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| Waka moored at Hobson Wharf, National Maritime Museum NZ - photo courtesy Chris Ball |
Our first encounter with one of these voyaging waka (AKA vaka) when visiting the National Maritime Museum NZ
The waka Haunui
is moored at the National Maritime Museum
down at the Hobson Wharf, Auckland. Haunui was one of seven waka (aka vaka) built by Salthouse boatbuilders for the Pacific Voyagers Project.
Projects aim :- to develop the awareness and preservation of the ocean environment and marine life.
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| Waka moored at Hobson Wharf, National Maritime Museum NZ - photo courtesy Chris Ball |
This by
recapturing the Polynesian traditions of
ocean voyaging between the islands - American
Samoa, Western Samoa the Cook Islands,
Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga. In 2011 Te Mana O Te Moana voyage ((The
Spirit of the Ocean) began in April 2011 facilitated by the Okeanos Foundation. This was to Hawaii
Following on from the 2011 voyage these waka in 2012 began a voyage to San Francisco.
This to raise global awareness for the marine environment, guardianship for the ocean, climate change and knowledge of waka and navigation as the ancient polynesian used.
These waka
aka vaka traversed more than 200,000 nautical miles of ocean. The seven waka
were Fa’afaite, Gaualofa, Haunui, Hinemoana, Marumatu Atua, Te Matau A Maui and Uto Ni Yalo.
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| Vaka anchored near shore Rarotonga - photo Chris Ball |
The second encounter with one of these voyaging vaka (waka) was on a visit to Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Seeing , the location attributed as being the embarking place, of seven vaka from the Bay of Ngatangiia by ancestors of long ago. The vaka were Takitumu, Te Arawa, Mataatua, Aotea, Kurahaupo, Tokomaru and Tainui. The stories of their journey and whakapapa of those ancestors passed down.
Made in the tradition of those polynesian ancestors, Hekenukumai Busby was attributed, in 2012 , with over thirty such voyaging vessels. Retired bridge building contractor , Hekenukumai aka Hek Busby, who died in 2019 was also credited with reviving the ancient art of celestial navigation in Polynesia. Using the stars, moon, sun, ocean currents, birds and marine to guide, the ancient navigators and voyagers traversed the oceans. Hek headed to Raiatea, Tahiti to learn the navigation skills of those polynesian ancestors - that was prior to the first canoe Hek built from a kauri felled for the purpose.
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| waka moored at Tairua - photo Chris Ball |
The third encounter with waka was at Tairua in January 2017. The waka Hinemoana had found its way to Tairua Harbour –avoiding a pending violent storm – moored up for several days.
The arrival of Hinemoana bought to mind:-
- The finding of the pearl fishing lure of ancestors long ago at Tairua in 1964 by professor Green. evidence of fishing on Tairua shores 1300 - 1300' AD
- The arrival to the coast of the Eastern Seaboard and eventual final resting place at Maketu. the waka Arawa.
- Tamatekapua captain of the Waka Arawa who is said to have sighted the mountain Moehau, later settled there and when died was buried on the summit of Moehau.
- The stories and legends of the ocean life, shore ocean life of this great ocean, waka and early navigators - such as Tupaia of Raiatea.
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| waka at Tairua - photo Chris Ball |
- Science Leaarning Hub NZ Welcome! — Science Learning Hub
- 0keanos https://okeanos-foundation.org/
- Haunui Haunui - Land of Voyagers (thevoyage.co.nz)
- Hek Busby Hek Busby — Voyages of Rediscovery - E-Tangata
- Hinemoana
