The Bridge Builder
Wednesday 13 May at 8.30pm
Maori Television
This is a story of an icon that has become a shining light throughout the Pacific – a former bridge builder whose longest bridge is that which he has created between Maori and the rest of the Pacific Island peoples. This documentary looks at the life of Master Waka Carver and Master Navigator, Hekenukumai (Hec) Busby, MBE.
Hec has carved 26 waka and passed on his knowledge to keen sailors the world over. Since being made custodian of a waka built in 1945 (Ngatokimatawhaorua) to commemorate his ancestors who signed the Treaty, Hec has made waka an intrinsic part of his life.
Hec’s whole life has been one of making connections – searching for the people who hold the knowledge, putting the pieces of knowledge into practise and then passing that knowledge on to his Pacific contemporaries and the next generation. Hec is known as The Bridge Builder because that’s what he used to do physically and now does metaphorically.
“My big goal was to build bridges and in 1950, I did just that. The first one was just outside the Kaitaia Courthouse. I made nearly 200 bridges and lasted in the job 35 years. It’s funny because in a way, bridges and canoe-building are related. A bridge gets you across a creek or river while a waka takes you across the ocean.
(Hec Busby, Master Builder and Master Navigator)
The story of Hekenukumai Busby is a potent reminder of our enduring link to the ancestors. It is the story of one man - his dream, his vision and his drive to bridge that gap by strengthening that link to our past.
Hec’s life is one that defines our country, our people, our culture and our heroes.