around the world volunteer to spend up to six months on the specially fitted out vessels.

Captain Jesse Misa from Marine Reach says painting such a huge ship would normally take 10 weeks.

'We're very grateful to the ANZ team for helping out.”