The Hinemoana will set sail on its maiden 10-day voyage out of Tauranga next month, after the waka that is valued at $600,000 was gifted to the Hawaiki Rising Trust by Simon McDonald. Photo/Supplied
The Hinemoana will set sail on its maiden 10-day voyage out of Tauranga next month, after the waka that is valued at $600,000 was gifted to the Hawaiki Rising Trust by Simon McDonald. Photo/Supplied
Katikati entrepreneur Simon McDonald has gifted a waka valued at $600,000 to the Hawaiki Rising Trust which will be used to take young people on development voyages.
Built in 2009, Hinemoana is an impressive double-hulled fibreglass waka that has been modelled on its Polynesian sailing canoe heritage, with a nod to modern-day technology and sustainability. Equipped with solar panels its electric motors are powered by the elements and it requires no fossil energy.
When the Bay of Plenty Times spoke to Mr McDonald yesterday his enthusiasm was evident as he explained the inspiration behind the project.
After reviewing a Pacific voyaging book chapter-by-chapter, for his friend, author Andrew Crowe, "I thought 'wow, what an astonishing feat that the Polynesians travelled across vast oceans to get to these lands'.
"It is an astounding achievement for 800 years ago and is a mind-boggling thing."
At the same time a work colleague asked him to sponsor her daughter to go on the Spirit of Adventure so "I put the two ideas together and thought wouldn't it be cool if we had an adventure-type programme."
That was almost two years ago and in 2014 the Hawaiki Rising Trust evolved and Mr McDonald's vision is now a reality.
He described Hinemoana as a majestic vessel and said even stepping onboard was an emotional experience.
"Just going onboard is like going on to a marae - it's very special. The carvings are beautiful and it's a wonderful vessel. And to experience what it might have been like for their ancestors to have sailed, is so powerful."
The waka would bring cultures together, he said.
"It is a beautiful tradition that Maori people are very proud of and it deserves to be recognised that they did get here."
Mr McDonald was excited about its maiden 10-day youth development voyage which was set to sail out of Tauranga next month.
Katikati entrepreneur Simon McDonald. Photo/John Borren
A passionate sailor, he had also donated several $1500 scholarships to sponsor financially disadvantaged kids as he anticipated it would cost $2000 per person, per 10-day trip and asked businesses to consider doing the same.
The sailings would be bay-to-bay daytime sailing and an adventure of a lifetime, he said, while his vision was to get another waka to join Hinemoana on its ocean travels.
Mr McDonald was the chairman of Tauranga dental technology company Rhondium, which received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its innovative One Crown Visit earlier this year. He set up Rhondium in late 2013 after selling his successful Katikati based company Triodent to US-owned multinational Dentsply.
Hinemoana project leader Pat Mohi said the programme was designed to offer youth the chance to discover what was possible to achieve in their lives.
"It's the perfect opportunity for our young people to get onboard and feel good about themselves. The waka, the ocean and the environment itself takes away all the clutter of cultural belonging and makes us one, working on an even playing field."
The crew was a highly experienced group of people in their 20s that started sailing as teenagers "so it's not like some old pirates that take the kids out," he said.
* One of seven modern-day traditional Pacific voyaging canoes built in 2009 by Salthouse Boatbuilders to traditional lines, using mostly modern materials.
* At 22 metres in length with expansive decks, it sleeps up to 16 people.
* A kitchen, oven, bench seats and navigation station are located inside the cabin.
* Its 10 day voyages will be primarily on the east coast of New Zealand from Tauranga northwards.
