Tears during waka farewell

Tears fell on the Auckland waterfront as Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby received accolades during events marking the journey of Te Aurere to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

The accolades came from the ariki of Tuwharetoa Tumu Te Heuheu, Nainoa Thompson of the Hokulea, Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples and National MP Karl Tremain, while a waiata composed to mark the journey was sung by Waiorea, the kapa haka party at Western Springs High School.

Grant Hawke, from Ngati Whatua ki Orakei, mana whenua of Tamaki Makau Rau, welcomed those who had gathered from far and wide for the sailing of the Far North waka Te Aurere and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti on what is widely regarded as a voyage of great historical significance.

Nainoa Thompson paid tribute to Mau Pialug, from Micronesia, who taught the skills of navigation outside his own people.

"Maori are the strongest people in the world, having kept their language despite 200 years of abuse," he said.

"Every day a native language is extinguished and a unique culture dies with it. The two waka hourua passing through the Pacific are white lights cutting through the darkness, giving hope to many Polynesians around the world."

He also acknowledged the years of work and wananga that had been culminated in the departure, and thanked the whanau of the crews for their support, acknowledging the devotion of the late Hilda Busby to the Hokulea crew in providing food, washing and comfort during their stay in Aotearoa.

He then presented two cleats, one belonging to his father, the founder of the Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Association, and the other made by poor young people, who, despite living in the richest nation in the world, were existing, homeless, on the Waianae Beach.

The cleats were offered to the Kaihautu, Stanley Conrad (Te Aupouri) and Jack Thatcher (Tauranga Moana) for their respective waka hourua, Nainoa saying the young people would pray every day for the crews to reach their final destination, because they knew the dangers of Tangaroa.

Te Aurere, captained by Stanley Conrad, will be tapu until it has completed the Polynesian triangle from Aotearoa to Rapa Nui.

Jack Thatcher, who captains Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti, sailed with a crew of men and women.

Meanwhile Mr Busby recounted the arrival of the Hokulea Canoe at Waitangi in 1985, when Sir James Henare had said to the manuhiri, "Today I laugh, tomorrow I will laugh, and the day after I will laugh. I will laugh at all those critics who scorned the ancient navigation of the Polynesian."

In 1989, when Sir James died, Hekenukumai promised at his tangi to fulfil his dream to build a waka for the return voyage to Hawaii.

He thanked all the rangatira who had worked with him to bring that dream to fruition.

The crews were then formally welcomed on to the waka, and, after karakia, sailed for open water.

"It was noticeable that our tohunga rangatira from the North was revered by the motu but not much tautoko from the homelands," Hilda Halkyard-Harawira said.

"It was a beautiful ceremony at the Auckland Viaduct. I am optimistic that one day mana whenua of Tai Tokerau will be given recognition to lead hui.

"Special thanks to the hospitality of Mahurehure Marae, Tai Tokerau Voyaging Association, Te Whanau Moana, Jo Conrad and Te Puia."