Te Hau o Matariki is making her way home

Over the past two years, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira has worked to acquire a waka hourua (double-hulled sailing canoe) that will help reconnect our people and community to the moana.  

It has been a long term ambition for the iwi to connect with the moana through waka hourua which would enable a greater connection to our motu Kapiti and Mana including the journey across Raukawa Moana to Te Tauihu. 

Our waka hourua is currently berthed in Whangārei. Prior to coming to Aotearoa it was based in Palau an island paradise off the coast of Micronesia. 

The waka we have secured is currently named the Okeanos Palau and was built in 2010 as part of a fleet of waka by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea partnered with Pacific voyaging societies.  This fleet of waka moana carried a shared message across the Pacific about the importance of ocean health and connection to people. 

Prior to leaving Whangārei, an ope of iwi members travelled to Whangārei to bless and name the waka, with support from the iwi of Ngāti Wai and Ngāti Hine and Tokanui Trust along with their rangatahi from their ‘Kura Waka’.

She was given the name ‘Te Hau o Matariki’, taken from the waiata composed by Te Rauparaha, Tera ia nga tai o Honipaka.

Kia rongo ai a Ngāti Toa ki te karawhiu o tēnei mea te manaaki.

Thanks also to Captain John Lolesi, his wife Amie, and their tamariki for caring for our waka over the past 12 months, while she was birthed at Whangārei.

The waka will be used to teach traditional navigation, engage whānau and the community with our moana and develop cultural tourism initiatives that benefit our people. 

We look forward to welcoming her home to Porirua.