Te Aurere Newsletter November 2004
Kia ora,
The launching of the Ngati Kahu waka took place on Saturday 13 November with all the traditional rites and ceremonies. She was named Rangimarie (Peace). After the months of hard work Tane (the God of the forest) gave up his child to Tangaroa (the God of the sea).
The 30 Kaihoe (paddlers) looked so proud as they took her down the river. What a fabulous waka; they had every right to be proud. She sat beautifully in the water and immediately showed that she was capable of good speed. The waka was accompanied by two waka ama (outrigger canoes) that had been paddled from Taipa and up the river. Truly a great sight to behold. After the initial trip down the river and back the Kaihoe presented Hector with a traditional rain cape or paakee, something that was to become of much use as the rain started to fall with more persistence. The day's celebrations ended with a great haakari or feast.
For the three or four hundred people that attended they had experienced a tradition that, although not disappearing, was happening less and less these days as plastic takes over from wood and becomes threatened by modern technology. All the traditions, karakia (prayers) that are used from the time of felling the tree in the forest through the carving process and then at the time of launching are in real danger of becoming lost as men like Hector get older and newer technology takes over.
Surely it is time that something was done about preserving the traditional ways. It is time that young people started listening to their elders again before it is too late! After all, who knows why only certain trees are selected for carving waka or how do you tell which is the heavy side of the log? If you don"t know these things then your waka will be in great peril of turning over when in the water. Sure it"s OK to use chainsaws today but keep the old as well, as it"s in the ancient ways that the safety of your waka is affirmed.
Whilst all this was going on at Aurere, down at Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty a Te Aurere Waka Wananga was taking place. It commenced on Friday evening and took the form of a sail to Tuhua. They left Tauranga Harbour at around 7.30 p.m. into a slight northerly breeze. Initially they motor sailed out to Motiti then got a shift of direction in the wind to east north east which enabled them to motor sail directly to Tuhua. At about 2.00 a.m. they arrived and made their way in to Opo Bay. They anchored off the beach and waited till sunrise then went ashore to offer rides to the locals. The decision was made to leave earlier than they intended as the weather reports didn"t look too good.
On the sail home they achieved speeds of almost 9 knots at times with the wind gusting up to 25 knots getting to Tauranga harbour at around 10.30 p.m. They waited for dawn and the high tide before tying up at the marina.
The crew for this sail and wananga were:
Jack Thatcher Captain/Navigator, Kiharoa Nuku, Pohe Luttenberger, Rikirau Luttenberger, Toko Ririnui, Maia Wharekura, Awhina Dickson, Kuka Tukaokao, Ikanui Nuku and Mahara Nicholas. Thank you Jack for this report.
Hot off the email from Dennis Chun in Hawai`i comes this bit of news. The building of Waka Namahoe is coming along real good. The outer hulls are painted and they are busy doing other finishing work. The hulls will be moved to the harbour next month where lashing and assembly of the hulls will begin together with other pieces that are finished. Lashing will begin in January and fabrication of the manu, mast steps, spars and other wood fittings will begin once the hulls are moved. Great stuff Dennis. Let"s hope she is finished in time for 2010!
Until Waka Rangimarie has a shelter and trailer she will be staying here at Aurere. At week-ends the young men come here to practice their paddling and steering. The sound of them chanting etc. really brings this place alive and to my mind adds meaning to what we are trying to achieve here. It will be a sad day when the waka leaves.
25 years ago this month New Zealand experienced it"s worst disaster. On a sightseeing flight to Antarctica Air New Zealand flight 901 crashed on Mt. Erebus. All 257 on board perished. Just about every New Zealander knew somebody or knew somebody who knew somebody on board. And so this month we remember those souls who died on that fateful flight on 28 November 1979.
Hei kona ra,
Mike Harding