Waka Tairawhiti homeward bound

HAERE RA TANGAROA: Waka hourua Tairawhiti passes the bronze statue of Tangaroa — the Maori god of the sea — as it begins its voyage home from the national waka hourua festival in Tauranga. Picture by Cameron Scott

Gisborne-based waka hourua Tairawhiti set sail from Tauranga on Thursday, destination home.

The Tairawhiti kaumoana (crew) were in the Bay of Plenty for the inaugural national waka hourua festival, Te Hau Komaru, from May 19 to 22.

“Four waka hourua from around Aotearoa met in Tauranga — Haunui, Hinemoana, Ngahiraka mai Tawhiti and Tairawhiti,” Tairawhiti Voyaging Trust manager Emma van Berkel said.

“The waka and crews welcomed hundreds of tamariki and rangatahi from Tauranga schools and kura over two days, providing an exciting range of workshops, activities and tours of the four waka hourua

“A public day held on the Saturday saw a huge turnout from the Bay of Plenty community, and many visitors travelled from Auckland and central North Island to attend.

“A formal event held on the Friday evening was also well attended and included a book launch and a number of inspiring speakers presenting different perspectives on the value and importance of waka hourua kaupapa.

“Following completion of the festival the waka and crews were delayed in departing to their home ports,due to the weather conditions that occurred over the past week.

“The kaumoana spent the week sharing practices, learning from each other and spending time building relationships and an understanding of the uniqueness of each waka.

“For Tairawhiti, the event was a valuable opportunity to learn from the experience of the wider waka hourua whanau, and strengthen our connections to the other voyaging trusts around the motu (country).

We were incredibly well supported throughout the festival and are grateful to the hosts, kaumoana and captains for the manaakitanga (hospitality) that they shared, and also to the wider public who attended and showed huge support for the kaupapa, reinforcing the significance of waka hourua for all people throughout Aotearoa.”

The crew were expected back in Gisborne today.