By TONY STICKLEY
After three waka accidents - one fatal - Maori were divided yesterday over whether lifejackets should be carried on the ceremonial war canoes.
Hec Busby, captain of the Waitangi waka which came to grief on New Year's Eve, says that if carrying lifejackets is made compulsory, the great canoe will never be used again.
He received support yesterday from Maori cultural expert Dr Pita Sharples, who was "definitely not in favour of lifejackets" being worn on ceremonial or spiritual occasions.
"The physical dress is totally interwoven with the cultural and spiritual essence of the occasion," he said.
Nor did he want lifejackets stowed on board the craft, preferring better education in reading weather and water conditions.
In "traditional times" the waka would not go out if the weather turned nasty, and the same should apply today, he said.
Lifejackets could be worn when crews were training in the war canoes in rough weather.
In ancient times, Maori canoeists had a much greater affinity with the sea and were more physically able to survive. They also used gourds as flotation devices.
But other prominent Maori favour having lifejackets on board the traditional vessels, even on special occasions.
The Minister of Maori Affairs, Dover Samuels, supported having "some form of lifejacket" on the waka, whether during practice or on ceremonial occasions when kuia, kaumatua or children might be on board.
Waka ceremonies had cultural significance, he said, but "at the end of the day we can't trade that off against loss of life."
Wellington Maori leader Peter Love wants regulations to ensure lifejackets are carried on waka, even on cultural and ceremonial occasions.
While some tribes might object to wearing lifejackets during special ceremonies, there could be no objection to the waka carrying them, he said.
That view was shared by Water Safety New Zealand.
Its executive director, Alan Muir, said that while paddlers should not be expected to wear lifejackets during special events, they should be required to have them on board.
He also favoured having support craft nearby, and increasing emphasis on swimming and survival skills for crew.
The Pleasure Boat Safety Advisory Group has recommended to the Minister of Transport, Mark Gosche, that carrying lifejackets on pleasure boats should be compulsory.
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