ABOUT
Waka Hourua
Te Toki Waka Hourua (TTWH) is a team from TTVT dedicated to the perpetuation of both ancestral and contemporary skills and knowledge of Pacific Voyaging and Navigating Waka Hourua. The voyage and navigation practice stood the test of time within small pockets of the Pacific, however the vast majority of the Pacific Nation (ourselves included) kept only partial fragments through story, song, dance and prayer.
Our leaders were most fortunate to connect with others from around the Pacific to study and regain these practices under the tutelage of Pius Mau Pialug (Papa Mau) from the island of Satawal, Micronesia. His worldview saw the Pacific Ocean without delineation and this was reflected in his decision to break cultural taboos and teach outside of his own flesh and blood. These ancestral skills and knowledge systems passed on by Papa Mau is the premise of which we have based our contemporary practice.
Since 2003 our team has grown from strength to strength, developing a strong volunteer base of good people bound by the foundation values of aroha, whanaungatanga manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga as well as a collective drive to create opportunities for our young people to realise the sophistication of ancestral skills, knowledges, and practises. As well as the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer. Our team are now the humble guardians of Haunui, Aotearoa One and Hinemoana.
These three-voyaging waka hourua are also commercially certified allowing us to create opportunities for not only youth but public and corporate communities as well. We also operate a vast fleet of sail training vessels including our small waka hourua Pūmaiterangi, various sized Ulua (Hawaiian outrigger canoe), catamaran and mono hulls. Te Toki Waka Hourua aims to provide lifelong learning opportunities on waka hourua such as navigation, astronomy, marine and environmental science, traditional seafaring technology and innovation.
Ngā Waka
Pūmaiterangi
“Ahakoa he iti he pounamu”
Pūmaiterangi carries the mana of sailing waka hourua within TTVT and he connects us directly to these ancestral practices.
Through korero and wananga between Hoturoa and waka enthusiast Gary Dierking in the early 2000’s a vision was realised. A vision that saw the construction of a Tipairua, an ancient double hulled canoe design that dates back 1000’s of years.
This canoe was finished in 2003, and launched on Kawhia Moana at Maketū Marae. Blessed by the karakia of Tohunga Hone Haunui, the presence of Te Arikinui Dame Te Ātairangi Kāhu and the Name of our Tūpuna who remained in Hawaiki (brother to Hoturoa).
Eo’ Pūmaiterangi.
Hull & Sail design: Tipairua
Length: 9m
Beam: 2.4m
Draft: 0.4m
Rig Height: 7.5m
TTVT Kaitiakitanga since: launching 2003
Haunui
“Kāwhia Moana,Kāwhia Kai, Kāwhia Tanagata”
Haunui carries the mana of Kāwhia Moana and the Tainui people within TTVT and connects us back to our Tupuna who settled in Aotearoa.
‘Te Mana o te Moana’ was a project to build ocean awareness and through this project a fleet of contemporary voyaging canoes was born.
The second of seven canoes built was launched as Va’atele and gifted to the people of American Samoa, however due to the unfortunate impacts of the 2009 tsunami saw Va’atele returned to the Salt House boat builders yard in Āotearoa.
This created an opportunity for Hoturoa to realise yet another vision. This time having a double hulled canoe that was not only a Tipairua but one that was capable of open ocean voyaging. Va’atele was acquired by TTVT, repaired and blessed by the karakia of Hoturoa, the presence of many of his fellow waka whanau and the name of tohunga Hone Haunui who had recently passed on.
Eo’ Haunui
Hull design: Tipairua
Sail design: Cook Island Crab Claw
Length: 22m
Beam: 6.5m
Draft: 0.8m - 1.2 with centre boards down
Rig Height: 14m
TTVT Kaitiakitanga since: re-launching in Feb 2011
Aotearoa One
“Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango, me te miro whero.”
Aotearoa One (A1) carries the mana of inter generational knowledge transfer within TTVT and connects all people especially our youth to both the physical and spiritual practices of our ancestors.
Te Wananga o Aotearoa (TWoA) was responsible for the project of constructing a double hulled voyaging canoe with the vision to serve as a floating classroom, and was the needle that wove many modern day voyagers together by starting their journey of sailing traditional vessels. She upheld this vision for TWoA from her launching in 2003 till 2013. The opportunity for TTVT to assume the role as Kaitiaki of A1 was presented in 2015 and since then she has been a part of our whanau continuing her important mahi for our people.
Eo’ Aotearoa One
Hull design: Tipairua/Va’atele
Sail design: Cook Island / Marquesian Crab Claw
Length: 22m
Beam: 7.2m
Draft: 1m
Rig Height: 16m
TTVT Kaitiakitanga since: 2015
Hinemoana
“Ko te mana o te moana ko te wehi ee”.
Hinemoana carries the mana of the Pacific Ocean within TTVT and is our connection back to our people's origins.
Like Haunui, Hinemoana is one of the seven waka built as part of Te Mana o Te Moana. The last waka of that fleet to be built, she was named as the female deity of the sea. Hinemoana has had a similar pathway to Haunui and Aotearoa One of perpetuating the skills and knowledge of our ancestors.
Spending majority of her life in Tauranga Moana under the Kaitiakitanga of the Hawaiki Rising whanau the opportunity for her to join the TTVT wakahourua fleet was present in 2019 and by 2020 we relocated her to Kāwhia Moana to continue her mahi.
Eo’ Hinemoana
Hull design: Tipairua
Sail design: Cook Island Crab Claw
Length: 22m
Beam: 6.5m
Draft: 0.8m - 1.2 with centre boards down
Rig Height: 14m
TTVT Kaitiakitanga since: 2019
Tāpui Mātauranga
Experiences
Te Toki Voyaging Trust fosters a culture of mentorship. Upon learning how to do something from your teacher, it is then your role to help to teach others. This cultivates young people to stand up and take the lead. Using waka as a vehicle for youth-development, designing and delivering high-level educational-programmes targeting our young people, creating strong, capable independent learners and leaders.
We continue to deliver increasingly high-level programmes and opportunities throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific. Te Toki Waka Hourua has a rapidly growing crew base and hard-working management team, dedicated to carrying the work of Te Toki Voyaging Trust forward into an even brighter future. Working with Te Toki Voyaging Trust, your tamariki and their whānau will meet today’s Pacific voyagers and explore the kaupapa of voyaging from the past, our present, and into the future.
EDUCATION EXPERIENCES
Kāpehu Whetū
STAR COMPASS
Te kāpehu whetū is a tool used for traditional navigation, that is taught using a round whāriki made from an old sail of Haunui waka. This involves one or two facilitators engaging with a group of tamariki through games, waiata, and stories teaching the basic directional concepts, both contemporary and ancestral. Te kāpehu whetū creates an active space for sharing mātauranga tukuiho from both facilitator and tamariki alike.
Ngā Papa Rā
LAND RIG
Ngā papa rā is a scaled down replica of our waka hourua rigging made portable to teach basic waka anatomy and rigging operation. Our facilitators work together to operate two sets of rigging using hands-on practical engagement, and friendly competition to create a fun environment. The tamariki will learn the mechanics and identification of the rigging in a safe and controlled environment, while also learning the importance of teamwork and communication when operating waka hourua. Note: Ngā Papa Rā is unavailable until further notice
Whare Whetū
STARDOME
Te whare whetū is a portable planetarium equipped with a projecting system that allows us to simulate the sky during night and day. Our facilitators engage with tamariki using kōrero, stories, waiata, and digital resources developed to teach basic astronomy from a mātauranga māori perspective. Tamariki will learn basic star and constellation names ' while being exposed to wider traditional celestial knowledge
Tāpui Whakatere
SAILING EXPERIENCES
Aboard our waka hourua we offer a unique opportunity that reconnects you to the voyaging practices of our Pacific ancestors through a hands-on sailing experience that can range from a quick hour long sail to a several day voyage. Not only a waka hourua trip but a chance to be immersed in the rich histories of the surrounding area.
Tāmaki Makaurau
SAILING AUCKLAND
“Tāmaki Herenga Waka”
Tāmaki Makaurau is a historical landing site for many Ancestral waka hourua and currently the home to Hinemoana affectionately known as "Hine".
Kāwhia Moana
SAILING KAWHIA
“Kāwhia Moana Kāwhia Kai Kāwhia Tangata”
Kāwhia is home to the ancestral waka hourua Tainui and currently home to Haunui.
“The role of a navigator is to look into adversity and find opportunity”
Turanga Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr