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World video travel guide
News • New Zealand • 2011-01-27
Te Aurere waka sails to Waitangi
An authentic Māori cultural experience that includes sailing on a traditional waka to the Bay of Islands to celebrate Waitangi Day - New Zealand’s national holiday - is being offered by a new Auckland tour operator.
Arawai Ltd started a "sailing with the ancestors" experience on its traditional waka hourua / double-hull Māori canoe Te Aurere at the end of 2010, and operates from the Auckland Maritime Museum.
Built on traditional lines and sailed by celestial navigation, Te Aurere has spent the summer making short trips on Auckland Harbour and plans to head up the coast to Northland on 4 February for the country’s annual Waitangi Day celebrations.
Waitangi Day is celebrated on 6 February marking the Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand’s founding document signed by representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs in 1840.
'Te Aurere'
During the past two months, sailing trips on Te Aurere have been popular with overseas visitors from the many cruise liners and passenger ships visiting Auckland.
Sailing Te Aurere is a unique cultural experience that gives passengers the chance to learn more about New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people, the history of migration to New Zealand, traditional methods of navigation and waka design - as well as offering hands-on experience with the opportunity to steer the boat and trim sails.
Director Dr Peter Phillips says six people will now be offered the chance to join the Te Aurere to sail to the Bay of Islands for Waitangi Day.
The waka will leave Auckland on 4 February and, depending on winds, ought to arrive early afternoon the next day.
Apart from the cultural experience, Dr Phillips says it’s also a unique opportunity to enjoy a memorable sail up New Zealand’s "stunning" north western coast.
There are six berths in the hulls of the waka as well as several hammocks on deck.
Te Aurere made her maiden voyage to Rarotonga in 1992, and since then has sailed across the Pacific to Hawaii, Tahiti, Marquesas, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. The waka has also circumnavigated the North Island a number of times.
Traditional kauri construction
The 17.4m / 57ft long by 5.5m / 18ft wide boat was built in 1991 along traditional lines and carved out of two giant kauri trees. No bolts or nails were used in construction, and the waka is lashed together in the ancient style.
Te Aurere was built by Hekenukumai (Hector) Ngaiwi Puhipi Busby who is recognised in the Pacific as one of the leading master carvers of traditional waka.
Between six and 12 crew, including the captain and navigator, are required to sail Te Aurere and in-keeping with tradition, there are no winches or other mechanical aids - rigging is a combination of skill and brute force.
The boat is sailed using celestial navigation - a key part of traditional wayfinding used by the ancient Polynesians to populate the Pacific. Wayfinding uses the stars, sun, wave action, ocean currents, wind and birds to make the long passages across the Pacific Ocean.
Captain Conrad
Te Aurere is captained by Stanley Conrad one of the foremost captains of traditional ocean-going, double-hull canoes in the Pacific and the most experienced captain of the vessels in New Zealand.
Conrad has also just been named 17th member of Auckland's 'Team 2011' for the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Team 2011 is an exclusive group of Aucklanders recognised for their contribution to the Rugby World Cup. Members will be involved in Auckland’s opening festivities on 9 September.
Conrad is a keen rugby fan and says he is looking forward to giving visitors to Auckland a unique sailing experience on Te Aurere during the event.
"It's about telling our story and allowing others the chance to see how the Polynesian people used to travel," he says.
Waitangi Day 2011
Te Aurere will join several other waka from around New Zealand for this year’s national celebrations at Waitangi. Waka and navy ships will gather in the bay to re-enact the calling ashore of Governor Hobson to sign the Treaty.
Celebrations will follow tradition with a dawn service and flag raising ceremony in the Treaty grounds, as well as cultural displays and official presentation by the New Zealand armed forces.
One of this year’s official themes for Waitangi Weekend is 'Celebrating the Place of Sport in New Zealand Society'. The programme will feature waka competitions, a high profile rugby game at Kerikeri and the national Ki-o-Rahi championships.
Ki-o-Rahi predates rugby and is a traditional pre-European Māori ball game that is played on a circular field with swift inter-passing of a ki / ball woven from flax.
Demonstrations of the game, currently enjoying a revival in New Zealand and Europe, will be held on 4 February in the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi.
Background: Waitangi Day
Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document.
Waitangi Day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.
Official celebrations at Waitangi commence on 5 February at the Te Tii marae, where political dignitaries are welcomed onto the marae to hear speeches from the local iwi / tribe. These speeches often deal with the issues of the day, and vigorous and robust debate occurs.
Communities throughout New Zealand celebrating Waitangi Day in a variety of ways, often with public concerts and festivals. Some maraes hold open days that offer educational experiences promoting Māori culture and protocol.
Since Waitangi Day is also Bob Marley's birthday, reggae music is especially popular at concerts.
As Waitangi Day is a public holiday, occurring during the warmest part of the New Zealand summer, many people take the opportunity to spend the day at the beach.
