Waka maker's big dream almost afloat

Northland master waka carver Hec Busby - here with the double hulled waka, Te Aurere - is helping set up the country's first centre for training in traditional navigation in Doubtless Bay. Photo / File

The home for New Zealand's first centre for training in traditional navigation is $500,000 away from being completed.

The project, driven by the Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka committee (Tarai Waka), has been a talking point since 2005.

The Whare Wananga will be built on land at Aurere in Doubtless Bay donated by Hekenukumai Busby. One member of the committee, Peter Phillips, said it was exciting to see it so close to completion.

"We're 70 per cent funded and 70 per cent completed," said Mr Phillips.

Tarai Waka received $690,000 from the ASB Community Trust and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board towards the capital cost of $980,000 to build the Whare Wananga. Mr Phillips said they now needed $290,000 to complete the building and $212,000 to "fit it out" with things like furniture and solar panels to ensure it would be self-sufficient.

Mr Phillips said the committee would like to use the centre for two reasons; as a tourist attraction where people can learn about the history of New Zealand and how traditional navigation was used, and as a home for the national centre for training in traditional navigation led by Mr Busby, a world-renowned expert in waka building and traditional celestial navigation. "We hold wananga there every couple of months but when it's rainy and windy in Doubtless Bay the marquee is not ideal. We also already have training in waka construction there, in partnership with the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Eventually we would like to become a private training centre to offer formal education in traditional navigation."

Mr Phillips said the project was one of Mr Busby's dreams.

"Hekenukumai is a big dreamer and this was a dream of his. He's taught many, many people how to construct waka and use traditional navigation."

To fundraise Tarai Waka are selling a waka made by Mr Busby. Mr Phillips said an opportunity to own a waka made by Mr Busby was rare.

"It's a really beautiful piece of art. Unique is a word thrown around often but Hector has built more than 30 waka and they're not available."

For more information visit www.finishthewhare.nz.