Waka HOURUA
Te Toki
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.
“The role of a navigator is to look into adversity and find opportunity”
Turanga Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr
Experiences
Tāpui Mātauranga
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.
