Ceremonial Waka Arrives for MAORI MARKet
MAORI MARKet Media Release
18 April 2007
A contemporary ceremonial waka, built and launched for Waitangi Day this year, is part of a growing collection of contemporary Maori art being assembled in Wellington for MAORI MARKet at Queens Wharf next weekend, April 27 to 29.
Hinemoana, or Goddess of the Sea, is owned by Toi Maori, a Wellington-based charitable trust established and run by Maori artists to promote and foster their work.
Carved from a single kauri tree with components in totara and synthetic materials, Hinemoana was worked on by six master carvers and contemporary Maori artists from different tribes. The waka also carries a carved and painted eagle that was a gift from North American Native Indian artist Dempsey Bob.
Toi Maori waka committee chair Bill Irwin from Gisborne said the dolphin on the prow kept an eye on the water ahead, the eagle watched overhead and the whale rider on the bow watched over the crew.
Built to a design by legendary Far North waka builder Hekenukumai Busby, the 14 metre waka will seat up to 15 and with an experienced crew will reach 5 knots. It is being displayed at MAORI MARKet as an example of the adaptation of emerging whanau or family waka building and is complimentary to the big 20 metre plus war canoes.
The smaller family or waka tetekua are more easily relocated on trailers to ceremonial occasions and simpler to operate on the water, Mr Irwin said.
MAORI MARKet will bring together the largest ever collection of contemporary Maori art for sale and display from more than 100 leading and emerging artists. It will include paintings, photography, sculpture, clay art, cloaks, ta moko, stonework, wood carving, jewellery, story tellers, live displays, tourism and more.
The event will be launched next Thursday with a gala evening and will open to the public for three days at the TSB Bank Arena on Queens Wharf. MAORI MARKet is being supported by Wellington City Council, Te Puni Kokiri, Pataka Museum and the DominionPost.
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