November 14, 2012
Ngāti Whatua waka sails away with design award
The controversial plastic waka put up at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour during last year's Rugby World Cup has won a top industry award.
The Industrial Fabrics Association International gave the 75 metre pavilion an award of excellence at its international expo held last week in Boston, Massachusetts.
Ngāti Whatua ō Orakei commissioned Auckland firm Structureflex to build the waka so it could showcase Māori culture and business to international visitors.
It was built from polyester reinforced PVC on a laminated timber frame so it could be quickly assembled and used for multiple events.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says the waka was one of the highlights of the cup programme, and the win demonstrates the way it was able to combine artistic and engineering excellence with value to the wider economy.
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