May 20, 2013
Significance of Waka Tapu voyage will unfold
The organiser of the Waka Tapu voyage says its significance may take years to emerge.
The two double-hulled waka Te Aurere and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti returned to Aurere in the far north on Saturday after a 10 month, 10,000 nautical mile journey to Rapanui-Easter Island.
Karl Johnstone, who is the director of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, says there was great celebration as well as relief that the crew had reached the most remote island in the world and returned home safely.
He says it has closed the Polynesian triangle and proved once again the viability of traditional navigation techniques.
"It’s pretty hard to explain what reaching the most remote island in the world is like but our navigators, particularly Jack Thatcher heading the navigation, shows where he’s at in terms of his knowledge. I don’t think we probably fully appreciate it and it will be in years to come we will look back and reflect on the significance of the voyage," he says.
Mr Johnstone says the voyage strengthened important links between Māori and the people of Rapanui, the easternmost point of Polynesia.
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