Te Aurere Waka Newsletter July 2007
Kia ora koutou,
Could spring be just around the corner? Let’s hope so! Sheep started lambing around us a few weeks ago. Can’t help but feel sorry for the poor little lambs being born into this cold weather. At least they don’t have to contend with snow! The daylight hours are growing noticeably longer with it not getting dark now until 6.00 pm - a good sign that spring is definitely just around the corner.
Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka AGM
At the AGM held on Saturday 21 July 2007 officers re-elected were: Kaumatua, Hekenukumai Busby; Chairman, Stanley Conrad; Secretary, Michael Harding; Treasurer, Dr Peter Phillips.
Executive Committee members re-elected were: Ema Siope, Julian Joy, Chris Tawhiwhirangi, Jack Thatcher, James Eruera and Gina Harding. Newly elected on to the Executive Committee were Brian Wiki and Joe Conrad.
Working bee on new waka hourua
A working bee was held on the weekend of 21-22 July to start lashing the aku on the new waka hourua. It is integral that the lashings be tight as the aku are needed to be held firmly to the hulls. Good progress was made on this task.
Obituary: Sir Thomas Davis
Sir Thomas Davis passed away 23 July 2007 in Rarotonga. Sir Tom had a long and full life becoming amongst other things, a space scientist with NASA, medical doctor, sailor, author, inventor and philosopher. Also in his long life he had been Prime Minister, traditional chieftain, boat builder and adventurer.
In 1990-91, he constructed the canoe Takitimu which was at the Sixth Pacific Arts Festival held in Rarotonga in 1992. He sailed Takitimu to Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa Borabora and return. In 1994 he constructed the ocean-going canoe Te Au o Tonga which he sailed to the Seventh Festival of Pacific Arts in Samoa in May 1996 and then on to Tonga and New Zealand.
In 2003-2005, he built the double-hulled waka Aotearoa 1 for Te Wananga o Aotearoa, New Zealand. Papa Tom was 90.
Well, that’s it again for another month. Look after yourselves and be good to each other.
Noho ora mai,
Mike Harding
Glossary of Maori to English:
Aku - Cross beam holding the hulls together
Waka Hourua - Blue water or voyaging canoe