Sponsors urged to get on board for waka venture

Hawaiki Rising Voyaging Trust founder Simon McDonald, with waka project leader Pat Mohi and trustee Gina Mohi. Photo / Supplied

Serial entrepreneur Simon McDonald this week introduced key members of the Tauranga business community to Hinemoana - a 22m traditional Polynesian ocean-going double waka, which will be the centrepiece of a trust aimed at helping at-risk youth.

Dr McDonald, who built up and sold Katikati-based dental technology company Triodent to US multinational Dentsply, went on to found a new award-winning dental technology manufacturing venture, Rhondium. He is also a long-time sailor.

He told a breakfast sponsored by Priority One that he wanted to put something back into helping young people. A cross-section of the local business community later boarded the waka, which was moored at the Trinity Hotel pontoon.

Dr McDonald acquired the waka and has donated it to the Hawaiki Rising Voyaging Trust. He is working with experienced Maori ocean-going waka voyager Pat Mohi and his wife Gina Mohi to implement their vision of taking groups of young people on challenging voyages of adventure and discovery.

"The Polynesian voyagers really do deserve accolades and I don't always see that pride in their heritage amongst the young people," said Dr McDonald. "This project is about building hope and giving young people tools and a different way of looking at things."

The trust plans to run a series of 10-day voyages around the coast, which will largely follow favourable winds, with a bus going out to each new port of call to change crews.

An individual passage will cost $2000 and the trust is seeking sponsorship to help financially disadvantaged youth to take part. However, every voyager would be expected to raise at least $500 by their own efforts, said Dr McDonald, who has been the primary funder of the project. The trust is also seeking a corporate sponsor.

Mr Mohi and his wife have worked for many years with at-risk youth. He said Hinemoana was a "living, breathing representation" of what waka life was about.

"Living in a waka is about being aware of how everybody else is working together and feeling," he said.